‘A Million Little Things’ Season 2, Episode 8 ‘Goodnight’ Review: Promises

Talk about never having it easy. Tonight on A Million Little Things, we’re dealing with another tragedy – the loss of a parent. Everyone knows this is one of the hardest ordeals to go through. And though we didn’t get to know the character we’re saying goodbye to tonight that well, the wake of her death does still tug at the heartstrings.

What stirs this episode further is the bout of surprises that just pops up one after the other. The bad thing is that A Million Little Things didn’t even spare one good surprise. It’s just all going from bad to worse. And considering the show’s going into hiatus after next week, we’re probably in for a pretty nasty cliffhanger. But before we delve into all that, here’s what happened in tonight’s episode.

A Sudden Goodbye

Being the keeper of all secrets in A Million Little Things, Rome (Romany Malco) and Regina (Christina Moses) divide the work between them secret by secret. Regarding PJ’s (Chandler Riggs) shocking DNA results, Rome’s set to tell PJ while Regina’s set to tell Delilah (Stephanie Szostak). However, the work on Rome’s part is put on hold by his duties to his parents who are making him buy everything they’d need for their cruise.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

At his parent’s home, Rome discovers that his brother Omar (Jay Pharoah) has been basically mooching off of their parents with their dad’s express permission. As expected, Rome bristles at both his dad and his brother. But, his mother Renee (L. Scott Caldwell) comes along saving the day with her sweetness and captain hat. Just before she walks out the door for the hair appointment Regina made for her, Renee makes Rome promise to try and get along with his dad. Oh, these poor sweet dears.

At the restaurant, Regina works up the courage to tell Delilah about PJ. But, just when the words are about to come out, the salon calls. Sweet mama Renee has passed away because of an aneurysm. The family is devastated, most especially Rome. But in her memory, he and his father Walter (Lou Beatty Jr.) choose to keep the promises they made to her. Walter is still going on the cruise while Rome will have to try harder to patch up with his father.

Good Morning To Doubts

Meanwhile, in the Seville household, the morning is starting out a little tense. After Delilah cancels plans for Eddie (David Giuntoli) to babysit baby Charlie, Katherine (Grace Park) hints that maybe Delilah’s starting to distance Eddie from his child. Ever since their argument with Delilah about telling the kids the truth, Delilah’s been distant. And though Eddie doesn’t believe she’d do what Katherine was imposing, her words do plant a seed of doubt on his mind.

Later in the day, after their guitar lessons, Sophie (Lizzy Greene) tells Eddie that Delilah’s planning to take them to France for the summer. Shocked and a little more upset, Eddie feels like he has no say in Charlie’s life. And the things is, legally, he might not really have any say at all. As Katherine points out, Delilah needs a birth certificate to get a passport for a baby. The question is, is Eddie’s name in there?

Hello Disappointmentville

At PJ’s, things are a little chirpier somehow. PJ gets accepted into RISD. But, even with financial aid, his family still can’t afford to send him to his dream school. Much like him, Gary (James Roday) is also in a pinch. Maggie (Allison Miller) receives a call from Oxford (yes, the fancy Oxford) for a fellowship offer. And she’s genuinely excited about it. The only downside is that it seems to be one of the many things she hid from Gary.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

When Gary asks her about it, Maggie tells him that she applied for the fellowship before she got sick. They accepted her then but, when she got her diagnosis, she deferred. That almost saves Maggie from another wedge in their relationship. But, then, Maggie admits that she contacted Oxford again a few weeks ago. And she didn’t tell Gary because she didn’t even think she’d get in. Now, she’s only a few steps away from being accepted. And if she does, she’ll be away for a year. Unfortunately, this is the last straw for Gary. Before they could continue the discussion, Regina calls with the bad news.

Goodbyes, Promises, and More Secrets

A few short days later, the Howard family holds Renee’s funeral. Rome delivers the last message and as they lower the casket, even Walter couldn’t stop his tears. As everybody starts leaving, Rome takes off his jacket and picks up a shovel. Omar then follows his lead. Seeing them, Gary, Eddie, and PJ also step up to join Rome. And as heartbreaking this scene was, to say goodbye to a parent like that, this silent show of love and support made it all the more heartfelt. So far, as cheesy as some of them are, these kinds of moments are my favorite in this season of A Million Little Things.

Later on, Eddie pulls Delilah aside and confronts her about France. Though her reasons may seem simple enough, it doesn’t comfort Eddie at all. When he brings up the birth certificate, the issue of having the truth out in the open for everybody comes along with it. And neither Delilah nor Eddie goes their separate ways happy. As Eddie and Katherine discuss this in the car, Katherine makes a solemn promise to fight for Eddie and Charlie.

Meanwhile, as Regina helps Gary load some stuff from the funeral into his car, Regina discovers Gary’s office things in his trunk. Apparently, Gary has been fired for having too many absences in the year wherein he was helping Maggie through her cancer. But, he doesn’t want her to know that. And in what seems to be an emerging pattern in their current relationship, Gary makes Regina keep it a secret. I mean, really, with all they’ve gone through with secrets in A Million Little Things?

Everyone Worries For Rome

As the guests gather at Regina and Rome’s apartment, Delilah confides in Regina about what Eddie said at the cemetery saying “He all but accused me of trying to run away.” As Regina stated earlier, being a best friend doesn’t mean telling Delilah what she wants to hear but more what she needs to hear. And with this, Regina asks “Well, are you?”

Meanwhile, PJ apologizes to Sophie about rejecting her kiss. With everything we know now, it’s good he did cause I don’t think we can all deal with another complication in A Million Little Things. Unfortunately for him, Sophie’s not taking it really well and storms out to the rooftop. Witnessing the scene, Delilah follows her daughter upstairs and gets the story out of her. As Delilah’s comforting her, however, Sophie brings up France again.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

On the other hand, everyone’s been really attentive to Rome in this time of grief fearing he’d spiral again. And Rome seems to be holding up in front of everybody. However, when Omar’s glass slips from his hand and breaks, everything seems to slowly be shattering for Rome as well. Rome immediately tries to pick up the shards and as everyone rushes to help, he excuses himself.

PJ follows Rome to his room. And in an attempt to comfort him, PJ quotes a line from Rome’s own screenplay. “…that nothing lasts forever, that people we love sometimes leave our lives, but what stays is how they forever changed us.” It gets a little smile out of Rome and it does give him a bit more fuel to face his dad who was already demanding to be taken home. As Rome leaves the room, PJ sees the box of the DNA results peeking from under the bed. He feverishly reaches out and opens it discovering that there’s no doubt Jon is his father.

The Stars Above the Bed

Back at Walter’s home, Rome discovers that his dad has been tinkering with some old film reels of Renee. Once he gets it working, he finds a reel labeled “bunk beds.” The story behind this is that Omar got to pick the top bunk and Rome was left with the bottom one. Up until now that they’re adults, Rome always thought it was unfair and it was another testament of their father favoring Omar. The only consolation Rome got was a bunch of glow in the dark stars above his bed that he loved looking up to every night. Back then, Rome thought it was his mother who put those up. But, as the reel reveals, it was actually his dad who did.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

When Walter joins his son to view the reel, Rome tells his dad about the stars above his bed. In response to it, Walter says, “We’re your parents. What difference does it make.” To Rome, it makes all the difference. When he doesn’t know what his dad does for him, it makes him feel that his dad doesn’t have his back. But, seeing how his dad did care for him silently all those years ago, it gives him hope. With Renee gone to be their glue, Walter also takes a moment to admit that he’s going to need his son. And Rome does the same as well.

Katherine vs. Delilah Begins

Back at Rome’s apartment, Delilah finally confronts Katherine about Eddie’s concerns. And once again, Katherine urges Delilah to correct their mistake and put Eddie on Charlie’s birth certificate. When Delilah refuses, Katherine indirectly threatens Delilah with a legal battle But, as Delilah says “I know you’re a good lawyer Katherine. I’m asking you to be a good person.” Unfortunately, Delilah’s pleas don’t seem to be working anymore. After getting home that night, Eddie decides to fill up a complaint to establish paternity form.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

Meanwhile, in their own apartment, Gary has set up a little British office spot for Maggie. He also got her a bob wig. Because as it turns out, something Omar said to them in Rome’s apartment earlier about going the same direction in a relationship resonated with him. Gary wants them to grow in the same direction. So, if Maggie wants to go to Oxford, he wants her to go to Oxford as well.

On the other hand, when Rome gets home, he faces what everyone has been tiptoeing around the whole day. “I haven’t felt this low in a while,” he says to his wife. “But, it’s not the same as before.” This time, Rome acknowledges that he’s allowed to feel sad in the face of losing his mom. And he knows he’ll get through it, the both of them will. Later on, when Delilah leaves Rome and Regina, she meets Mitch, PJ’s dad, at the elevator. He’s looking for his son. After piecing things together, Delilah heads back to Regina’s. “PJ’s Barbara Morgan’s son?” she asks agitated. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

A Million Little Things continues Thursday, November 21st, with “Time Stands Still” at 9/8c on ABC.