#you know an ep is amazingly well done when it leads to a word dump

[fyrewalks]

there's something so good about this episode and choosing joy, even if it doesn't help. it's really this whole quote “the love was there. it didnt change anything. it didnt save anyone. there were just too many forces against it. but it still matters that the love was there”, except with joy and acceptance.

we see maddie and chim have such a frank, healthy discussion about their family, and choosing to feel joyous despite their fears.

buck has to confront how queer journeys differ, which leads to him realizing his own joy and comfort in himself now. ultimately, it prompts tommy to break up with him, because tommy knows that buck is only just figuring himself out, and buck (bless him) still makes the mistake of big, romantic gestures. tommy's protecting himself and his own joy, because it's one thing to date; it's another to move in together. it was inevitable, even if it hurts.

then there's eddie, who embraces some frivolity, and dances around in his boxers risky business style the way you can imagine he wanted to do as a kid. he laughed and danced and sung just because he could. just because he wanted to. but, after, he sits on the couch, sharing a beer with buck, and you know he's thinking about chris and his parents and how he hates how things are right now. yes, he has joy, he let himself be silly, but it didn't instantly fix things, either.