GayTV Recap: A Million Little Things (Episode 5x1)

The ABC family drama A Million Little Things returned for its fifth and final season, immediately presenting a gay themed subplot. Picking up seven months after lead character Gary (played by James Roday Rodriguez) learned he once again had cancer, the characters were shown at a funeral with Gary conspicuously absent and his pregnant love Maggie sad and surrounded by her friends. The makeshift family comforted the entering Sophie & Danny (played by Chance Hurstfield), as Maggie commended Danny on his speech at the funeral. Gary then appeared, revealing to the audience that it was his father who was deceased. He thanked his surrogate nephew Danny for his speech as well.  

Gary and Danny separated from the group as Danny brought up the loss of his dad and Gary standing by him. Danny then recounted how Gary's father Javier helped him build his courage to come out in high school. Danny's sister Sophie joined them, remarking that she never knew that. Gary told her about his father sharing a photo that his army comrade Douglas had before his death, saving Javier's life during war. Gary had always thought the person in the photo was Douglas until Javier previously revealed to Danny that it was actually Douglas' boyfriend, named Gene. 

Gary said that Javier had always wanted to find Gene and meet him but they didn't know he wouldn't have the time. Gary began to choke up, but stopped himself. Sophie assured him that it was okay. The siblings knew what it was like to suddenly lose their father. Gary reminded them that he was older than them, but they told him that he had always been there for them to lean on and now it was their turn. Gary joked that they were certainly big enough to lean on now, as he embraced them. 

Gary's best friends Rome and Eddie came over, telling Gary their ideas for keeping him occupied for the day, to help him deal with his loss together. Gary refused their offers, clearly not wanting to focus on his grief. He passed on their ideas, telling them that he had the day planned to help give Danny his next driving lesson. Danny told him that he didn't need to do that today, after his father's funeral, but Gary insisted. 

Danny was behind the wheel as the two drove along the road and talk quickly turned to Danny's own father, Gary's best friend John. Gary brought up the time that John found out Danny had stolen Star Wars stickers and got so mad. Danny definitely remembered but said that all kids steal things when they're young. Gary disputed that, revealing he never did that and would never do that. Danny then changed their route in the car, catching Gary off-guard. He wondered what Danny was doing and he told Gary that he was going to help him take part in a childhood tradition. 

The two arrived at a drug store and Danny told Gary that he wanted him to go inside and steal something. Gary initially refused but Danny told him that he needed to do it so that one day, when his unborn child did something like this, he wouldn't be so harsh on him like Danny's dad was on him. Gary told him they didn't have time for this. He had the day planned out. Danny suggested he hurry up then. Gary reluctantly agreed and left the car to head inside with Danny watching. 

Later, Danny was shown in the car fixing his hair in the mirror as Gary came out of the store and nervously rushed over and got in. Danny quickly started the car to get away, but Gary slowed him down, reminding him to check his mirrors. Danny quickly backed out of the parking space, almost hitting an approaching car. Gary warned him in time to prevent the fender bender and then Danny sped out of the parking lot. 

Danny pulled the car up to a house, wondering what they were doing there. Gary pulled out his camera and told Danny to film him as he made another video for his unborn child. He told the camera that today's lesson was to not put off doing something important today because you think you'll have the opportunity later. He said that was why he and Maggie had the child and it was the reason he was at his current location. Danny stopped recording and prepared to leave the car until Gary reminded him that he needed to turn the car off. Danny reacted as if he hadn't forgotten, though it was obvious he had. 

Danny & Gary approached the house and Danny wondered what they were doing there. He watched as Gary pulled the photo of Gene from his father's wallet. Gary urged Danny to hold all questions. An older man (played by David Marshall Grant) answered the door and Gary asked if he was Gene Grant. Danny immediately recognized him from the photo. The man said that he was Gene and Gary then presented him with the photo of his younger self, taking the man by surprise. Gary told Gene that they were there because of Douglas. 

Gary told Gene of his father Javier's story about the photo. Gary told him that it was the last thing Douglas was looking at when the shots started during the war. Gary told him that he just wanted Gene to know that he was the last thing Douglas thought about the day he died. Gene explained to them that he didn't even know about Douglas' death until it was reported in the newspaper. He told them that he had little contact with Douglas' brother and never met his parents. He tearfully explained to them that Douglas' family didn't know about their relationship given the time period. Gary gave Danny a look upon hearing that, knowing things were different now for Danny. 

Looking to change the mood, Gary asked Gene if he had any funny stories about Douglas. Gene told them a story about them going to a fair together before Douglas was deployed and how he failed to win a stuffed animal that Douglas wanted him to have. He said that the only thing that gave away Douglas' sexuality was the motion of his throwing arm. This drew chuckles from Gary and Danny, who told him he throws the same way. Then, Gene remembered that he did have something else from that day at the fair. 

Gene retrieved a box and opened it, pulling out a photo similar to the photo of Gene that Gary brought. He showed them the photo and told them that it was Douglas. He told them about the couple visiting the photo booth at the fair and knowing that they couldn't take any photos together out of fear that someone would see them. So, they took individual photos and exchanged them, each keeping a photo of the other. Gary & Danny looked at Douglas' photo and placed it next to Gene's on the table. Gary told Gene that if Douglas hadn't done what he did in the war, his father Javier wouldn't have come home and Gary wouldn't have been born. 

Gary then retrieved the ultrasound photo from his pocket and showed it to Gene. He told Gene that if Gary hadn't have been born then his son wouldn't exist now. Danny was surprised to hear that Gary knew the sex of his child. Gary swore him to secrecy. Gene figured Javier must be so excited and proud. Gary told him that he had planned to surprise his father by bringing him to meet Gene, but he thought he would have more time. This led Gary to finally break down and cry over his father's death. Danny comforted him and Gary told Gene that having Danny by his side was the next best thing.

Danny then turned to Gene, thanking him for his service. Gary chuckled, telling Danny that he never served in the military. Danny told him that wasn't what he meant. He told Gene that he was a gay kid who was able to come out in high school and openly be himself. Danny said that he knew and understood that it was possible because of people like Gene, paving the way for him. This again brought Gene to tears as Gary put a proud arm around his surrogate nephew.