From all appearances, Jon Dixon is leading a dream life – loving family, successful career, and a group of loyal friends. But within the first few minutes of ABC’s new drama, A Million Little Things, Jon shatters that illusion when he jumps off his office balcony to his death. Family and friends come together to console each other and to search for answers. Why did this seemingly happy man choose to end his life?
For survivors, suicide leaves behind more questions than answers and this new series attempts to tease out what led Jon to make such a final decision. Four couples came together, not because the women were friends, but because the men had formed a bond after an unusual encounter. Right from the beginning, Jon was the glue keeping this male foursome close and with the couples spending so much time socializing, the women became close, too. Yet after Jon’s death, secrets are revealed that threaten to upend those relationships. Other secrets are held close and, we assume, will lead to further thunderbolts as the season continues.
Stephanie Szostak, Christina Moses, Allison Miller
A Million Little Things may be ABC’s answer to NBC’s highly successful This Is Us. Both use the death of a likable character as a vehicle to examine relationships, past and present. In This Is Us, we know that Jack, played by Milo Ventimiglia, has died, but how he died wasn’t revealed until the second season. With A Million Little Things, the “why” will obviously be the question needing an answer. Both series employ flashbacks to fill in details, although at times, those facts merely lead to additional questions.
Centering a series on suicide, while certainly a topic that needs to be part of our conversations, is a risk. The first three episodes do include moments of humor, but there’s far more sadness. What A Million Little Things has going for it is an appealing and talented cast, including several from popular series who may bring their own followings to the show.
Ron Livingston creates a formidable presence as Jon, exuding power and confidence even minutes before that fatal act. Livingston has a long list of credits, including Band of Brothers, which brought him a Golden Globe nomination. While his appearances in these first three episodes are far fewer, the flashbacks keep him very much front and center. Jon is portrayed as the sun with his family and friends traveling around him. Easy to understand that when that sun goes out, those around him are cast into darkness.
Grace Park and Stephanie Szostak
Jon’s crew includes as Eddie, David Giuntoli (Detective Nick Burkhardt on NBC’s Grimm), as Gary, James Roday (Shawn Spencer on USA’s Psych), and as Rome, Romany Malco (a breakout role in Judd Apatow’s The 40 Year Old Virgin). Rounding out the cast are Stephanie Szostak as Jon’s grieving wife, Delilah, Christina Moses (CW’s The Originals), as Rome’s wife, Regina, Allison Miller (13 Reasons Why), as Gary’s girlfriend, Maggie, Grace Park (Hawaii Five-0), as Eddie’s wife, Katherine, and Christina Ochoa as Ashley, Jon’s loyal secretary.
While A Million Little Things will round out an ABC Wednesday lineup that is stacked with family shows – The Goldbergs, American Housewife, Modern Family, and Single Parents. Airing at 10 p.m. signals that parents will need to exercise some judgment about whether the subject matter is suitable for younger children.
A Million Little Things has it’s premiere. At 10 p.m. EST Wednesday, September 26 on ABC.
Photos courtesy of ABC/Jack Rowand
Top: David Giuntoli, James Roday, Romany Malco
