As with any first relationship after someone comes out, Kenny’s relationship with Brett hasn’t been without its bumps. Not only does Kenny have to adjust to having someone he relates to on a level deeper than anyone else in his life, he has to battle his neuroses to keep himself from self-sabotaging something he always wanted. For months after he came out, Kenny yearned to have someone in his life romantically, to feel the real connection to the LGBTQ community that he wasn’t getting while at school; in that way (and others), Brett has made him feel much less alone, showing him that there is a world outside of Catholic school and that his sexuality won’t stop him from forming meaningful connections. But as fulfilled as Kenny might be in this new and wonderful part of his life, how ready is he to take the next step?
On the next episode of The Real O’Neals, Kenny is taken by surprise when Brett drops the four-letter L-bomb on him in the wake of Shannon’s confirmation. It should be a pivotal moment in his life, having his first real relationship lead to a “love” exchange and having his first boyfriend possess the capacity to express these type of emotions, but the spontaneity and magnitude of the word instead send him spiraling. Rather than the culmination of the craziest year of his life, Brett’s declaration of love instead pushes Kenny away, as Kenny doesn’t know if he’s ready for something this serious this fast. He’s not been out that long and hasn’t experienced enough of life to even know what love is; he knows that he feels something for Brett and that there might be the chance of loving him in the future, but saying it this early in a first relationship can bring about a time of death for even the most conscious of couplings. Not only does it put pressure on Kenny to say it (and feel it) back, it casts doubt onto what Kenny’s feelings are for Brett and whether there’s something wrong with him for not being in the same place emotionally. And if Kenny doesn’t feel like he can get to that place soon, his first real relationship since coming out might be over before it ever really got off the ground.
Elsewhere on The Real O’Neals, Jimmy finds himself at odds with Pat when his good-looking former babysitter makes passes at his father, while Eileen begins questioning her relationship with VP Murray when Shannon asks him to be her godfather leading up to confirmation.
The Real O’Neals airs Tuesdays at 9:30 on ABC. You can check out my thoughts about the controversy surrounding a joke in an episode from earlier this season here.
Are you surprised that Kenny would react this badly to Brett saying “I love you”? Could Eileen break things off with VP Murray for fear of getting into another serious relationship so soon after her divorce? How will Pat feel about Jimmy’s former babysitter (maybe) having the hots for him?
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THE REAL O'NEALS - "The Real Confirmation" - When Shannon asks VP Murray to be her godfather leading up to her confirmation, Eileen fears her own relationship with him might be moving too fast. Shannon’s big day also has a surprising effect on Kenny’s relationship when Brett says, “I love you,” sending Kenny into a tailspin. Meanwhile, the return of a hot former babysitter puts Pat and Jimmy at odds when she constantly makes passes at Pat, on ABC’s “The Real O’Neals,” airing on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 (9:30–10:00 p.m. EST). (ABC/John Fleenor)JAY FERGUSON, AZIE TESFAI
