To prove herself to the BSC, Dawn agrees to babysit for a family of rowdy kids. Can she keep up with their mischief and mayhem?
In 2019, the television industry aired 532 scripted shows across numerous outlets. The way people consume content now is different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, it's less necessary to provide ample coverage of each episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site provides shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club.
"Dawn and the Impossible Three" was written by Rheeqrheeq Chainey and directed by Heather Jack
The Baby-Sitters Club is growing. Mary Anne brings Dawn to the latest meeting. She knows just how fantastic her new friend is. Moreover, their families are growing closer with their parents now dating. This could be the start of a wonderful blended family. And yet, it's also too soon to write that as reality. Right now, Dawn and Mary Anne are close. They both struggle with fitting in and feeling that they are heard. It's important but difficult to make sure that kids are understood. It's frustrating to realize that parents are trying the best they can and have their own shortcomings as well. Dawn makes the final point that adults are just weird kids who have grown up. There really is no difference between how a person acts in youth and later in life. It's just the amount of time spent alive. That involves more history. This relationship between Mary Anne's father and Dawn's mother could feel like them picking up where they left off in high school. And yet, their lives have changed and evolved since then. Liz doesn't see the connection that could exist between them right away. Moreover, Richard is still mourning his wife's death. That grief is all-consuming to him. That explains why he refuses to allow Mary Anne to change too much. He is holding onto these wonderful memories. He just doesn't realize that by doing so he is preventing his daughter from growing. He is amazed by her all the time. And yet, the world constantly sees him as someone incredibly strict and protective of her. It's built on this reverence for the past. He wants to embrace something new. That just happens to be difficult for him. From Mary Anne's perspective though, it seems like he is actively trying to disrupt her efforts to evolve. Her friends are excited about a room makeover. She sees it as a transition to her teenage years. Richard views it as a slap in the face to what he and his wife built for her. She doesn't respect it in the same way. These two prove to be incapable of having that conversation though. One that is open and honest about how they each react. These things are important. It may prevent them from fully embracing all that life has to offer. They have to process these emotions though. It's not healthy to bottle them up. That doesn't happen here. It's an internal struggle for them. It may prevent new love from forming. But it also highlights the different parenting strategies in this world. Dawn's mom is scattered and unfocused. But she too is incredibly protective of Dawn. Her daughter is trying her best to fit into this new community. She doesn't feel like she belongs just yet. Mary Anne has been very welcoming to her. Claudia and Stacey accept her into the club immediately too. Kristy is the tough one to crack. She presents as the perfect babysitter. The person who knows absolutely everything about what to do in any situation. She is the one whose respect and acceptance has to be earned. Kristy doesn't inherently have that power. She just wants to maintain some sense of control. She may act that way because she has no power over whether or not her father wants a relationship with her. She views herself to blame for his disinterest in her. That isn't true at all. He is the one who abandoned his family. That action shouldn't prevent them from having full and rewarding lives. Kristy has to process that as well. She can't simply let her rage out on a bag of chips. She has to be willing to welcome in new friends too. Dawn fits into this group. She is a natural fit for the Baby-Sitters Club. Sure, she is given a tough assignment to prove herself. She struggles making it known what the boundaries are. She believes she can understand and cope with this recently divorced mother struggling to take care of her children while also working. And yet, it leads to a scary moment where Dawn fears she has lost one of the kids. Those troubled emotions are inflicted on her by the woman who didn't lay out what was necessary for this job. That is important. These children can't be held responsible for everything. They make mistakes. Adults do as well. It just proves that everyone has to be accountable for their own actions. They have to put in the work to ensure that the people around them are safe and protected no matter what. That extends to children who are part of their lives. Dawn is expected to be responsible but she expects the same in return. She may not get that with the client but she gets so much more from her friends and family.
