Ep 1. P-I-Pilot

In the first episode of Speechless, titled "P-I-Pilot," we are introduced to the DiMeo family – parents Maya and Jimmy, their teenage daughter Dylan, and their younger sons Ray and J.J.

J.J. is the center of attention in the episode, as we learn that he has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal. Maya is fiercely protective of her son and is determined to find him the best possible school to attend, even if it means uprooting the family yet again.

The episode opens with the family moving into their new home, which is not exactly wheelchair accessible. Maya and Jimmy bicker about whether or not they should have bought the house, but ultimately decide to make it work.

Meanwhile, Dylan is starting her first day at a new school and is less than thrilled about it. Ray, on the other hand, is excited to be attending a new school and hopes to make some friends – although it doesn't go quite as planned.

At J.J.'s new school, Maya quickly becomes frustrated with the lack of accommodations for her son. She clashes with the principal and demands that he be given a voice, which leads her to recruit Kenneth, a groundskeeper at the school, to be J.J.'s aide.

Some of the funniest moments in the episode come from Maya's interactions with Kenneth, who is not exactly what she was expecting. The two of them have a hilarious back-and-forth as Maya tries to get Kenneth on board with her plan to give J.J. more independence.

As the episode progresses, we see Maya struggling to come to terms with the fact that J.J. may never be able to live independently. She becomes emotional and has a heart-to-heart with Jimmy about her fears for their son's future.

One of the standout scenes in the episode is when Maya creates a makeshift ramp out of books so that J.J. can climb the stairs to his bedroom. It's a small gesture, but it's heartwarming to see the lengths that Maya will go to in order to make her son's life easier.

The episode ends on a hopeful note as Maya and J.J. share a sweet moment together in J.J.'s bedroom. Maya tells J.J. that there's nothing he can't do and that she's proud of him. It's a touching moment that sets the tone for the rest of the series, as we see the DiMeo family navigate the challenges of having a child with special needs while still finding moments of laughter and joy.

Overall, the first episode of Speechless is a strong introduction to the series. It sets up the characters and their relationships in a way that feels both organic and entertaining, and it does an excellent job of showing the struggles and triumphs of a family like the DiMeos.