Just a few thoughts on the finale and the April/Jackson/Maggie sitch.
Just a forewarning this is me being honest about April so you might want to turn around now if you donāt want to read any critique.
Iām just having a really hard time with the whole poor April mantra like she isnāt at fault that she and Jackson arenāt together. The very last scene before Jackson served her divorce papers, he tells her she never apologizes or takes responsibility. As we saw when after she returned from Jordan, the second time mind you, she did nothing but justify her actions and refused to own the pain she caused him. We needed space. I was called. I was dying. Such awesome techniques. Etc etc etc. expected him to just get over it. Always about her, never giving him a thought, or any empathy or compassion, what it mustāve felt like when his wife and best friend packed her bags and checked out on him. Never asked how he was. For an entire year. Kept postponing her return. Then after he tells her he needs her now, she threw it all away for *12 more weeks*. 12 more weeks on the battlefield was more important than her marriage. After he had already given her an entire year.
She comes back. Refuses to apologize in any sort of genuine, heartfelt way. This has been acknowledged multiple times on screen and off so Iām not going to debate it if she apologized. She expected him to get with her program without even feeling terrible she hurt him deeply. She acted like the injured party. How dare YOU bring up divorce? You big quitter. Like are you kidding me April? How hard is it to say I am so sorry I hurt you. I am so sorry I left you and didnāt seem to care. I know now that is not what marriage is. That is literally all the man wanted. He even took her to therapy to try to psychologize an apology out of her. It didnāt work. She was a justifying brick wall who wouldnāt acknowledge her actions were wrong.
Jackson clearly still loves her. He is all but begging her to own it and apologize. But she refuses and they get divorced. And thenā¦ April seemed perfectly fine. Jackson even says as much. She seemed better than fine. And quite frankly I donāt recall one time she looked devastated to be losing her man, the paper signing scene was the most Iāve seen in years. That has actually been my entire problem with Japril for over two seasons. April hasnāt seemed really all that bothered she lost her husband. Certainly not enough to finally give him the apology he deserves. Harriet is born. Jackson moves them in. April joins tinder, booty call America. Goes on a date in his face. Tells him how amazing it is. Doesnāt seem any closer to owning her crap.
April gets a front row seat why Jackson is not okay with someone bailing on him, āhappy without himā and ādidnāt even miss him.ā
Ding ding ding. Who does that sound like? April who left him, seemed perfectly happy to be away from him for a year and a half, and didnāt even miss him. And also wanted him to pretend like everything was fine, much like his father did.
April sees this. Youād think maybe this will inspire her to set the record straight. I wasnāt happy without you. I did miss you so much. Iām so sorry I made you feel otherwise. Obviously that has not happened. I did appreciate the fact she acknowledged HE never bailed and has been taking care of them.
So here we are. 2 years later. And literally all that has stood between the two is her taking responsibility, apologizing and understanding what marriage is. Ben even tells Jackson in 12x23..
āWhen she does apologize Iāll haul my ass back to our bed where it belongs. Sheās the love of my life. You understand, you got April.ā
āApril and I are divorced.ā
āItās a waiting game. Stay strong, youāll get there.ā
(Here I must ask how long must the man wait for a damn apology?)
So clearly it still has not taken place. April is still of the mindset that he just ādoesnāt want herā and Jackson has written off an apology and canāt be with someone who doesnāt respect and honor him enough to apologize when theyāve hurt him and say they wonāt do it again. I mean who would? Itās not like heās asking for a miracle people. Jesus.
So, yeah, Iām not feeling so bad for April when all thatās standing in her way is her own self.
To paraphrase Sarah Drew.
āI think that the hurt from April going to Jordan runs deep. And sheās never fully owned that or apologized for it. I donāt know what it would take to atone for it.ā
āMy biggest wish is that she would apologize.ā
Just so we are clear that Iām not making it up that she has still yet to apologize. Two. Years. Later.
Itās not going to happen. Thereās been zero romantic interest on either side. Jackson called her his family. Shonda likes Kelly and Maggie too much to make Maggie fall in love with a guy whose still hung up on his ex. Living with her. Raising a baby with her. Talk about baggage. They are siblings. However it was a pretty genius move on Shondaās part. April doesnāt know Jackson/Maggie think of eachother as siblings. Her imagination is working overtime because she thinks āhe doesnāt want herā meanwhile heās not getting out of his lane without her owning/apologizing and letting him know she gets it now. Why she hurt him so much and why she canāt do it again. Heās not going to let himself be vulnerable to her until that happens. Classic Japril misunderstanding. What else is new? The voice over in 16 says..
We lose our words. When the stakes are too high. Weāre scared of saying too much or not enough. When the only wrong thing to say is nothing at all.
The stakes are high. Jackson tried until he was blue in the face to get her to apologize and own it only to get āwhat pisses you off Jackson? That I got what I needed or that what I needed wasnāt youā so heās not going there again. He got the message loud and clear.
Meanwhile April he thinks he just doesnāt want her, lost cause, he must have feelings for Maggie. I want to shake her and say JUST FUCKING APOLOGIZE AND TELL THE MAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT MARRIAGE IS.
But I digress. April is seeing things. Jackson doesnāt have feelings for Maggie other than that of a brother. And I feel pretty confident Maggie doesnāt have any for him either. April is paranoid because heās not showing her interest (no apology no Jackson) so sheās letting her mind play tricks on her.
We should all be thankful Shonda didnāt bring a real love interest on for Jackson and instead April is literally jealous of his sister. To me itās a good thing if she sees she could lose him for real inspiring her to finally cough it up. The only thing heās been waiting for. I am so sorry. I was wrong. I did miss you. I wasnāt happy without you. I wonāt ever leave you again.
I think the whole thing is going to play for laughs and Japril are still endgame. That much is obvious. And I think Shonda is getting a huge kick out of having everyone and I do mean everyone think Jaggie is happening. Not happening, folks. Just my thoughts. My opinions. Like it or leave it āš½ļøā¤ļø
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