Big Mouth: Season 1/ Episode 8 “The Head Push” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

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Consent is a big focus this episode as we learn about someone known as “The Head Pusher.”

The Hormone Monstress Returns: Andrew, Missy, The Hormone Monster, The Hormone Monstress

Andrew is getting along quite swell with Missy and her family. However, what he wasn’t ready for is Missy being so aggressive. You see, after they go to Leah’s party and sneak into her room, she brings up having some 7 minutes in heaven within the closet. Something which goes fine, even the Hormone Monsters, real name Maury and Connie, get into it. That is, until Missy decides to add some grinding into it which makes the make-out session a bit overwhelming for Andrew.

To the point, it leaves the two in an odd place again. One in which Missy feels guilty about coming onto Andrew like that to the point of believing she assaulted him.

The Machine: Nick, Tallulah, Jud, Leah

Nick isn’t that fond of the single life. So when one of the people in Leah’s theater group, Tallulah, takes an interest in him, he can’t think straight. After all, she is a cute 9^th grader and he is this 7^th grader. But, with Leah seemingly saying nothing but positive things about her little brother, it seems Tallulah has a genuine interest.

But then comes Jud, the oldest of the siblings, who has to be around 21 – which I solely say because he buys alcohol. For reasons unknown, maybe just to add onto his creep factor, he notes Tallulah likes to give fellatio. Something which terrifies Nick for he hasn’t gotten over the size insecurity brought up in “Ejaculation.” Also, considering the ghosts, which now include Prince and Elizabeth Taylor, laugh at his size, it makes things worse.

Oh, and did I forget to mention Nick gets drunk off something Jay brings? Yeah, add in Nick being drunk and he thoroughly ruins whatever could have happened with Tallulah.

Head Pusher: Leah, Daniel, Tallulah, Nick

Leah is part of this theater group and really likes this guy named Daniel. He seems to often play the lead and pretty much every girl swoons a little for him. Yet, none of them get jealous when Leah is his focus. Wonder why? Well, it is because Daniel is a notorious head pusher. Meaning, while making out, he doesn’t just let things flow to maybe getting fellatio. Nope. Instead, he’ll push your head down like a gopher he is fighting with to keep in its hole.

Leading to how Tallulah got her nickname. She rejected Daniel and he made it seem, likely for the sake of ego, she really went to town on him. So, while it probably won’t win Tallulah back, to show solidarity with the girls, Nick pukes in Daniels hat and hands it to Leah to dump on him.

Other Noteworthy Moments

Jessi learns her mom is cheating on her dad, with a woman.

Highlights

Sibling Love

I would be absolutely fine if this show solely focused on Nick’s family. After all, there are famous people haunting the attic, his family is the right amount of weird to stay sort of believable, and even though the siblings don’t understand each other, there is some sort of love there. Like with Jud. That metal head, as mean as he is to Nick at times, maybe also to his sister, did want to see his little brother get off with a girl. Much less, he bought alcohol for his 16-year-old sister to impress a guy and their friends. Really pushing the idea of how actions truly speak louder than words.

I mean, for another example, as much as Leah originally didn’t want Nick to be at her party, notice how Tallulah made it seem Leah made Nick seem cool. Be it sharing photos on social media or talking about him, you get this idea that these siblings got each other’s back. May not want to hang out all day every day, but they still would like to see each other happy and would contribute if asked or needed.

The Seinfeld Thing

Even when there was no cable and only network TV to watch, I never watched an episode of Seinfeld. Honestly, still have no desire to. However, the gag the episode has which features them in some sort of diner, I must admit had me, for only a moment, wondering if I really missed out on something.

Missy Takes Control

As constantly noted when talking about Jessi, Big Mouth presents a very rare opportunity to see girls in a natural state. Yes, Jessi may fit someone tomboy trope. Yet, not to a T. Jessi may like hanging with the boys, and seems like the type into sports, but she also likes getting dolled up. She wouldn’t mind having a boyfriend, as long as they don’t go too fast, and seems like an everyday girl.

The same goes for the loveable Missy. She can come off like the geek trope but her interactions with Andrew and the gang fight off perception. This episode especially, as she kind of goes American Pie on Andrew. But what makes Missy taking control and being the aggressor something noteworthy, never mind a highlight, is because she does it. Again, and maybe my memory is failing me, you don’t see a huge amount of girls Missy’s age, animated or not, taking initiative and being the aggressor.

For the most part, what we see is guys being the aggressor or the girls wanting the guy to push them up against the wall and so on and so forth. To put it another way, more often than not, we don’t see girls, young women, pick a term, make it clear they are about getting off as much if not more than the guy. So with her trying to get some stimulation without penetration, that was different and new. At least to me.

Jay Isn’t Down For Your Douchery

While Jay surely isn’t a saint, you have to love he added in his only little “Screw You!” to the Daniel moment. Much less, unlike Nick in a way, it wasn’t to impress those around him but because he really didn’t like what Daniel was doing. Showing, even after him aggressively yelling at that girl in episode 2, there might be hope his brothers’ abuse might make him a better man than they are teens.