The Indoor Arm
Marianne is a new arrival in the town, and she’s quickly getting to know everyone. She’s also quickly becoming friendly with El Salvadorian Ciela, who is just as surprised as Marianne is by her sister’s sudden appearance in the town. The two of them head up to Mrs Danforth’s house, where they’re given a room to stay. There, they start to get to know each other better and learn about the culture of Bel-Air. They also start to get to know Mrs Danforth, who is a very kind and caring woman.
Ciela is awakened by Danforth’s coughing, which reverberates through the house. It turns out she has lung disease after smoking so much throughout her life. ..
Ciela is a young girl who loves the beauty of nature. She meets a Japanese man named Ray who helps her learn how to garden and she also starts school too. However, Ciela doesn’t understand the language and the others are unsure how to deal with the fact she only has one arm.
Mrs. Danforth showed up at school and took Ciela to see a doctor who could help her with a brand new prosthetic arm. All the ladies at the bridge club were chipping in so Danforth waved away the eye-watering cost, and it certainly took a lot of getting used to. In fact, Ciela had enough and decided to abandon it altogether. ..
Danforth’s house soon becomes a nightmare when the robotic arm becomes more of a hindrance than a help. Ciela laments her current situation, likening it to El Salvador and how everything here is as much a prison as it was back home.
Eventually, she confronts Mrs. Danforth about her own body and how she embraces herself and doesn’t want to pretend to be “normal” just to appease other people. However, Danforth ends up coughing profusely and eventually she ends up passing away. ..
Ciela and Marianne leave the house together, paying their farewells to Ray and the other workers. Ciela decides to leave her arm behind and head on with her life, away from the riches of Bel-Air.
As the episode ends, we learn that Ciela now runs a community garden in Los Angeles, and she works as an advocate for renter’s rights and low income housing. As a touching tribute, she also named her son Ray.
The Episode Review
The final episode of Little America aired on Sunday night and it was a subdued affair. The show’s creators wanted to leave the audience with a reminder that the best version of ourselves is the one through which we are most comfortable. Too often, we put on a façade to be like others and this chapter does a great job serving as a reminder to be ourselves, no matter how different we may seem from others. ..
While “Little America” season 2 does not have the best episode, it does end on a high note with a satisfying chapter and a glimmer of hope for future seasons. ..
