Push Girls Episode 1 Review: Everyone Stares

Oooh baby. I woke up this morning thinking I had nothing to look forward to except an ultrasound and a day of writing ahead of me, but then I saw the first episode of Push Girls dropped a week early. Post-Memorial Day weekend blues cured.

SPOILERS AHEAD ***

The first episode is titled “Everyone Stares,” which couldn’t be a better name for the first episode (that’s one of the first things you’ll notice when you use a wheelchair – everybody stares).

And as the 12 minute preview (released last month) of the series gave me hope for, the first episode hit every note – the reality of dating in a wheelchair, health issues (that can come up at the worst times), and grief…dealing with the loss of mobility, which even the bling and fancy cars can’t fix.

I think one of the things a lot of people with disabilities were worried about when they first heard about the show was that it wouldn’t portray the reality of life in a wheelchair; that the girls might too pretty, too rich, that they had above average support from family and friends (or all of the above), and so they were not going to support it; but from what I saw in episode one however was a very accurate portrayal. Their lives are not rainbows and sunshine bubbles. 

You get to see the relationship between Angela and her PCA, who seems like one of the sweetest PCAs ever.  We also see how Angela – a model now paralyzed looking to get back into the industry at 36 – deals with a photographer whose uncomfortable around her during a shoot (a lot can be learned from how graceful she dealt him. “I just talked to him,” she says. So smart).

And the show delves into the personal life of Tiphany; i.e., her ex-boyfriend who she recently broke up with but still holds a candle for (he wanted to have sex with her but still see other women. What kind of jerk asks that?). He of course is pulling the typical guy move where he texts her sweet messages post-breakup to mess with her.  I hate when guys do this. There’s a special place in hell for these ones.

And the lives of Mia and Auti also get screen time. Auti, at 42, is thinking about having a baby with her husband, but even at her age, she’s still not sure if she’s ready to put her career on hold. There’s a great scene showing her and her man grocery shopping.  The trick she figured out to reach the things on the top shelf is INSANE.

Mia meanwhile, she has an amazing boyfriend who wants to devote his life to her (what girl wouldn’t want that?), but she’s not sure if she’s ready to settle down (there must be a deeper reason hiding behind her hesitation. As a serial dater, finding a guy you want to marry, or at least find true love with, is usually the ultimate goal).  But I must say, it’s pretty awesome seeing a woman in a wheelchair make an able-bodied guy wait to marry her. ha

You seriously won’t believe how often people think that if you’re in a wheelchair – you’re desperate and will take the first person who looks your way.  Or even more offensive, they’ll think you should only date someone else in a wheelchair.  I can’t believe this nonsense is still thought by so many people! (yes it deserves an exclamation mark).  The scene where Mia says, “Some people think I should only date guys in wheelchairs, but I prefer to date able-bodied guys,” definitely needs to be shown/drilled into the masses (can this show be on the air indefinitely please?).

Summary: Episode one of Push Girls is a great introduction to all four women (they’re not girls gosh darn it) and I can’t wait to see Chelsie Hill on the show; the 19 year old who recently broke her back and is now a wheelchair dancer (and is this PSA ad in Seventeen magazine about drunk driving).

I’m also REALLY excited to see a more on Tiphany’s love life, specifically her adventures in dating women. Tiphany’s brutal honesty will make viewers laugh (“When people are hiring someone for a job, they’re not usually, ‘Oh yeah! You’d be perfect for our team!’ They’re more like, ‘Hello liability.’), and will definitely keep them tuning in. America always loves people who shoot from the hip, even the wheelchair variety.

Watch episode one on Hulu now or click below