"Mixed Signals" is the sixth episode of Win or Lose. It centers on Yuwen whose self-consciousness is represented by a tiny childish version of himself in his heart.
Synopsis[]
Yuwen is the pitcher and resident jokester of the softball team. On the surface, he seems cool and confident—he loves to be the center of attention. Yuwen's also a bit of a bully—a cover for his very real insecurities. He's constantly in conflict with Little Yuwen—his childlike, vulnerable self who shows up in Yuwen's mind at the worst possible times. His relationship with girlfriend Taylor and the entire championship game are at stake—resolving the conflict within may be Yuwen's toughest play yet.[1]
Plot[]
Yuwen Wang is the star pitcher of the Pickles who is known for his showboating and arrogant demeanor. He shares friendly banter with fellow player Taylor. Despite playing her off with back-handed compliments, deep down he is secretly in love with her, represented by a small childlike version of himself who lives in a giant heart. Whenever he is put off from one of his jabs, his inner self panics as he is actually self-conscious and humiliated. After sharing a video he made of Laurie's failed swings, Rochelle accuses him of liking her, causing him to blurt out that he likes Taylor. He puts on a macho appearance and asks her out, which she agrees to.
Yuwen takes Taylor to the movies where she tells him that he doesn't have to act tough and that he can be himself. As they sit and watch, Yuwen notices Taylor letting her hand slide next to his. He reaches and touches her by the pinkie, cementing his relationship with her. The two show up to school the next day as a couple, much to everyone's support. Later, Taylor asks Yuwen to teach her how to catch as she hopes to change position. Yuwen starts off acting cocky, but calms down to teach her for real. After she manages to catch one of his throws, the two share their first kiss with each other.
Later, Taylor tells Yuwen about Ira and him hanging out with the Bleacher Creatures, with Yuwen claiming that he will try to talk to him. He decides to finally come clean about his "real" self and presents the child version of himself to Taylor. She, in turn, presents her childlike self, who has a habit of throwing up whenever she's nervous. Now more in love than ever, the two start to spend more time with each other, as their childlike selves, metaphorically, move in with each other and expand their heart shaped living space. Yuwen openly talks to Kai about how much he loves being with Taylor.
One day at school, Taylor starts to converse with Tom, making Yuwen visibly jealous. Despite Tom's awkwardness, Yuwen starts to behave immaturely and defensively, annoying Taylor. On the night of the game, Yuwen starts acting up and starts to mock Taylor's tendency to throw up whenever she's nervous, out of insecurity and worry that she now likes Tom. Due to Rochelle being missing, Coach Dan has Taylor fill in for her. Yuwen begins to derisively throw the ball to Taylor who has grown frustrated with his attitude and behavior. When Yuwen accidentally causes Taylor to miss the catch, she angrily and tearfully breaks up with Yuwen, as her childlike self leaves childlike Yuwen.
As Taylor leaves the field, Yuwen is left with a heartbroken expression on his face, as the opposing team starts to score more.
Cast[]
- Izaac Wang as Yuwen Wang
- Kyliegh Curran as Taylor
- Tom Law as Tom
- Orion Tran as Young Yuwen
- Milan Ray as Rochelle Rodriguez
- Will Forte as Coach Dan
- Chanel Stewart as Kai
- Rosie Foss as Laurie
- Josh Thomson as Frank Brown
- Dorien Watson as Ira
Additional voices[]
- Jenn An - Rinna
- Audrey Berkobien
- Ian Chen - Junn
- Akira Evans - Terrence
- Romi Rey Herrada - Luciana
- Edward Hong
- Tina Huang - Yuwen's mother
- Scott Menville - Random Dave
- Arthur Ortiz - Lou
- Max Sachar
- Fred Tatasciore - Action Hero
- Reagan To - Hannah
- Winston Vengapally - Borna
- Shondalia White
- Michael Yates - Radio DJ
Errors[]
- In earlier episodes such as "Coach's Kid", when Yuwen says "I like Taylor", he sounded pretty calm. However, in this episode, he's actually saying it in a panicked manner. Although, it could be possibly through Yuwen's point of view.
- Laurie says that her mom owns a Dairy Queen, although she never mentioned it before in the previous episodes.
Trivia[]
- In baseball and softball, the term "mixed signals" refers to when a catcher or umpire gives conflicting signals to a pitcher or batter.
- At one point, Yuwen cries out, "Are you not entertained?!", a reference to the film Gladiator.
- Pizza Planet Truck: Seen during Yuwen's talk with Kai, which is the appearance of the truck from "Steal" from a different perspective.
- Little Yuwen's living space includes a Lightning McQueen themed bed frame.
- The movie theater that Yuwen and Taylor go to is called "The Presto", after the Pixar short Presto.
- When Yuwen and Taylor kiss, it is represented by live-action stock footage of a dog catching a frisbee, a baby taking its first steps, a motocross biker, a baby sea turtle going to sea, fireworks, the 1969 moon landing, and former President Barack Obama's mic drop from his final White House Correspondents' Dinner.
