More Than Meets the Eye: The Many Layers of Theo Dimas

With the halls of the Arconia bustling with its residents it is not difficult to single out its most noticeable people. With the constant running back and forth and looking for clues it is easy to point out Mabel, Charles, and Oliver. It is also easy to point out other residents such as Howard who is always yapping about his cat or Bunny who is constantly looking after the hotel. However, there is one resident who always seems to be overlooked. Someone who makes himself a fly on the wall and who knows when to be noticed. Theo Dimas just seems to know how to blend into the background. Could it be that his disability is what causes him to be overlooked or is it because he is truly talented with blending in? What more is there to Theo Dimas other than him being deaf? 

“The Boy from 6B” turns our audience’s attention towards Theo and provides glimpses to his past. With a simple glance one can conclude Theo's physical appearance. He is a slender man with brown hair and pale skin. Based on his location it is safe to say that he is a resident of the Arconia and based on how he is first introduced he is also Teddy Dimas’ deaf son. The episode begins with a young Theo peeking out from under a table as Teddy calls him over to listen to a song. As the song plays Teddy is seen getting impatient with the fact that his son cannot hear the music signaling that Theo has been deaf since a very young age. It is also concluded that Theo comes from a wealthy background and is a part of the upper class that reside in the Arconia hinting at the lavish living room that Teddy has. 

There are many layers to Theo. Layers that make up who he is and how he acts and the decisions he makes. The intersectionality of Theo sets him apart from the rest of the residents in an interesting and captivating way. The episode “The Boy from 6B” succeeds in showing a more intimate view of Theo’s unique way of navigating the world. The episode highlights how Theo, though part of the Arconian community, seems to be isolated from the world around him. With his deafness limiting his ability to verbally communicate, Theo is seen to be more observant than the average person as he watches Mabel, Oliver, and Charles discuss through a window. He is known to rely on reading people’s lips due to his lack of hearing and therefore is limited when it comes to communicating with others. Theo is forced to live a life of self-isolation due to his disability which often makes him appear lesser than others. 

This is apparent through Zoe when her and Theo were arguing on the rooftop and she says, “Don’t fucking psychoanalyze me. You’re very confused about which way the pity flows here.” This further emphasizes the hardships of judgment Theo must face due to his disability. 

Aside from his disability Theo also seems to heavily rely on his father Teddy due to his upbringing and Teddy’s own personal class. When push comes to shove Theo always seems to go to Teddy, especially when the accident with Zoe happened. We see how Teddy’s power and social class has rendered Theo dependent on his help. When Zoe’s untimely death was at the hands of Theo, he immediately runs to Teddy who in turn finds a way to silence Tim Kono with the use of threats. However, this power dyn
amic seems to come into a disagreement when Theo tries to gain control of situations such as the podcast and the trio’s investigation over them. Teddy is heard telling Theo that he is the one who takes care of him and not the other way around. Due to excessive reliance on Teddy, Theo is now forced to live a life of codependency aside from being able to perform all tasks himself. This power dynamic, however, takes a turn when Theo begins to question his loyalty and morals. Theo is seen working alongside his father as a “grave robber” and though he is a loyal son we can see the panic and the fear as Mabel, Charles, and Oliver are slowly piecing the clues together.

“The Boy from 6B” is an excellent episode that showcases the many layers of Theo Dimas and how the life of a disabled person can be very complex. Theo’s social class gives him an advantage compared to if he was born in the middle class. The people around the hotel treat him nicely when approached. It is evident that because he is Teddy’s son, he is able to have a better lifestyle compared to other disabled people. The episode shows how, being of higher-class, Theo is shown more respect and with the help of Teddy he is able to have his own apartment in the same building. Theo is a great addition to the show because the show not only focuses on able body people but also highlights those who are rarely seen or heard. Only Murders in the Building showcases the many complex characters that live in the Arconia. Though all are presumably rich, apart from Oliver who struggles financially, each complex character has more than what meets the eye and Theo Dimas is no exception. 

(Blog Post Credits: Writer: Yolanda Garcia, Photo Editor: Spence Berger, Producer: Ann Jeoung, Social Media: Nicole Meier, Scribe: Precious Martin)