Tina (Chase’s Mom) Character Analysis in Restart

A dark-haired woman with glasses, Tina is mother to Chase and Johnny and ex-wife to Frank. Tina loves and supports Chase, believing him to be a good person “deep down.” However, she had difficulty controlling his cruel, reckless antics prior to his accident and, after the accident, hesitates to reveal to him how many bad things he did. When amnesiac Chase confronts her over her various omissions, she admits that she was trying to spare his feelings but judges his past behavior very critically, especially as it relates to him, Aaron, and Bear bullying Joel Weber. Tina’s omissions and criticisms confuse Chase, making him wonder whether he should trust her or his father, who excuses Chase’s previous behavior and accuses Tina of trying to coddle away Chase’s toughness, the way (in his view) she did with their older son Johnny. Despite the occasionally tense relationship between Tina and Chase, she takes the stand as a character witness at his juvenile court hearing for stealing Mr. Solway’s Medal of Honor, during which testimony she asserts that Chase has become a much better person since his accident.

Tina (Chase’s Mom) Character Timeline in Restart

The timeline below shows where the character Tina (Chase’s Mom) appears in Restart. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Identity, Memory, and Responsibility Theme Icon

...the room are. When the woman, shocked, calls him “Chase” and identifies herself as his mom, he realizes he can’t remember anything. He asks whether he’s Chase and demands a mirror.... (full context)

Social Hierarchies and Bullying Theme Icon

...window onto the roof. When Chase asks whether anyone warned him of the danger, his mom says she did for years, but she gave up because nothing bad happened and he... (full context)

...can remember anything, Chase concentrates—and recalls an approximately four-year-old girl in a lacy dress. His mom asks whether it’s Helene. When Chase asks who Helene is, Johnny explains that she’s their... (full context)

...people inside yell “surprise.” A stocky man grabs Chase and gives him a noogie. Chase’s mom, horrified, tells the man (whom she calls Frank) that Chase has a concussion. The man... (full context)

Tina demands to know why Frank came, when she’s already asked him not to use his... (full context)

Tina leads Chase up to his room. When she sees him notice a big crack in... (full context)

Tina drives Chase to his first day of eighth grade. They’re alone (Johnny has gone back... (full context)

...concussion. Frank pooh-poohs the doctor and invites Chase over for steak, calling it better than Tina’s “rabbit food.” Chase politely declines but mentions seeing Frank’s state championship photo. Frank says that... (full context)

...Aaron are “the toughest.” He thanks them for being honest with him, saying that his mom Tina hid the truth and Frank mentioned she might “coddle” him. Bear praises Frank and... (full context)

Later that day, when Tina gets home from work, Chase confronts her about hiding his arrest and community service from... (full context)

Then Chase remembers Aaron and Bear’s take on the events, so different from Tina’s. He acknowledges that his behavior was unkind but asks why the school reacted so harshly,... (full context)

...he can’t be the one “going in” because it would scare his doctor and his mom. Brendan, hiding his surprise that popular kids like Chase have parents, tells Chase that he... (full context)

Tina has been sharing photos with Chase, hoping to jog his memory. When she shows him... (full context)

...still don’t fully understand concussions’ effects over the long term. Noting how upset Chase looks, Tina tries to sympathize, but Chase isn’t sure she understands that he’s upset because of how... (full context)

...Frank would suggest Chase might surpass him, decides to do it and says he’ll tell Tina. Frank orders him not to, so as not to “worry her.” Then he assures Chase... (full context)

...that person anymore. Medal in hand, Chase climbs back into his house. He blasts past Tina (who’s yelling at him for climbing on the roof), yells over his shoulder that he’s... (full context)

...that’s not her priority. When Kimberly, frustrated, asks where Chase is anyway, Brendan calls Chase’s mom and finds out that Chase ran off to the assisted living facility. Joel asks whether... (full context)

...didn’t have to interact with himself. Though Brendan, Shoshanna, Aaron, and Bear call Chase’s house, Tina won’t let them speak to Chase. Chase is fine with that. He can’t bear Shoshanna’s... (full context)

Tina continues to support Chase, and Johnny visits home to be with them during the trial—but... (full context)

...to defend himself—an attitude that irritates his lawyer, Mr. Landau. Walking into the courtroom with Tina and Frank, Chase sees that a lot of people have come to the hearing: the... (full context)

Mr. Landau asks to call character witnesses in Chase’s defense. On the stand, Tina explains how much Chase has changed since his accident. Then Frank suggests that Chase has... (full context)