Well, homecoming is getting off to a typical horrible Heck start. Axl (Charlie McDermott) arrives home but only to throw up which could very easily ruin Mike's (Neil Flynn's) plans to win the giant spatula by winning the corn hole toss. Mike is upset that Ron Donohue (Sean O'Bryan) who has won it for the last four years.
Frankie (Patricia Heaton) innocently calls up her mother for recipe for the homecoming and ends up inviting her parents for the event. She's not pleased because even though she is so lucky to have them but she feels that they will only drag her down. And she comes so close to convincing her mother, Pat (Marsha Mason) to go to Costco instead but Sue (Eden Sher) begs her grandmother to come because it will be her last chance to be the high school mascot. So Pat goes and it is pretty awkward. She motions for Frankie to do something and Frankie tries, in vain, to ignore that but when she doesn't, Pat just has to come over and do the typical mom move, lick a smug off her face, only to find that it is just Frankie's skin. And when she serves them (Frankie and her friends) a cake, she charges them two dollars a person. Frankie has had it. Pat insists that she is on a fixed income and that cake wasn't cheap. Frankie pulls her aside and tells her that she is embarrassing her. Pat walks off in a huff.
The event comes full circle when Sue is reminiscing with some unnamed classmates that probably paid her no attention in high school. Frankie comes over to find Grandma (her mom) only to embarrass Sue. Fortunately, Sue handles it slightly better than Frankie, she ushers her friends away while Frankie feels horrible and realizes that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Meanwhile, Brick (Atticus Shaffer) almost has his moment to shine. While Axl is too sick to throw beanie bags into a hole, despite constant prodding from Mike, Brick gives it a try. So Mike picks him. Only then Axl recovers just enough to insist that he should participate. Mike has never been forced to pick between his two sons before and fortunately, he doesn't. They participate in his stead. And lose horribly. Ron gets the giant spatula again and promises meat for all, medium rare.
But Axl's sickness isn't over just yet, he has past it on to Sue. She insisted that she couldn't get sick and it happens at the most awkward moment, when she's dressed as the chicken with the giant chicken head so it looks like she's pecking at the ground. Axl cannot wait to get that on YouTube. Both Frankie and Pat come to her rescue and Frankie apologizes, Pat understands.
This was a better episode than the Halloween one, but it still wasn't especially great. Also, when did Axl and Devin (the unseen Gina Mantenga) break up? That was a plot point that should have had more time. And the ending felt very rushed though Frankie did have some good narration but that didn't save the episode. But it was nice to see Brick and Axl argue over who's life sucked more, though it should have more humanizing to see Axl tear himself down. Normally, he thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread and was on top in high school, but college has torn him down. I wonder what will happen to him in the future. Sue is her typical over enthusiastic self which is always a relief as the rest of the Heck family is depressed and she isn't, she is just the opposite. That being said, I hope next week's episode which is the Thanksgiving one is better, often that is the best episode of the season. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Doris can't fetch anymore, her jaw is having problems.
-Sean Donohue (Beau Wirick) is going through something. He wants a veggie burger and has gown out his hair and has a beard. He no longer believes in competition. It was a interesting motif throughout the episode.
-Pat is big on these new, super strong paper towels. Frankie is so sick of it. She brought them because she knows Frankie isn't big on stocking her house with supplies. Pat is even shocked at how dirty the floor is. She shouldn't be.
-Axl rarely plays football and doesn't know what he will do with the rest of his life. Yikes.
-When Sue visits her old high school, she gets picked up in the tardy sweep.
-At the end of the episode, Frankie also gets sick and Pat does hold her hair back while she throws up and says that Frankie's dad is picking up saltines and ginger ale. They will settle up later.
-Also, Pat thinks that Frankie is spending like crazy.
-For the tailgate party, Frankie is in charge of drinks because her cooking is horrible.
-Brick is an athlete now, he totally has to protect his area.
-Axl tries to spread his germs on his parents' bed. Frankie washes the sheets and they don't have an extra pair so they put whatever they can find on the bed. Mike takes his chances with a towel that has a mystery stain as opposed to a sheet with a giant hole it in.
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