Welp, this episode picks up right where last week's left off, with Sue (Eden Sher) not believing that she heard Axl (Charlie McDermott) correctly. He couldn't have married April (Greer Garson). He finally starts to realize that he didn't think things through, after getting married at the courthouse, they went to a taco truck and because she had to work, he took her back to Orson. And, the worst part is that he married her to piss off Mom (Patricia Heaton).
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) has his own issues, being forced to watch the Peterson kids and Mrs. Peterson (Emily Rutherford) doesn't even ask his name first. She has to take the baby to the doctor's and her other kids will tear the place to shreds. Now, while it is odd that Brick watches the three kids at the Heck house, he kills it by forcing them to use their imagination. However, he does so well, that the kids want to come over all the time. And he is sick of it, trying to hide from them, even burying himself in a snow pile for a too-long period of time. But later in the episode, the Hecks are freaking over over Axl's big reveal, she tells her kids never to go over there again, ending Brick's plight.
Axl might have tried to get out of everything Christmas in the past, but not this year; he decorates the tree, bakes Christmas cookies, sets up the Christmas village and doesn't even default putting the people in compromising positions. Frankie is thrilled that he's back and he can't bring himself to tell her the truth, not wanting to disappoint her, while the secret is eating Sue alive, causing her to throw up every so often.
Mike (Neil Flynn) doesn't have much to do until later but he is befuddled by Bill Norwood (Pat Finn) gifts him some awesome sunglasses. Mike tries to get him something of equal value and is upset that he's thinking about Bill Norwood now and finally settles the score with cold, hard cash, but he does love the sunglasses.
And then April's mom calls Frankie who acts calm, cool and collective on the phone and then turns around and promptly beats up her oldest son. She is livid and Mike asks the question, did Axl have to marry her? Which he didn't and that only makes it worse, according to Mike. As the Petersons watch the Hecks freak out, she tells her kids never to go over there again, ending Brick's plight. This leads to the conversation of whether Axl should stay married or not? Finally, Mike says that if he has to ask, then he shouldn't be married so instead of that lovely new transmission for his car, they get him an annulment and then he and April go out for pizza. So life goes on, hopefully he's a little wiser now.
Despite the funny moments of Brick being adored by the neighbor kids and the great reactions of Frankie and Mike when they discover Axl's secret, I wish more time had been devoted to each plot as they were both so strong and vital for some major character development. The performances were great, but I wish Axl's plot line had ended differently. Unfortunately, this is the season's weakest episode so far. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Axl started having second thoughts in the line at the courthouse but didn't want to get out of line because everyone else said how young and cute they were.
-Also, Sue is upset that she wasn't a bridesmaid.
-I guess Axl didn't have time to buy a ring which would have been a better way for Frankie to find out though that already happened with Sue and Darrin (John Gammon).
-Of course Axl would put the librarian with the baker as she does need to get some. Yikes. She's long overdue. Great sneaky pun.
-Sue makes some great references to depressing shows, believing this secret is a cloud over this lovely celebration.
-Never buy glue-on nails at a gas station. Frankie had arm numbness up to her elbow.
-Sue was so stressed over Axl's big secret that she twisted her hair until some came out.
-Brick gives not knowing the location of Doris as one of the reasons why he shouldn't babysit.
-Brick looks up reasons for obtaining an annulment in Indiana and one of the reasons is if a member of the union is crazy and that is the reason I'm assuming is listed on the paper.
-Sue also reversed her reversal comforter.
-Brick also uses Mike's toothbrush, but for a purpose that doesn't involve brushing his teeth.
-My favorite line is when Axl is hiding behind a light-up wise man and Mike tells him that he has no business being around wise men now.
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