Franklin & Bash Review: Honor Thy Mother (Season 4 Episode 7)

Last night’s episode of Franklin and Bash, “Honor Thy Mother,” really epitomizes why I love this show so much.

Admittedly, I only started watching when it first aired because of Mark-Paul Gosselaar. But this show is fun, witty, and really well-written. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer together? A bromance made in heaven.

So what happens, then, when one friend sleeps with another’s mom? Not exactly what you’d expect.

It was at the end of last week’s episode that we imagined what would happen next—Jared and Colleen were going to sleep together. Truth be told, I wasn’t entirely surprised.

Between Colleen’s profession (she’s a sex therapist, you guys) and her flirtation with Jared throughout the series, it made sense.

When Peter figures it out, his nostrils flair and he’s stopped dead in his tracks, the room spinning around him. I half-covered my eyes waiting for him to punch Jared in the face, thinking the whole time just how this could change the dynamic of the show.

Jared: Peter I done a bad, bad thing.

Peter: I know what happened.

Jared: Trust me, you don’t know this one.

Peter: I know about you and my mom.

Jared: Okay do I have a sign that says, “I banged Peter’s mom on my forehead?” … Let me rephrase that… before you punch a hole through my face.

Jared circles Peter nervously, blabbering excises. Rather than punching his lights out, Peter says “just treat her right.” He’s almost becomes manic as he talks about how this is a good thing. Jared is increasingly nervous, saying, “Just punch me!”

It was smart that the story was handled this way. Instead of an obvious blowout, we got to see something much more complex happen in Peter, and in the relationship with his friend. He shut himself down emotionally and focused on their case, making Jared all the more worried and uncomfortable.

He even plans a special dinner back at home, complete with candlelight and “non-paper plates.” It’s at the dinner table that tensions rise. Jared starts laying it on thick and insisting that Colleen stay the night, and saying that Peter should call him “Step-Dad.”

Stanton tries to intervene, telling Peter that he’s deflecting. Which he is, by the way.

Peter finally breaks when he and Jared are arguing in front of the Landmark Commission. He starts to fly off the handle, his voice cracking as he yells, “He waited thirty years and then when I least expected it, boom! My best friend banged my mother! Who does that?”

Jared apologizes, and it seems the two may just reconcile. This is a show that usually does a good job with continuing story lines, so I’m sure this won’t be the last time we hear of Jared and Colleen sleeping together. And honestly, I like that there’s a new aspect to their dynamic now.

Okay, but something else really important happened on this episode. Pindar came back!

Jared and Peter throw Pindar a surprise welcome back party, which as you might guess, isn’t a great idea. He pukes right on the floor. You know, I don’t really miss the other missing characters on this show, but I love Pindar. It’s too bad he isn’t back permanently, but I’m thrilled they at least brought him for an episode.

Pindar: I’m really happy guys. And I loved my time with you two. Mostly when I was sleeping. When I was awake, you hazed me mercilessly.

And what better way for Pindar to exit, than to mistake Peter’s comment about having him be the best ban at “their” wedding, to mean it would be a wedding between Peter and Jared.

Like I said, perfect bromance.

*Fun tidbit: Mark-Paul Gosselaar directed this episode, and Breckin Meyer helped to write it.

Franklin and Bash airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on TNT.

Ashley Bissette Sumerel

Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.