Home Economics Review: Camping Tent, $39.99 (Season 2 Episode 11)
On Home Economics Season 2 Episode 11, “Camping Tent, $39.99,” Tom lets a secret slip and a “love sharknado” ensues.
What’s a love sharknado, you ask. According to the Dictionary of Connor Hayworth, the simple definition is:
love sharknado [luhv shahrk-ney-doh] noun
1. a tornado/shark combo but in relationship form.
It’s actually an invention of Denise’s mind as she considers the troubling idea of Connor dating her sister, JoJo. It can also describe the general cycle of misunderstandings in this family.
Luckily, the misunderstandings are comical and lead to interesting resolutions. There’s no way I could’ve guessed that Tom and Denise would team up to do a rom-com style, surprise set up to get those two crazy kids back together.
Tom playing “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer on his phone really caps off the sweet little caper quite perfectly.
While Denise is dealing with the Tom, Connor, and JoJo drama, Sarah and Marina rehash past resentments that they held for each other when they first met.
This, of course, comes to light because of another slip of Tom’s tongue. The quick flashbacks of Tom’s history of being unable to keep anything secret are a nice touch.
Marina is able to keep secrets, but she is unable to let go of the discovery that Sarah didn’t really like her at first. Sarah notices the change of attitude and addresses it.
And a sisterly-love sharknado ensues complete with a marshmallow fight at the first annual Condor Girls Campout.
It is so hard to watch these two argue and pick at each other because they are both lovable characters. Thank goodness they make up by the end because I don’t think I could’ve handled them being at odds past this episode.
It’s a similar dynamic to the tiff between Denise and Marina on Home Economics‘ Season 1 finale, “Opus Cabernet, 2015, $500,” when Denise found out that Marina exposed their “normal club.”
I love all these characters, and conflict hits different depending on which family members are butting heads. Tom and Connor can fight every episode and I would be fine with that, but there are pairs like Sarah and Marina where their quarreling can be quite distressing.
However, this is all a part of embracing an endearing TV family, and I am glad to be doing that with the Hayworth siblings.
Extra Expenditures:
- “Sleep is the only place where I get to be alone.”
- The Condor Girls Club thing is pretty random (and not really explained) as are the other guests at the party who are never acknowledged, but it’s so much like the Pawnee Goddesses that it doesn’t matter one bit.
- Games at the Condor Girls Campout include Guess the Celebrity but with women in STEM and She-rades which is, you guessed it, feminist charades.
- Another activity seems to be sip hot cocoa and read Kate Bush lyrics, and now I want in on the Condor Girls Club.
- “I’m good, I’m just pretending these killer cyborgs are my feelings.”
- “Luckily, you have a sister.” It’s such a sweet reconciliation the next morning.
What did you think of this episode of Home Economics? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Home Economics airs Wednesdays at 9:30/8:30c on ABC.
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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.