Home Economics Review: FaceFlop App, $1.99 (Season 2 Episode 15)
Sarah’s school fundraiser becomes a hotbed of hilarious family drama when Denise casually suggests the option of Tom or Connor being their sperm donor on Home Economics Season 2 Episode 15, “FaceFlop App, $1.99.”
That simple suggestion, that really had no thought or desire behind it, causes awkward conflict between Denise and Marina and spurs on a silly competition between the brothers on who has genetic superiority.
It’s so silly that Slapsies turns into an all-out tussle while Sarah is singing her little heart out on stage trying to impress the dean of Windmount Academy so she can direct the school play.
Brotherly competition is nothing new with the Hayworth boys. We’ve seen competing to be the best Iron Man on Home Economics Season 2 Episode 6, “Box of King-Size Candy Bars, $48.99.” On Season 2’s Christmas episode, they compete over the paying of a loan.
They do come out of these ridiculous rivalries with a better understanding of one another, and thusly, their bond as brothers and friends is strengthened. The presence of their parents, played so delightfully by Nora Dunn and Phil Reeves, at the fundraiser helps them to see where the rivalry originated and to give each other a break.
Connor: It’s crazy, we’ve spent our whole lives competing against one another.
Tom: Yeah, it’s like we define ourselves against each other.
Connor: Why are we like this?
Muriel: There they are. My big, strong jock and my boy genius.
Marshall: Did you guys figure out who’s the better man?
Tom: Asked and answered.
Another parental influence is why Sarah wants to direct the play in the first place.
Sarah: I know my “Follies” from my “Fantasticks.” But by the ninth grade our mother, the great thespian, had critiqued all of the joy out of it. So directing this show is my chance to reclaim that glory.
Luckily, she gets that chance in the end—even with Connor and Tom’s rowdy interruption.
Although, theirs was the most physical conflict of the night, it is the tension between Denise and Marina that really puts me on edge. Fourtunately, they are able to resolve it by the end of the episode.
This same dynamic reared its head recently on Season 2 Episode 11, “Camping Tent, $39.99,” between Sarah and Marina as well as on the Season 1 finale. Here we have miscommunication among the only two members of the “normal club.”
And what a miscommunication it is!
How far would they have gone in order to not hurt each other’s feelings? Surely not as far as the actual donation, right?
Bless Marshall and his $1.99 FaceFlop App for getting them to talk—horrifying, as it was.
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.
One thought on “Home Economics Review: FaceFlop App, $1.99 (Season 2 Episode 15)”
This same plot was used in modern family. Clare offered her egg to cam so that Mitchell and Cam could have a baby with their combined DNA. All the same issues.
I love HE. but I was disappointed that they ABC stole the plot so blatantly from MF.
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