Animal Control Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Bulls and Potbellies

Animal Control Season 2 Episode 8, “Bulls and Potbellies,” channels all the chaos of the sophomore season into a penultimate outing that keeps you guessing. 

Written by Jen Jackson and Directed by Clark Mathis, this episode subverts expectations in its humor and its plot twists. 

Together, “Bulls and Potbellies” is a fantastic episode in a season that rarely misses. It brings back familiar faces — and furry friends — to tie up loose ends and set up a season finale to remember. While that’s all exciting, Animal Control also invests meaningful time in the characters and their relationships.

This episode could get lost in the Saltwater Affair gala of it all, but it doesn’t.

Instead, “Bulls and Potbellies” uses that black-tie event as a backdrop for what’s to come — professionally and personally. It’s not a coincidence that Emily can’t go to the gala, so he invites Victoria to go undercover as his — first and third — wife.

Usually, that kind of partnership is reserved for slow-burn relationships on procedural dramas, but Animal Control gives it a whirl with great success. 

Before it even gets there, though, the workplace comedy showcases the strengths of Frank and Emily’s partnership. That dynamic has been such an expected delight since Animal Control Season 2 Episode 2, “Cats and Monkeys.” 

“Bulls and Potbellies” sees Emily and Frank in action as partners for the first time since they agreed to do so on Animal Control Season 2 Episode 4, “Big Dogs and Mini Horses.” They match each other’s energy so well that it’s almost scary.

It’s also great that their storyline includes animals more casually outside of their investigation and the teaser’s bull-in-a-china-shop joke.  

The last few episodes haven’t been as animal-centric, which has been surprising but not overwhelmingly disappointing. Still, for a show with “animal” in the title, the confirmation that Frank kept Doc Whiskers is a treat. Equally so is Rick’s annoying bird Emilio and the cameo of the adorable potbelly pig, Denise.

Terry always has the best animals — too bad he fled to Canada!

On the other hand, it’s good that Rick doesn’t plan to leave for Nopal until Animal Control pairs him up with Shred and hits a few milestones in his relationship with Emily. “Bulls and Potbellies” has a much richer story with surprising character beats because it doesn’t avoid the former, the latter, or both. 

Shred and Rick’s team-up is one of the most unexpected delights on “Bulls and Potbellies.” Their distinctly opposite energies fit together perfectly.

Also, Michael Rowland’s comedic timing keeps getting better. His delivery of “She Mambo Number Five’d you” made it one of my favorite lines of the season. It’s such an unexpected joke; every bit of it lands nicely. 

Rick and Emily’s first big fight also works really well on Animal Control.

It has felt like a long time coming since Emily has dropped little hints that there may be trouble in paradise. The most glaring examples are on Animal Control Season 2 Episode 6, “Bunnies and Veggies,” when Emily insinuates that she doesn’t want to go out with only Rick all the time anymore.

Instead of keeping Emily’s personal life off-screen, like the show often does with Patel and his family, “Bull and Potbellies” brings it into focus through Shred.

It’s such a clever way to approach the rift between Emily and Rick.

It’s good because Shred doesn’t let the “secret project” slip on purpose; there’s no ill will there. It’s a complete accident. So, Animal Control doesn’t lose its sarcastic yet well-intentioned heart. Instead of becoming something pessimistic, Shred champions Rick to Emily, inspiring her to reinvest in the relationship.

That scene is great because Rowland and Vella Lovell’s chemistry amplifies the tension between their characters on the page. So, when Shred turns back around, it seems like he may say something in his favor instead of Rick’s. In turn, “Bulls and Potbellies” prolongs that slow burn instead of letting it fizzle out. 

Of course, there is something to say about Emily encouraging Rick to leave to work on himself on his own instead of staying to work on their relationship together. But that’s a problem for another Animal Control episode.

It’s more than enough that “Bulls and Potbellies” lets those seeds of doubt grow.

It’s good storytelling that Emily and Rick’s relationship starts to crack when Shred is finally interested in starting something new with a woman he can’t even find. Those stories fit together seamlessly. It’s clear where they’ll eventually end, possibly seasons from now, and the journey to that destination is too much fun.

Animal Control is also having the best time with Frank and Victoria.

Could it get much better than Shred noticing the mystery woman who stole his heart in the background of a photo where Victoria is affectionately looking at Frank? The answer is no, and Animal Control knows it. 

Either way, it’s such a testament to that dynamic that Victoria, who finally commits to studying, is willing to go out the night before her big citizenship exam to help Frank with something that means something to him. It feels really reminiscent of C-38 in that way — another time when Victoria steps up for Frank.

With next week being the Season 2 finale (Where did all the time go?), perhaps Animal Control will switch up its trend and see Frank show up for Victoria with however her test shakes out. Nevertheless, “Bulls and Potbellies” tees up a bust at the docks that could end this season with more than one cliffhanger.

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What did you think of this episode of Animal Control? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Animal Control airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on FOX.

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