Animal Control Season 4 Episode 2 Review: Bagged Birds and Alley Dogs

Animal Control Season 4 Episode 2, “Bagged Birds and Alley Dogs,” uses all the stress of the grand opening of the annex kennels to its advantage.

This episode, written by Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton and directed by Natalia Anderson, sets itself up for success by bringing back Ken Jeong as Roman Park. 

Having become the kennels’ sponsor on Animal Control Season 3 Episode 9, “Retreivers and Fruit Bats,” it only makes total sense that Roman wants to be around for its grand opening. “Bagged Birds and Alley Dogs” is better because that is the least interesting part of the episode or Roman’s involvement in it. 

Animal Control is smart enough to know that there should be a payoff with the kennels after a season of work, particularly on Emily’s part.

In that sense, it’s welcome that “Bagged Birds and Alley Dogs” includes some of the Roman Park Park’s opening, even if it features the most unflattering mural.

The episode finds its bigger successes and strangely persistent drawbacks in the lead-up to that event, rather than at it.

“Bagged Birds and Alley Dogs” sets the tone with the fake fire drill. (Slightly unrelated: Ideally, Frank’s obsession with that panini press will never die.) There’s still a frenzy in the precinct after the merger. So, of course, the most logical thing for such an important day is for the dynamics to shift — for better and worse.

The new and fleeting partnerships free Frank up to drive around with Roman. Every single second of their shared screentime is incredible. Roman’s scream on top of the truck is especially memorable. Even something as small as Roman having Emily on the phone before he leaves the house is excellent. 

Because Joel McHale and Jeong have such great chemistry from their years working together,  there’s just an ease to their scenes.

It’s entirely in-character that Roman sees Frank as “a simple beast” and uses his daddy issues against Frank. Even so, that story beat (Frank saying, “How dare you show the world how I see myself? Of course, your dad hates you.”) underscores how Animal Control is great at weaving earnestness and humor. 

It would be exhausting if the show played that part of Frank as a one-note drum. 

Instead, the little insights into Frank’s honest insecurities make his often self-isolation, lone-wolf choices more compelling.

On the other hand, “Bagged Birds and Alley Dogs” struggles with what to make of Templeton after Animal Control Season 2 Episode 6, “Bunnies and Veggies.” 

The episode seems to want to have its cake and eat it, too, for a while. There’s an eventual attempt to understand Templeton with Shred and Patel. Meanwhile, Victoria is rightfully still upset about how Templeton treated and stalked her two seasons ago. For which, by the way, Templeton has never genuinely apologized.

The show tries to paint a better picture of Templeton through Daisy, but it falls short. Given what Animal Control shows and what Daisy says, it seems like Templeton only has room for those niceties when it comes to Daisy.

Again, any goodwill that Animal Control builds with Templeton diminishes by the end of “Bagged Birds and Alley Dogs.” His dedication to undermining Emily is more consistent than any positive change. For that reason, it’s great that the edit catches Victoria saying, “That is where I draw the line” in response.

Maybe it’s for the best if Templeton remains an antagonist figure.

If so, it’ll be curious to see what that means for Daisy. Her partnership with Templeton seems to be genuinely built on a strong foundation. 

Hopefully, Animal Control doesn’t miss out on the potential between Daisy and Victoria because of Templeton. Grace Palmer and Kyla Pratt are really great in their scenes together. Their exchange in the truck (“I didn’t say it was a him.” “Oh, really?!” “Okay, it was a him.”) shines with potential for more scenes like it. 

Meanwhile, everything “Bagged Birds and Alley Dogs” throws at Emily and Shred works. Vella Lovell and Michael Rowland have such fantastic chemistry that they sell every interaction. The more coincidental and silly, like Patel spitting tomato juice onto Shred or Emily’s pant loop getting stuck on the leash hook, the better. 

So, of course, it’s a total win (though a complicated one) to see them finally give in to their feelings and have that kiss in the end.

It’s perhaps more rewarding to see Emily reach out to Patel, who consistently stows away supplies to take to his son Danny’s 9th birthday party. That scene is understated but deeply necessary. It speaks to Emily’s leadership while teasing a bigger role (Community Outreach Officer) for Patel in the future.

So, mostly, Animal Control continues to make steady strides this season, like Frank when the bagged birds make him fly.

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

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