Animal Control Season 4 Episode 8 Review: Squirrels and Fat Cats

Animal Control Season 4 Episode 8, “Squirrels and Fat Cats,” tests Frank and Shred’s friendship as Frank searches for answers — and a stapler.

This episode, written by Spencer Taylor and directed by Clark Mathis, takes something as simple as Frank avoiding required paperwork for his job and blows it up into a satisfying showdown at the supply warehouse. 

In turn, “Squirrels and Fat Cats” expands the show’s world with another set and more characters, including Community’s Jim Rash as Arnie.

That exploration of the characters’ workplace beyond the bullpen at Precinct 22 is reminiscent of Animal Control Season 2 Episode 4, “Big Dogs and Mini Horses.”

The warehouse comes with built-in own lore, including Emily navigating the red tape to get a special label maker. Her personal stakes are entirely believable and add an extra layer of chaos to Frank and, begrudgingly, Shred going rogue.

Albeit, the same is true for Frank after Animal Control Season 4 Episode 6, “Roosters and Moles.” Of course, he’s disguising his disdain for paperwork as a noble fight in the “war of bureaucracy.” 

It’s also entirely in-character that Frank doesn’t piece together the changes in Shred until they impact Shred’s “blind devotion” to Frank. 

That said, it’s objectively hilarious and predictable — in the best way — that Patel is the first person to notice that Emily is drinking a coffee with Shred’s name on it, yet he’s the last one to know that Shred and Emily are dating.

Even quirks like Shred only wearing Ninja Turtles band-aids and Emily drinking six shots of espresso add up in meaningful ways.

Animal Control has such control over these characters.

The only downside of “Squirrels and Fat Cats” is that it doesn’t utilize Rash’s Arnie more. The short scenes he shares with Joel McHale, Michael Rowland, and Vella Lovell find their humor in their specificity and strangeness.

It’s easy to want to see more of that character and the domain at the supply warehouse. There’s so much material to work with there.

This show loves to play in its pool of guest stars. There was really no reason for Rob Gronkowski to return on Animal Control Season 4 Episode 3, “Dragons and Dognappers,” but it was exciting, nonetheless. Plus, Ken Jeong has already appeared in two episodes this season. 

Needless to say, there is a high likelihood that “Squirrels and Fat Cats” is only the beginning of Rash’s time on Animal Control.

Plus, without Arnie locking Emily, Frank, and Shred together, Frank doesn’t bribe Emily (and everyone else) to complete his paperwork. Without that fantastic cut, the episode doesn’t set up Victoria’s wide eyes when it clicks that Victoria knows Frank is manipulating Emily. Animal Control really earns that beat.

That quick focus pull also feels like a “game recognizing game” moment with Victoria and Frank after an episode of her reconnecting with her younger, meaner self: Little Vicky. This storyline is incredible on so many levels.

First and foremost, it’s thrilling to see Patel interact with his family — namely, his daughter Addy — on-screen for the first time since Animal Control Season 3 Episode 1, “Giraffes, Gorillas, and Penguins.”  However, even the build-up is great — the speed at which Patel grabs the radio to complain about tuition.

Given that Animal Control doesn’t really do flashbacks, Victoria’s attempt to connect with Zoey as a “cool girl” feels like the show’s way to blast to Victoria’s past. Unfortuantely, yet also fortunately, it doesn’t go well for Victoria.

She has lost her grip as a high school bully, so much so that Zoey delivers the brutal takedown of calling Victoria a humpback whale.

That rattles Victoria, teeing up one of the best lines on “Squirrels and Fat Cats” — Patel asking her, “First time experiencing empathy?”

As outrageous as this storyline is (The squirrels in Zoey’s car!), it finds something genuine in Victoria’s development. She has become a better, kinder person during the show’s run. All of which adds to that Victoria and Frank scene.

After the romance of Animal Control Season 4 Episode 5, “French Bulldogs and White Broncos,” Frank and Victoria find themselves drawn to each other by more than the exponential rule of gossip. (Victoria wants to yap!)

“Squirrels and Fat Cats” positions Frank and Victoria on opposite sides of believing an office romance can be worth the risk — one more step in their slow-burn story. After all, Emily and Shred’s story proves that Animal Control knows how to make the wait worth it.

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

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