Animal Control Season 4 Episode 10 Review: Scaredy Cats and Card Sharks

Animal Control Season 4 Episode 10, “Scaredy Cats and Card Sharks,” goes beyond the usual day shift to address some of the pack’s fears.

This episode, written by Brad Stevens & Boyd Vico and directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, finds its greatest strength in Emily and Victoria’s girls’ night.

In an inspired choice, it takes place in the aftermath of Victoria and Parker’s break-up on Animal Control Season 4 Episode 9, “Bats and Camels.” 

The workplace comedy could very well move forward after how well-written — and acted — that break-up was. In fact, it’s almost a surprise to see Josh Segarra reprise his role during this episode because the previous one feels so definitive.

Over the most concerningly blue drinks imaginable, “Scared Cats and Card Sharks” chips away at Victoria’s confidence. It doesn’t diminish her character but expands it by having Emily support a more vulnerable side of her friend.

In that sense, this episode complements Animal Control Season 3 Episode 6, “Buffalo and Beavers.” Then, Victoria knew that Emily needed support and stuck by her while she sought closure from her relationship with Rick. “Scaredy Cats and Card Sharks” returns the favor from Victoria’s unique perspective.

It’s affecting to watch (Emily react to) Victoria (and Parker) admit she’s hurting.

Beyond the depth it grants the character, Grace Palmer delivers a convincing drunk performance. She doesn’t play it too big, so it really works.

Relatedly, Animal Control unlocks another likable pairing — Frank and Daisy. 

With Templeton out, “Scaredy Cats and Card Sharks” uses their dynamic as another opportunity to show how great Daisy is when she’s not defending Templeton’s indefensible behavior.

In fairness, this episode has Kyla Pratt’s character say that she’s an animal psychic, which is the most explicit and joyous nod to Dr. Doolittle. It takes the baton from Animal Control Season 4 Episode 5, “French Bulldogs and White Broncos,” where she pretends to be a vet and runs with it.

Also, in a perfect world, Animal Control will never drop this odd mother/son dynamic that Daisy wants with Shred. It’s hilarious and adds an extra layer to Shred racing to help Daisy stop Frank from a gambling spiral.

By the way, Shred jumping off the roof with “mom lifting a van adrenaline,” only to land in a dumpster of soiled dog beds, is too perfect. There are too many compliments to throw at that sequence. Even Bettany resigning herself to looking if Shred’s alive by saying, “Shred never grew on me anyway,” is ingenious.

Animal Control is building a dynamic, while acknowledging that another one needs work. All the while, this show is firing on all comedic cylinders.

From the teaser with the “Gah” montage and Shred buying Frank’s handcuffs at the magic shop to Frank and Daisy bickering until $5k flies out the window of the shop and the money being for an unflattering hairpiece, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud bits. They all build on each other.

The humor back at the precinct comes from Shred, Patel, and Bettany running from the biker who wants his dog back instead of having a simple conversation. 

Their endless distractions speak to their fears of doing certain parts of their jobs.

Shred and Patel would rather watch a movie than do inventory, and Bettany has been delaying health insurance paperwork for weeks. That’s also oddly relatable.

It’s also objectively funny to watch the bucket — with Jellybean — slowly lowering and then rising in the background of Emily and Victoria confronting the biker. Then, again, Patel thinks it’s easier to say he and Bettany are having an affair than to tell the truth. Animal Control really excels across the comedic board.

It even finds humor in the rather serious matter of Frank’s gambling problem.

Joel McHale’s line reads put a dry blanket over the concerning paternal pattern in his family. Alternatively, there’s also a wild sincerity in his voice when Frank sees Doc Whiskers and realizes he must stop. It’s such a bizarre situation, but it works because the actors commit to the contextually high stakes.

Animal Control knows how and when to be more serious and deeply unserious.

“Scaredy Cats and Card Sharks” tests the pack to do the scary things, even if said scary things are basic parts of their job. It also shows the lengths the pack will go to support one another — it’s a big deal that Frank got Daisy that cortado.

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

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