Animal Control Season 5 Episode 6 Review: Emily and Shred’s Housewarming Party Becomes a Family Dinner

Animal Control Season 5 Episode 6, “Baked Chickens and Rat Dogs,” is a brilliant ensemble adventure for the pack, which finally and rightfully includes Daisy. 

This episode, written by Brad Stevens & Boyd Vico and directed by Maggie Carey, has something for everyone. Yes, that refers to the audience as Animal Control dives into family lore, relationship hurdles, and workplace dynamics.

In turn, “Baked Chickens and Rat Dogs” also has something for every character.

Patrick Shaw even has some moments of genuine sincerity after last appearing on Animal Control Season 4 Episode 7, “Donkeys and Weasels.”

That’s not to say that this episode suddenly sees Patrick become good at his job. Jimmy  also doesn’t become a good father (or person) overnight. All of those defining qualities, including Frank’s, stay exactly the same. 

It’s more so that “Baked Chickens and Rat Dogs” digs into Frank and Patrick’s childhood and their relationship with their mom in the most absurd way possible. It all comes down to a cast-iron pan caked in decades worth of seasoning. That’s ridiculously silly and genuinely serious for these brothers.

Animal Control treats it as such. From Frank and Patel scattering so Patrick can’t catch them to Frank smacking himself in the back of the head with the hidden pan, there’s so much humor in this storyline.

The only reason that really works is because it’s built on something honest — Frank and Patrick’s love for their late mother.

That sincerity shines best in their scene where they make the chicken. It’s so endearing that it feels like Animal Control has to undercut it or turn it into a bit. “Baked Chickens and Rat Dogs” surprises with how it sits in that moment.

It’s far more effective to hear Frank and Patrick reminisce about the Labor Day picnic and the notes their mom would leave in their lunchbox. The tenderness in those memories makes the cast-iron pan have the meaning that supports Frank and Patrick chasing it the whole episode.

It’s also what makes Shred’s fake-out so initially devastating and genius.

It also works because Shred understands what it means to be emotionally attached to something that is conventionally unsentimental. 

Emily and Shred’s roommate fight about his “face-plant blood” snowboarding bib is so very them. It’s also a nice, low stakes way to test this new chapter of their relationship.

It’s a relief that it doesn’t spiral into something bigger because they have only just moved into each other. Any drama for drama’s sake would be less than ideal.

Then again, Emily realizing that she needs to just be honest with Shred is becoming quite the trend. That’s what led them to moving in together on Animal Control Season 5 Episode 5, “Sled Dogs and Kitty Litter.” 

One of the other great surprises of “Baked Chickens and Rat Dogs” is Victoria and Daisy’s storyline. The only thing that would have made it better is if Animal Control took it a little farther.

The episode suggests that Victoria is being mean to Daisy for no reason, but there is one that the show seems to have forgotten in the absence of Templeton. He has been nothing but inappropriate (to say the very least) with Victoria, and Daisy has done nothing but support Templeton since joining the show. 

So, it’s odd that the script doesn’t have Victoria mention as much when Daisy points out that it feels like Victoria doesn’t want her at work. Consequently, their argument falls flat when it could be more substantial.

All that said, Daisy’s presence at the impromptu family dinner proves how seamlessly she fits with the pack. Casting Kyla Pratt has been one of the best decisions. Her chemistry and comedic timing just clicks with this cast!

The mere idea of Daisy and Patrick proves as much. This is the first time Pratt and Lennon have shared the screen on this show, but they have great chemistry. 

If that relationship goes anywhere, it’ll certainly give Frank and Victoria more to talk about. That’s not a bad thing when all of their scenes get them closer to admitting their feelings.

Regardless, the episodes are better when Daisy shares more scenes with the pack than Templeton. Hopefully, “Baked Chicken and Rat Dogs” isn’t another one-off but a more intentional step to have Daisy in these group scenes more often. 

All in all, the biggest win of “Baked Chickens and Rat Dogs” is Patel getting his story to tell Maya and the kids when they come home. 

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Animal Control airs Sundays at 8:30/7:30c on FOX.

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