Netflix's F Is For Family - Episode 3.08 "It's In His Blood"
An unwelcome surprise sends Frank's bromance with Chet into a tailspin. Maureen and Philip train for their big day. Bill's breakup gets messy.
In 2018, it makes no sense to provide full-length reviews of each individual episode for shows released all at once on the streaming services. Sure, there are some shows out there that value the power of the episode. They do make a point in differentiating each episode to ensure it's not just one big slog to the finish. However, the ability to watch the entire season at one's own viewing pace has largely changed the way we consume and discuss these shows. So, some brief summary thoughts are really all that's actually necessary with these seasons. As such, here are my latest thoughts on the next episode of Netflix's F Is For Family.
"It's In His Blood" was written by Henry Gammill and directed by Sylvain Lavoie
On the one hand, this feels like a solid conclusion to Chet and Nguyen-Nguyen's story for the season. It's revealed that she has been slowly poisoning him. He ends up in the hospital while she gets arrested. On the other hand though, this is only the eighth episode of the season. There are still two more to go. As such, it seems incredibly likely that the biggest story of the season so far will continue in those episodes. Frank and Sue's evolving relationship with the couple has received more focus than any other storyline. That's been such a crucial development as well. It makes it so it's absolutely crushing when the rest of the neighborhood sides with Chet when the latest conflict comes to light. This is the episode in which Frank believes Sue's claims about the monster that he has befriended. He doesn't understand who in the neighborhood could possibly call the city and force him to destroy the new baby room that has just been built. But Chet's the only one standing in the middle of the street with that menacing look on his face. Now, that may make him too much of a mustache-twirling villain. However, the remainder of this episode does a solid job in showing how Chet has slowly invaded Frank and Sue's entire lives. They can never seem to get away from the guy. He was introduced as a newcomer to the neighborhood. And now, he is invading Frank's workplace. The airline has been seen less this season largely because the show had other priorities. It wasn't even mentioned before that Frank was overseeing a massive runway construction. But now, his big night that unveils the finished project is ruined by the arrival of Chet and the announcement that he will be coming to work at Mohican Airlines as well. That's so infuriating to Frank. However, everyone else is quick to see Frank as the person to blame for this war between the friends. Chet appears as nothing more than a genuine and caring friend. No one else sees his pattern of abuse. It is driving Frank and Sue crazy. However, that also highlights the purpose of this new relationship this year. It's so all-consuming of Frank and Sue's entire identity. As such, they have completely no idea what it going on in their children's lives. They go running when the police are summoned to Chet's house. They want to know if Nguyen-Nguyen is okay. It's because of that that they miss Kevin's call from the police station about needing to be bailed out. That's absolutely devastating. It's every parent's worst fear. No one wants to get that call. Frank and Sue are too distracted to see what's been going on in their own house. They can see it so objectively when it's so apparent what Nguyen-Nguyen has been doing. And yet, they are oblivious to their children's plight for attention and purpose. Kevin is trying to hold onto the connections he has previously made. And yet, he doesn't fit into those worlds at all. He's not a musician or a petty criminal. He's arrested like one but that's only because he's trying to fit it. Meanwhile, Bill literally can't escape Bridget because she has become obsessed with him to the point that he's afraid for his life at every possible turn. And finally, Maureen and Philip are hatching their plan for success with the ring toss. But they are also operating under the assumption that Sue will care enough to take them to the show in the first place. Her making that commitment the day before may not mean she remembers when the time comes - especially with everything else happening in the neighborhood.
