The Boondocks Season 4 Episode 2: Recap
Huey and Riley’s reaction to Grandad’s finances, my reaction to the episode
***Spoiler alert***
The second episode of The Boondocks dropped Monday night and I was thoroughly disappointed. I’d like to say there were some good jokes but the writing was stale. I’m hoping the episodes get better after this one. If not, this is going to be a long season. Without further ado, let’s get into the recap.
Grandad is moving out of Woodcrest. He announces to the boys that his plan to get a young Stiviano and watch The Price is Right reruns (because i know of nothing more indicative of a quiet life) has failed. Riley is quick to agree but Huey sniffs out the truth, Grandad is broke. He decided to refinance his home with an adjustable mortgage and now owes millions of dollars to Ed Wuncler Jr.
Ed Wuncler Jr. and Vanderbilt come by to settle the debt
I’m gonna stop right here for a second to say that this was the first sign that the episode wouldn’t be that great. If there’s one thing Grandad loves it’s his money, and keeping it like that. Making a cheap man broke would take more than a cute commercial. But this is The Boondocks so I figured the episode would turn itself around.
Uncle Ruckus, Woodcrest’s newest mayoral candidate, stops by to rub it in and use the Freemans as an example of what he does not want in Woodcrest, poor Black people. Soon after Ed Wuncler Jr. and his assistant Vanderbilt come by to discuss the terms of repayment. He needs $52,000.47 in a month. Grandad balks at this amount but is coaxed into agreeing to the timeline. As Wuncler Jr. exits, Vanderbilt stops and gives the Freemans a sound piece of advice, “Nothing is going to be okay. Listen to me. Fake your deaths. Do you hear me? Fake your deaths.” At this point I’m hoping the writers take their own advice but I digress…
Grandad and the boys in their new home, the garage
Ed Wuncler Jr. comes back a month later to find nothing but a briefcase with maybe enough money to get a venti Oprah chai latte inside. Once again I was wondering what happened during that month. It would have been nice to see Riley and Huey get into some shenanigans trying to raise that much money in a month. Instead Wuncler Jr. offers Grandad a way out, renting out the rooms. Grandad agrees and moves into his garage. The rent from the tenants still isn’t making a dent so Grandad does something more desperate. He gets a job. Grandad tries working at Uncle Ruckus’s car wash, but is laid off after one day. Now even his precious toilet is rented out and Grandad is desperate to get his house back. Wuncler Jr. takes advantage of his desperation and easily persuades him to sign a terrible loan, doubling his debt. It is anything but good times for the Freemans as they wallow in the garage. When Wuncler Jr. comes back to check on Freemans, he sees that not much progress is being made. Uncle Ruckus, always a step behind, comes in with a suggestion to liberate Grandad from his debt. Slavery, or as Ed says, investing in people. Grandad signs himself into slavery.
Good times for Uncle Ruckus, slavery is back!
This is where I could barely believe what I was watching. Where was the satirical aspect of the episode? I couldn’t find any cheeky digs at the banks or the state of mortgage rates today. It was Grandad getting got over and over and over again. Grandad is a fool, selfish and runs away from responsibility at every turn, but it was hard to think he’d sign himself into slavery. What was even worse about this episode was Huey and Riley’s lack of scheming. They are notorious for thinking of plans or trying to help themselves out of a bad situation, even if their plans are half-baked. It was like Uncle Ruckus wrote the episode. I was hoping that the lukewarm debut was not indicative of the rest of the season, but this second episode was a huge disappointment.
Am I being too harsh? What are your thoughts on this episode?
