Episode Report Card Niki: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Pressure Cooker
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 4 | Aired on 11.20.2000
Later, at the dinner table, Eli's stuffing pasta in his face while Rick calls up the stairs to try to convince Jessie to come and eat. For his mother's benefit, Rick ticks off the list of health and environmental advantages tonight's take-out restaurant offers. He then focuses his attention on Eli's latest assignment, a paper on the Spanish-American War. They proceed to get into a bickering match over whether or not Teddy Roosevelt was involved. Again, my ignorant Canadian ass isn't much use in deciding who's right: Eli who claims he wasn't involved, or Rick who insists he was. But really, does anyone care? The gist of the argument, for our purposes, is that Rick doesn't trust Eli's research abilities or the amount of effort he put into the paper, and Eli resents Rick's evident doubt in him. They bicker and snipe while Peg, of course, continues her pattern of watching closely. Grandma's stare then shifts pointedly between the staircase and Jessie's empty chair and untouched food.
A little later, Rick comes down the stairs to find his mother on the phone with his good-for-nothing brother, discussing Rick's baby nephew. His mother passes along the exciting news that the baby smiled, and reminds Rick of the first time he called her about Eli's smile. Yeah, yeah, blah de blah timepassessofastcakes. Peg starts to wheedle. It would be less irritating, perhaps, if it weren't so obvious that she's trying so hard not to be obvious. Rick doesn't bite. Peg's mouth starts running at lightning speed, trying to convince Rick that his brother's really changed, and wasn't that the whole point of their problem? Rick makes up the fold-out bed, warning his mother not to get in the middle of things. She points out that she hasn't said a word in four years. "Your silence has been deafening," Rick assures her. Peg is silent for a minute then wisely changes the topic. She brings up Eli, putting in a good word for him. Rick complains about the change in Eli's attitude, and Granny defends the kid, saying it's "his job at this age" and she's surprised that Eli didn't start with the pissy attitude sooner. Granny takes a time-out from the discussion to flirt a little with her son over how big he is. Tickly knee-grabbing and squawking ensues. The Granny grows somber, looking in the direction of the stairs. "D-d-do you think Jessie's lost weight recently?" she asks haltingly. Unconcerned, Rick says that Jessie's just having "an unbelievable growth spurt" and wonders why Peg would ask. She informs him that "young girls have it so tough these days, with eating issues." Rick pshaws the notion that Jessie could have a problem. Granny unconvincingly acts like she's convinced, which prompts Rick to throw out the veiled accusation, "Did you come here for Thanksgiving, or to put into practice all the things you've learned at your workshops?" Peg claims, "That's not fair." With half an eye-roll, Rick relents and perfunctorily says that he's glad she came. Sighing mightily, Rick lies back, pulls the covers over himself, and says wearily, "I happen to be dealing with a lot of things right now." It's clear he doesn't care to deal with any more. Peg gives him a peck on the forehead and turns out the light. As she reaches the doorway, Rick says, "We're going to have a nice, dysfunctional Thanksgiving, just like all good Americans." He rolls over, turning his back to the camera and the doorway. A half-second later, he glances over his shoulder to where his mother was standing. She did get to him, after all.