Review: Blark and Son “Son-o-Flash”

Rule # 1 – Watch this episode.

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Tired of crying over his recent troubles with Regina, Son reinvents himself with the help of internet celebrity Rock-o-Flash (guest star Jimmy Tatro). An ultra-tough testosterone-exuding social media millionaire-type, Rock-o-Flash touts a rulebook that seems like it will help Son overcome his awkwardness and start standing up for himself. The only problem is, Rock-o-Flash is a total jerk.

Son announces that he’s changed his persona to match his new idol, with new sunglasses to match. Son-o-Flash wastes no time following the rulebook, starting with destroying Blark’s ice cream therapy cake because “the past is trash.” Blark explains the cake was for the family to share with Regina and Zeke, so we find out they’ll be coming over.

We catch up with Son, Regina, and virtual-Zeke all playing a DnD-style tabletop roleplay game. Son has invented a new character, Chillbro Baggins, which mirrors Son-o-Flash’s new no-nonsense (or compassion) attitude. After a few too many embarrassing escapades in triple-earth, Regina resorts to killing Chillbro, in what is a thinly veiled effort to get back the friend she knows.

As Son storms off, he overhears Zeke and Regina talking about how weird he’s being but chalks it up to them not being able to handle his new persona. Fletch, however, hears Son disregarding this exchange and steps in to teach son why it’s important to be yourself, in only a way Fletch can, by hanging upside down and comparing Son to a unicorn.

Son realizes he needs to put down the sunglasses and be himself, and his friends happily welcome him back.

Our Take

Creator Ben Bayouth commented on Instagram earlier this week that this episode had some of his favorite jokes in it, and it’s easy to see why. The last few son-centered episodes have been hilarious, and this one was the best in the series so far.

Blark’s sordid backstory is sent over the edge into total unbelievable misfortune, Fletch keeps being Fletch, and Zeke over-explains the futility of young balls attached to an old penis – how can you go wrong here?

The guest star this week perfectly played such his unlikable character, instantly bringing to mind the ridiculous snake oil salesmen we’ve all encountered on Facebook.

Once again, the show proves to us it can make us relate to every character, and no matter how bizarre the situation in the Blark household gets, at minute six we can look forward to a predictable outcome brought about in entirely unpredictable ways.

Side note: Are we the only ones who think Handsome Stacey had to be behind the therapy cake? Here’s hoping that’s a bonus scene!

Look for a new episode of Blark and Son on Go90 on Monday.