Ep 4. Devil with a Plaid Skirt

In "Devil with a Plaid Skirt," the fourth episode of the first season of the television series Grounded for Life, viewers are introduced to Sean and Claudia Finnerty, a young couple living in Staten Island with their children Lily, Jimmy, and Henry. The show follows their day-to-day lives as they navigate the ups and downs of parenthood and marriage.

In this particular episode, Sean and Claudia discover that their daughter Lily has been skipping school and hiding the evidence by forging their signatures on notes. When they confront her about it, she reveals that her history teacher, Ms. Plummer, is the reason she hasn't been attending class.

Lily describes Ms. Plummer as "the devil in a plaid skirt," claiming that she's strict, unreasonable, and cruel. However, Sean and Claudia are skeptical of Lily's claims, assuming that she's simply looking for an excuse to skip school. To prove them wrong, Lily invites them to sit in on Ms. Plummer's class.

Once there, Sean and Claudia witness firsthand how harsh Ms. Plummer can be. She constantly berates the students, interrupts their questions, and even deducts points for minor infractions like not having a pencil. Sean and Claudia realize that Lily's claims were true and decide to take action.

Initially, they plan to file a complaint with the school board, but Sean's brother Eddie suggests a different approach: they can hypnotize Ms. Plummer into being a nicer person. Though initially skeptical, Sean and Claudia eventually agree to try it out, and they enlist a hypnotist to help them.

The hypnotism itself is a comedic scene, with Ms. Plummer's movements becoming increasingly ridiculous as she's told to act more kindly and nod her head to music. When she wakes up, she has no memory of the session, but her behavior is notably improved. She even apologizes to the students for her past behavior.

However, things take a turn when Ms. Plummer reveals that she's started a relationship with Sean's brother Eddie, and she invites the entire family to a party at her house. Everyone attends, but things quickly go awry when Lily confronts Ms. Plummer about the way she treated her in class.

The confrontation leads to a series of misunderstandings and arguments, culminating in Ms. Plummer storming out of the party. The episode ends with Sean and Claudia discussing the situation and agreeing that they need to find a new school for Lily.

Overall, "Devil with a Plaid Skirt" is a classic sitcom episode that deals with relatable family issues like school troubles and overbearing teachers. It features a strong ensemble cast and plenty of comedic moments, making it an enjoyable watch for fans of the genre.