Ep 6. Good Cop, Bad Cop

Mike Baxter (Tim Allen) wishes that all his daughters inherited his passion for sports, so he puts his hope in his grandson Boyd. However, when Boyd becomes interested in ballet lessons, Mike feels betrayed, as he sees dancing as something feminine and unfit for boys. To make matters worse, Vanessa Baxter (Nancy Travis), against Mike's will, encourages Boyd to explore his interests and signs him up for classes, causing a rift between her and her husband. Meanwhile, as Mike starts to get more involved in Boyd's activities, he becomes friends with a cop, Carl, who shares his love for sports and tough demeanor. However, when Mike learns about Carl's unorthodox style of policing, he starts to question his own values and beliefs.

The episode starts with Mike walking into the house, expecting to see Boyd already dressed in his baseball gear, ready for a game. However, when he finds out that Vanessa has signed him up for ballet classes, he reacts with disbelief and anger, saying that Boyd should be playing ball like a normal boy. Vanessa defends her decision and tries to explain that she wants their grandson to explore his interests and find his own passion, without being restricted by gender stereotypes. But Mike refuses to listen and storms out of the house, feeling that Vanessa is going against his wishes.

As the week goes by, Mike becomes more and more obsessed with the idea that he needs to change Boyd's mind and make him love sports like he does. He takes Boyd to a baseball game, hoping that the excitement of the crowd and the sound of the bat hitting the ball will awaken his grandson's competitive spirit. But Boyd only seems to be interested in the cotton candy and the popcorn, and Mike feels frustrated. Later that night, he goes to a bar to drown his sorrows, and that's where he meets Carl, a rough-looking cop who is also a huge fan of sports. Mike and Carl bond over their love for football and baseball, and they start to talk about how men should be tough and resilient.

Meanwhile, Vanessa becomes worried about Mike's behavior and decides to invite Carl and his wife over for dinner, to get to know them better. Carl turns out to be a very different person than Mike thought he was: he drinks heavily, swears a lot, and laughs at inappropriate jokes. Vanessa feels uncomfortable and tries to steer the conversation towards more family-friendly topics, but Carl keeps bringing up his job and the dangers he faces every day. Mike, however, finds Carl fascinating and even considers applying to become a cop himself.

The next day, Mike and Carl take Boyd to a batting cage, where they show him how to hit a ball with a bat. Boyd is hesitant at first but soon gets the hang of it, surprising Mike with his natural talent. However, when Carl decides to play a prank on a nearby patrol car, using his bat to smash a car window, Mike feels conflicted. He knows that breaking the law is wrong, but he also admires Carl's bravery and recklessness. When the cop car starts chasing them, Mike and Carl run away, leaving Boyd behind.

Back at home, Vanessa confronts Mike about his behavior and tells him that he needs to accept Boyd for who he is, without trying to force him to be someone he's not. Mike realizes that he's been selfish and insensitive, and apologizes to Vanessa and Boyd, promising to support their grandson's choices from now on. However, when Carl shows up at the door, with a bruise on his face and a stolen police badge in his pocket, Mike has to decide whether to keep admiring him or to report him to the authorities.

Good Cop, Bad Cop is a classic Last Man Standing episode, with plenty of humor, heart, and family drama. Tim Allen's performance as Mike is both hilarious and touching, as he navigates the tricky waters of gender norms and paternal expectations. Nancy Travis shines as Vanessa, a loving and tolerant wife who won't let her husband's stubbornness get in the way of their grandson's happiness. And guest star Richard Karn (Allen's former co-star on Home Improvement) brings a lot of charisma and energy to the role of Carl, a cop with a dark side. Overall, this episode is a great example of the show's ability to tackle serious issues with a light touch, and to provide both laughs and insights into modern family dynamics.