Ep 8. House Rules
- TVPG
- November 22, 2011
- 21 min
-
7.8 (402)
In the eighth episode of the first season of Last Man Standing, entitled "House Rules," Mike Baxter (played by Tim Allen) has to deal with a number of challenges in his household. The episode revolves around Mike's attempts to establish a set of house rules that his family can follow, but he soon discovers that this is easier said than done.
One of the major plotlines of the episode involves Mike's daughter, Kristin (played by Amanda Fuller), who is living at home with her young son while she attends community college. Kristin is having a hard time keeping up with her studies and taking care of her son, and she often relies on her dad to babysit while she attends classes.
However, this arrangement soon becomes a source of tension between Mike and Kristin, as they disagree over how much responsibility each of them should take for the child. Mike wants Kristin to focus on her schoolwork and let him take care of the baby, while Kristin resents her dad's interference and feels like he is trying to control everything.
Another subplot in "House Rules" involves Mike's son-in-law, Kyle (played by Christoph Sanders), who is staying with the Baxters while he looks for a job. Kyle is a bit of a slacker and spends most of his time lounging around the house, much to Mike's consternation. Mike tries to teach Kyle some responsibility by involving him in a DIY home improvement project, but things go disastrously awry.
Overall, "House Rules" is a lighthearted and entertaining episode that showcases the show's strong ensemble cast and witty writing. The episode manages to blend humor with heart, tackling serious family issues while still delivering plenty of laughs. Fans of Last Man Standing will enjoy this early installment of the series, which sets the stage for the show's continued success.