The Mick season 1 episode 4 was dark even by the show's normal standards. Audiences will know Kaitlin Olson best for her role as Dee on beloved sitcom It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. That show debuted on FX in 2005 and has since become one of the longest-running live-action sitcoms in TV history. The series follows the antics of the Paddy's Pub gang, who are all horrible, selfish, cruel and vain - but also oddly likable and endearing their own ways.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia was originally in danger of being canceled after its first season, with FX only willing to fund another season if a name star was added to the cast. This led to Danny DeVito being cast as Frank Reynolds, Dee and twin brother Dennis' father - though this is later proven not to be the case. The show flourished from there, and the darker it went the funnier it got. The stars of the show have branched out to other projects, such as Charlie Day with the Horrible Bosses movies and Glenn Howerton with sitcom A.P. Bio, which led to a reduction in Dennis' appearances during It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia season 13.
In 2017 Kaitlin Olson took the lead role for FOX sitcom The Mick, where she plays a reckless, irresponsible aunt to three rich and snobby kids, but she's forced to take care of them when their parents flee the country. The Mick was pitched as something a little edgier than the average sitcom, and one that sought to push the boundaries a little. Despite receiving good reviews thanks to Olson's performance, the show was canceled after two seasons.
No episode summed up the show's commitment to darkness than The Mick season 1 episode 4 "The Balloon." This sees Mickey (Olson) throwing a birthday for youngest child Ben after she forgot about it the previous week. She puts on a big bash to cheer him up since he's sad his parents are gone, but the clown she hires - named Sully - is a little sketchy. The dilemma Mickey faces comes when Sully pasts out and Ben swallows one of his balloons - which may or may not be filled with heroin. Afraid Ben will be taken away from her if she calls 911, she attempts to make the boy throw up the balloon instead. Long story short, there were no drugs in the balloon and Ben is fine, but it made for a tense setup.
The Mick could have trouble mixing its darker tone with the demands of being a network sitcom, but "The Balloon" found just the right balance. It was fun, tense and surprisingly emotional, with Ben taking to randomly swallowing objects because he's dealing with the emotions of his parents vanishing.