Netflix's animated series F is for Family has never been one to shy away from covering real-world topics that affect real-world lives. Not unlike creator Bill Burr's standup, it doesn't pull any punches in its depiction of a suburban, perpetually struggling Irish-American family.
Recently renewed for a fifth and final season, the show has given each member of the family a personal conflict that is not only believable but even relatable. Even when conveying its points with a forceful, yet never heavy, hand, F is for Family is a brilliant comparison of 1970s and 2020s USA.
Leading A Family - Season 1, Episode 2
When Kevin Murphy starts failing school, his dad drags him to the airport to see what a day in the life of a thankless job is like. It's all to put food on the table for his family, and at the end of the day, his dad feels that's all that is important.
While Kevin initially rolls his eyes at his father's job, over time, he comes to appreciate and respect its intricacies. Frank is able to show his son what is truly important in life, as well as what it takes to keep a roof over their heads.
Life Choices And Regret - Season 1, Episode 3
Frank's wife, Sue (Laura Dern), is a strong contender for the best character of the show and definitely one of the best animated moms out there. When she alludes to a desire for the path untaken, right in front of her daughter, it's gut-wrenching to watch.
Dern delivers her lines with such passion that it's impossible not to feel for Sue, even if she inadvertently hurts her daughter's feelings.
Billy's Bully - Season 1, Episode 4
"F is for Halloween" is the most important episode of season 1, perhaps even the entire series. Terrified of his chain-smoking bully, Jimmy Fitzsimmons, Bill Murphy gets beaten up for wearing a Halloween costume.
Worse yet is the fact that he concurrently experiences feelings of abandonment. His friend, Philip, sees what's going on and turns his back. The episode is a strong lesson in having agency.
Sue's Promotion - Season 1, Episode 4
Sue's plotline in "F is for Halloween" is just as impactful, if not more so. When Sue's boss, Vivian (recurring guest star Allison Janney) calls to offer her a promotion, she reaches Frank instead. In what is arguably one of Frank's worst moments in the series, he turns down the job on his wife's behalf, without even consulting her.
It's an infuriating moment for the viewer. And, while redemption arrives by the episode's end, it serves as a prime example of the show's subtle indictment of gender dynamics in 1970s nuclear families.
Picking A Costume - Season 1, Episode 4
Throughout "F is for Halloween," Maureen Murphy essentially sits by the plot's side. Intermittently, her character will pop into frame and ask her father if she can go out dressed as one in a series of Halloween costumes as he frantically searches for Sue.
The issue, as far as Frank is concerned, is that each costume was made for a man. By the end of the episode, he's come to realize the error of his ways, not just with Sue, but with Maureen, as well. Frank is a 1970s man being dragged into the 21st century.
Kids These Days - Season 1, Episode 5
When Frank comes home from a long day, he finds Sue standing in their bedroom. Beneath their bed, holding his mouth, is the snooping Bill. The vicious argument between Frank and Sue turns a bit more amorous. All the while, Bill is hiding below the bed.
While walking in on your parents is one thing, this is another. Where the episode really tackles some tough ground, though, is in the dialogue. Particularly when it is mentioned that Kevin, the oldest child, was dropped at the bottom of a hotel swimming pool when he was a baby. This is not well-worn television territory.
Sexism In The Workplace - Season 2, Episode 3
After Frank loses his job at the airport, the family enters dire financial straits. Sue takes the lead as the breadwinner of the family (much to Frank's furthered chagrin) by working as a secretary at the head office of her current door-to-door sales job. However, she finds herself steeped in an environment filled with men spouting sexist "jokes."
This is another example of Sue being a strongly developed character. Instead of pandering to their ignorance, she gives just as good as she gets, and they respect her for it.
Billy The Kid, Outlaw - Season 2, Episode 6
Bill started breaking from his shell midway through season 2. The show frames his indifference towards the law as a product of just being pushed too far.
Feeling neglected by his parents and still facing the incessant wrath of Jimmy Fitzsimmons, he begins breaking the rules to an increasing degree. While this attracts negative attention from his parents, the important reaction is Bill's own: genuine regret.
Unplanned Pregnancy - Season 3, Episode 1
While the show had mentioned unplanned pregnancy prior to the season 3 premiere, here was where it showed the storyline in full.
The premiere drops viewers into this surprising situation, just the same as Frank. While this is smart in and of itself, the episode's multi-character focal point is the perfect way to build up Burr's trademark overwhelmed reaction.
Domestic Violence - Season 3, Episode 5
Season 3's main recurring character (and villain, in this case) came in the form of Vince Vaughn's detestable Chet Stevenson. While in the first few episodes Chet seems like a nice enough guy who can pal around with Frank, the turning point comes in this mid-season stunner. As Sue sneaks by his home, she hears him verbally (at least) abuse his wife, Nguyen-Nguyen.
Vaughn's initially calming performance turns into genuinely scary with the flip of a switch, and the show's continued exploration into why this monster acts the way he acts feels like it's trying to explain and educate, not excuse. This also isn't usually marked as one of Vince Vaughn's best performances, but as horrible as his character is, it should be.