Man With A Plan – Adam’s Ribs

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

The episode starts with Emme (Hala Finley) playing the flute really off key. Adam (Matt LeBlanc) and Andi (Liza Snyder) patiently listen, but Kate (Grace Kaufman) has earphones on. Adam removes one of her earplugs and asks her to join the ordeal. Once Emme is done Andi tells she loved it while Adam doesn’t think he’ll ever forget it. Andi hopes to survive Emme’s two-hour concert. Adam asks Kate if she’d like to watch the new Godzilla movie. She says “I’m okay” and walks away. He doesn’t like her reaction. Andi explains she’s growing out of it and given he’s the parent he must find ways to connect with his daughter.

Kate asks Adam if he’d drop her at the movies. Andi gestures him to seize the opportunity. He does and demands a hug from Kate. She barely rubs her head against him. Adam feels it was like she bumped into him by accident and hopes to get a complete hug next time.

Don (Kevin Nealon) comes in saying he won a barbeque rib lottery. Adam is thrilled and brainstoms on how this would be the perfect bonding opportunity with Katie. At dinner he and Don serve the ribs. Kate says she’s turned vegan and can’t have them. Adam is astonished. Emme and Teddy (Matthew McCann) wonder if they’re allowed to convert like this. Teddy recalls how they’re made to have Andi’s gross and secret-ingredient food “Andi patties.” She says it’s a secret as she wants them to eat. She also gestures for Adam to take interest in Kate’s new thing as it’d help them bond. Kate mentions she can’t eat meat, fish, cheese, milk and butter and that a documentary at school inspired her. Adam still feels it’s a terrible idea, especially because Andi would have to prepare two different meals. Andi quickly suggests he could make one putting him in a spot. Teddy declares he’ll only have cake and would like to turn “cake-an.” Andi says maybe her Andi patties are made of cake, but Emme feels they’re made of earwax. The tiny tots are sent upstairs. Adam blames Kate for this house rebellion, but she’s not giving up. She coaxes him to watch the documentary “Apocalypse Cow” instead. Andi explains Adam that this could really help him bond and Kate might go full koala in the hugging department.

Cut to Adam vowing to turn vegan after watching the movie. Kate is moved and gives him a hug. Wanting more, he says he’ll get Andi to convert, too. This earns him another big hug. He later shares all this with Andi. She is thrilled, but needs him to understand that its bye-bye McNuggets. Adam suffers an instantaneous depression, but resurfaces soon.

The next day Don, Joe (Stacy Keach) and the whole family are there for lunch. Adam and Kate serve a vegan platter- tofu nuggets and macaroni and cashew cheese. Joe and Don feel violated. Andi explains the upside of getting to act superior by saying they’re vegan. Adam adds their vegan breakfast was also easy on the bathroom front. Don takes a bite but spits it out. He blames his body’s primitive instinct of rejecting poison. He and Joe decide to eat the ribs leftovers from last night. Adam takes the whole packet and dumps it in the garbage intact, but this doesn’t stop them from excavating it out to satiate their carnivorous side.

Andi packs Emme’s bag while she practices for her recital. Hurting her ears enough Andi praises her fast and asks her to go get dressed. Emme says she won’t go too fancy; as she’ll let her music speak for itself. Andi rolls her eyes appreciating her confidence. She suddenly finds a Slim Jim and pops it into her mouth. Adam catches her. She begs him to not tell Katie. Adam agrees to not disclose as part of his new moral high ground. Kate comes down to thank Andi for buying her the strawberry snack bars. She says it really means a lot to her that she’s supporting her choices and they hug it out. Adam is jealous and reveals the Slim Jim fiasco. Kate is shocked and Adam gives her emotional support with a hug. He boos Andi, who’s pissed!

At the concert Adam and Andi get seated while Don remains behind to capture the event on camera. Adam is jolly, but Andi is still angry that she was sold out to Kate. Adam says there’s only a limited quota of getting hugs from Katie. Andi’s breastfeeding days were like a long hug and now it’s his time now before she goes off to college. A parent sitting in front gives them a look. Embarrassed, Andi uses her vegan card mentioning how life’s complicated because of their dietary choices. Adam reminds her of cheating on him with jerky. She admits it, but assures that she has gotten back on the wagon. Soon Emme’s turn comes up and Adam tells the parents it’s their daughter. As she starts playing horrendously Andi tells her how Emme is non-vegan.

After the concert Adam and Don catch up. Just then Adam receives a message of winning the rib lottery, but he’s pissed that he can’t eat now. Don asks him to at least go buy it for him. He can’t do it himself as they ask for ID. Adam agrees, but asks Don to cover for him if Andi came asking around. She does and soon realizes what her husband might be up to.

Meanwhile, Adam is struggling to deliver the ribs back at Don’s untouched. The aroma is too much for him and he falls off the wagon. Don and Andi search for him. With the help of the aroma Don signals the semi-shut garage. They lift it up and there’s Adam, snoring away with a rib in his hand and a plate full of savored rib remains resting on his belly. Don admits to have witnessed Adam’s most peaceful meat nap ever.

Back home Adam and Andi argue over their respective fallouts. While bantering Adam opens their pantry and finds Kate enjoying a chicken leg whilst grooving to her playlist. She is super embarrassed but when Adam and Andi share what they did the trio hug it out like a sweet little koala bear family. They finally enjoy a good ribs meal and Kate admits to there being some really tasty pieces. Adam decides on staying a non-vegetarian, but they would donate to animal rights people. Kate’s happiness knows no bounds and she thanks him from the bottom of her heart.