Aliens in America: Justin and Raja Plan for the Future
Now that’s more like it! Aliens in America shot the moon this week (sorry, couldn’t resist) with its take on career aptitude tests, men’s and women’s work, bow hunting and mother-daughter drama. It was a great episode all around.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with a show about career aptitude tests – there’s so much to mock! First, we find out the only two options on the test in Pakistan seem to be doctor or engineer – Raja is so thrilled to take the test here, where he can be anything! Of course, his test comes up doctor. Raja resolves to start working on it, and spends much of the first half of the episode taking a scalpel to dinner and suturing bananas. Hee!
Justin, on the other hand, shows no aptitude or inclination toward anything, which freaks his parents out to no end. If only he would pick something! Be careful what you wish for – after a visit to Dooley’s house, Justin decides his goal in life is to be a househusband. Gary immediately freaks out, and Raja is deeply disturbed as well. The scene where they try to talk Justin out of that ambition at the dinner table – in front of Franny - is painfully funny.
Gary, of course, has a plan – it’s time to go bow hunting! It’s his solution to anything Justin does that smacks of the feminine (like talking about babies coming out of his vagina. Hee!) But this time, he’s got Raja with them, and Raja really shouldn’t be let anywhere near a bow. He accidentally shoots Gary in the tush while Gary is arguing with Justin. Now Justin gets to test out his child-care skills on a painkiller-addled Gary, and he’s as demanding as a colicky baby. Plus, Raja finds out he faints at the sight of blood. So much for aptitude tests!
Franny and Claire are having their own drama – Claire has entered the treacherous part of puberty where Franny can do nothing right, and Franny has had enough. But Claire realizes that maybe Franny isn’t that bad when she catches Claire and a friend at a club, and ends up providing Claire’s drunken friend the mothering she’s been missing – and proving that she knows a bit about fake ids, masking the smell of vomit, and other essential teenage skills.
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