The Man Advantage – The episode picks up right in the action with the fight between the Bulldogs and Hunt. After the rush of the beatdown, during the team locker room meeting, Shorsey (Jared Keeso) welcomes the Jims (Jon Mirasty/Brandon Nolan/Jordan Nolan) back with the game sticks. He also gives Michaels (Ryan McDonell) a game stick for his contributions to the game and the trivia team. Despite the high praise, he cuts off his attempt at a speech. Ziigwan (Blair Lamora) also interrupts and requests Shoresy and Sanguinet’s (Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat) presence in Nat’s (Tasya Teles) office. Once there, Nat reveals they are being called before the hockey league but doesn’t know why. Shoresy says the upside to the meeting is that Danis (Waneek Horn-Miller) might wear something sexy. Ziigwan, Nat, and Miigwan (Keilani Elizabeth Rose) are blown away by what he’s just admitted. Nat informs Shoresy that she’ll pick him up for the meeting. Before he can get out the door, she asks about Frankie (Max Bouffard) and says the popularity of his calendar is only growing. So much so, that the gay community is now requesting a live appearance.
At the Laughing Buddha, Sanguinet attempts to explain the meaning of an “appearance” to Ted Hitchcock (Terry Ryan). Shoresy claims it’s just a fancy word for showing up to an assigned venue. Dolo (Jonathan-Ismael Diaby) and Brant “Goody” Goodleaf (Andrew Antsanene) join the conversation by reminding everyone that Frankie is still moping about getting busted for cheating and won’t come out of his room. Pam (Michala Brasseur) interrupts and praises Hitch’s “Limblifte” t-shirt, although she prefers “Age of Electric.” When he, once again, asks her over to listen to tunes, Michaels’s arrival interrupts. Joining the team, he admits to visiting Mercedes (Eliana Jones). Sanguinet claims he just dropped Augustine off at her place on his way to the Buddha. They soon learn that the Policettis are calling in their owed favor.
Sanguinet and Michaels are chosen for the meeting with the Policettis where they learn they are to escort Angelo Policetti (Daniel Pupella) to Frankie’s appearance. They both claim they don’t know if they are going or if Frankie will show up. She reminds them that it’s not a request before saying the limo will pick them up at 8. She turns down Michaels’ offer for a glass of wine afterward but invites Sanguinet to join her and Augustine later that evening.
The team rallies around Frankie at the house, but he still won’t come out of his room. Hitch claims they’re lucky he’s even there and reminds them about Frankie’s embarrassing Laurence Leboeuf (Laurence Leboeuf) debacle. Shorsey chides Dolo and Goody when he learns Melodie and Britt (Celeste Ziegler) are staying at the house. Before leaving he suggests using the smell of a baking cake or the beeping of the microwave to lure Frankie out of the room.
Before the league meeting, Nat insists Shoresy keep his mouth shut. Mercedes and Angelo show up to warn Shoresy that Frankie better be at the event.
At the league meeting, Dansi, Aki (Lisa Cromarty), and Nina (Joelle Peters) are unimpressed with Shorsey, although he is more presentable than they would have imagined. However, they are extremely impressed with Miigwan. They ask about the calendars before bringing up Shorsey’s crosschecking MacPherson in the face. Nat and her assistants answer for him by the attack on MacPherson’s showboating. After learning that he didn’t lose any teeth or break any bones, Nat can’t help but wonder aloud what the meeting is about. The league claims it has to do with the amount of blood the attack caused.
At the house, Hitch continues his attempts to coax Frankie out of the room while Dolo and Goody enjoy Melodie and Britt’s company on the couch.
Back at the meeting, Ziigwan harshly tells the league showboating can’t go unanswered. Danis and Nina warn her to check her attitude while bringing up the league’s efforts to target a younger audience. Shoresy can no longer hold his tongue when he learns he’s suspended for the final game. The league goes on to claim that hockey is changing and will no longer accept the violent and aggressive behavior that it was once adored for. Nat steps forward to protest by pointing out that the fans nor the league dictate the way hockey is played. She says it’s the players that govern themselves, always have, and always will. She claims that’s why hockey is such a different sport. After her big speech and for good measure, she throws in that Shoresy thinks all three of them are sexy. He confirms and says he’d love to buy their husbands a beer. The league ultimately changes its ruling and wishes them luck in their game against the Yanks.
In the mood to celebrate, Shorsey visits Laura Mohr (Camille Sullivan) to share news of the ruling while also warning her that her window with his is closing. She asks him if he finally bedded Danis. He claims he wouldn’t even know what to do what a woman like that before mentioning gay night at the Coulson. He promises to keep a window open for her if she should show up but warns that he’s already started drinking so anything could happen.
The Bulldogs meet Mercedes and Angelo at the limo as ordered but they are without Frankie. They say he’s come out of his room, but don’t know where he is. Just as things start to look bad, he struts up with Laurence Leboeuf. The team is shown partying the night away at the event. Laura even shows and admires Shoresy’s dance skills at the bar. Pam, also in attendance, invites Hitch back to her place.
Outside the event, while smoking a joint, Laura inquires why Shoresy is still so avid about hockey. She says he’s older than most of the players, yet works twice as hard, why? He ultimately attributes it to being the only place where he can be himself. When she asks what he means by that, he attempts to explain using the story of a bar fight. He claims that fighting is natural for him and in hockey, he can be celebrated for that. When a cab pulls up she offers to share a ride which he turns down by claiming he can walk home. She says he can’t walk to her place.
Shoresy Review
The episode was an excellent tone-setter for what should be an exciting season conclusion. For me, there was something incredibly rewarding about the way the episode started. I enjoy the redemption moment of watching the team come together while mauling their opponents. It only got better for there, although all roads led to the gay night. The build-up to Frankie’s appearance and the way he finally overcame the trauma was surprisingly rewarding, as was the league ruling. Despite the three ladies being incredibly dull and the rushed feeling of the reversal, it somehow managed to work out. I’d give the episode 6.3 out of 10.
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