It’s been a little while since we’ve checked in with the Otto family. In the latest episode, “Then and Now,” the writers continue a plot point that began at Oliver’s surprise party.
Despite what poor Taylor thinks, the Otto’s landlord is not selling their lawn but selling their house. After hearing Greg lie to Oliver’s friends about their fantastic wealth, Don, the landlady’s son, decided that the Otto’s weren’t the kind, down-to-earth family his mother had thought they were when first renting to them.
Everyone is upset at this new development but Katie. Katie has had it with this snooty town and her final straw was the mean waiter at the breakfast place who told her cream was unhealthy. It’s a small moment, but one of many that have been piling up in the two years since the Ottos moved in.
I was shocked to hear that they had actually lived in Westport for two years. The pilot and other episodes made it seem like it had only been a few months. I can’t believe Katie’s been silently dealing with the judgmental Westport mommies for a full two years. No wonder she snaps when she sees a literal sign that the Ottos should move.
Katie is sick of the passive-aggressive unsigned notes telling her to fix the dent in her van, the too-small blouses at all the trendy boutiques, the $300 candles, knowing what Turks and Caicos is, and being the First Lady of the Recycling Committee. She resents Fat Pam for tricking the younger, much more naïve Ottos into moving into their house in the first place. She would be happy to move to Norwalk, where her questions about almond milk and lactose-free cream are met with looks of disgust. She and the regulars at the Norfolk Diner can make fun of rich people together.
Angela and Doris are desperate for her not to move, but they can’t give her any good reasons to stay. Greg, in the end, gives her the best reason. After Katie unloads about her frustration with the housewives of Westport, he points out that every problem Katie has with the place is about her. She doesn’t care that Taylor is on the volleyball team, that Oliver has a girlfriend, or that Anna-Kat is finally making friends (despite her weird hallway walking).
But Katie does care. She cares a lot. The second Greg points out her selfish view, she immediately storms out of the house to tear down the for-sale sign. She’s firmly on the side of the other Ottos and tries to emotionally appeal to Don. They give him a box of sentimental things that they’ve found in the basement and tell him that whoever buys the house is just going to tear it down. He doesn’t care. He hates the house.
The only recourse for the Otto family is tracking down the actual landlord, Don’s mom, Linda Smith. Unfortunately, there are thousands of Linda Smiths in the area. It also doesn’t matter, because Don tells them that his mother has gone back to her maiden name. Taylor points out that Linda was on the 1956 championship volleyball team. Her maiden name would be in the trophy case at the school. Taylor might be a genius, but still can’t spell the word.
Greg has a key to the school, but doesn’t know how to get past the motion sensors. Anna-Kat has the solution. She walks down the hallway every day avoiding the motion sensors, leading Oliver to proclaim to his friends that she’s feral.
She leads the Ottos on a silly walk down the hall, complete with Mission Impossible music. Katie is up for the game, but bails once she’s discovered the name. It’s a fun family outing, but she doesn’t want to do it twice.
Greg and Katie track down Linda Smith née Tepper and, as they suspected, she didn’t know her son was selling the house. She sympathizes with Katie about the juice-obsessed Westport mommies and promises that the Ottos can have the house as long as Katie keeps giving them hell. Katie agrees and is even rewarded at her breakfast spot. The mean waiter started stocking cream, just for her. Not a bad day for “Angry Lady, Extra Bacon.”
What did you think of tonight’s episode? What’s your favorite bizarre Westport trait? Did your school have a Quiddich team? – Mine actually did!
