This episode encapsulated an issue I've had with season 3 as a whole, which is that while the writing, acting, and production values remain better than anything else on television, the season as a whole feels like it's just running in place. The critics really hyped up this episode as a standout, and while it was in many respects (the palpable tension and cringe comedy were at peak levels), it also felt bizarrely inconsequential despite bringing the two most teased elements of the plot (Sandy/Stewy and the shareholder vote) to a head. And Logan's illness felt amped-up to contrived levels in this episode, as if it was just an excuse for the writers to facilitate the central conflict. This season has been curiously devoid of what made season 2 so strong - each episode being centered around the Roys in a different environment that puts them through the ringer in unique ways. I'm afraid the pandemic may have had something to do with it, given that group scenes were more difficult to film. The episodes seem to now be largely centered around one location and a particular subset of characters rather than the entire family. This episode definitely felt bigger and more propulsive than the rest of the season, but it wasn't the turning point that we were led to believe it was, and I'm waiting for this season to actually change the dramatic stakes in a meaningful way.
