Those who have ever lived paycheck to paycheck while trying to support a family could easily identify with Frank Murphy fromF is for Family.Frank is a loudmouthed family man with anger issues, who of course is a character conduit for comedian Bill Burrin the Netflix series, and when he’s not going through it, he’s threatening to throw somebody through a [expletive] wall.F is for Familydoes an excellent job making Frank’s struggle relatable; he has a wife, three kids, and a dog, and the series starts out with him being at odds with his manager job at Mohican Airways.
Getting laid off in season one sets the series in motion as Frank struggles to find side gigs, waits in line at the unemployment office, and eventually leads himself to gainful employment while his wife Susan tries to provide by becoming an entrepreneur. That said,F is for Familyis as hilarious as it is close to home if you identify with the struggle ofthree kids and a mortgageduring a looming economic recession. The series takes place in the 70s, but the struggle remains the same in present day, and does an excellent job showing what happens when a family is stretched to the max while trying to do their best.
Related:These Are Some of the Best Animated Shows For Adults
Frank Murphy Getting Laid Off Right After Buying a New TV
Frank loves to watchCult Luger, a character whovaguely resembles Charles Bronson. While internal turmoil is looming around the corner at Mohican Airways, Frank decides to treat himself to a new television set which accidentally gets broken by his son Bill after placing a magnet on top of it. Now Frank is in trouble; he’s out of money; he’s out of a job; his TV is broken, and he can’t get a refund. The simple act of upgrading his television to watch a fight with his friends is a huge source of tension in the first season, and shows the audience how dire the financial situation is at the Murphy residence.
Sue Hiding Money in the Freezer (Frank Hiding Money Behind the Freezer)
Everybody likes to have a secret stash of “mad money” for a rainy day. In fact, this sentiment rings so true in the Murphy household, that both Frank and Susan have their own stash. It’s not that they don’t trust each other; it’s that when money is tight, and you want to treat yourself, sometimes desperate measures are required.
This plot line comes to a head when Frank is scrambling to scrape up some cash, and moves the freezer away from the wall to reveal a hidden envelope. Much to his dismay, the envelope is stuffed with I.O.U.s from his family because they all knew about his stash. In a heated moment of frustration, Frank shoves the freezer, and Susan’s stash falls out of a casserole dish that was hidden inside. In an attempt to make good on his borrowing from Sue’s stash, Frank pays it forward by throwing an I.O.U. of his own into the casserole dish before dashing out for the evening.
Behind on Mortgage, But House Isn’t Big Enough
What happens when you have a three-bedroom house, and three kids? The boys share a room. Frank’s older son Kevin is getting into music and nudie magazines, and feels like his creativity and sense of self-exploration is stifled by a lack of privacy which leads to an emotional breakdown followed by a bonding moment between Frank and Kevin. This leads to the father and son opening the bulkhead door in the backroom and gutting the basement, so Kevin can have his own place to play with his guitar and himself.
When your family is growing, but your house is not, sometimes you have to improvise. This is acommon trope in family sitcoms, but the execution inF is for Familyis totally believable and relatable to anybody who’s found themselves in this situation.
Related:If you Liked Rick and Morty, You’ll Enjoy These Shows
The Raw Panic Upon Finding Out the Restaurant Charges for Refills
At the start of season two, there is a series of incidents that ignite a fire in Frank. His daughter Maureen gets hurt at the park, Kevin almost drowns when the ice cracks on the frozen lake, and his youngest son Bill is at odds with multiple bullies. As abrasive asBill Burr’s deliveryof Frank is, he is a true father bear, and switches over to beast mode. He rescues both of his sons, and hightails it to the hospital to demand immediate treatment for Maureen.
To celebrate the accomplishment, Frank takes his family to Sam’s Starving Boy, a local greasy spoon known for its patty melts, hotdogs, and other casual dining fare. When Frank doesn’t have enough cash on hand for the bill, he realizes that it’s because they started charging for refills, and he simply cannot afford it, which results in him causing a scene. Whether or not you’ve been in this situation, it can be quite humiliating when you seemingly can’t provide for your family on one of the most basic levels. Luckily for Frank, Sue had some money on hand from the previously mentioned freezer stash, and saved the day.
Frank Taking Whatever Job, No Matter How Humiliating, to Provide
Frank finds himself at odds with his pride by waiting in line at the unemployment office, so he ditches out. Fortunately, he’s able to save face by calling in a favor from his former Mohican Airway coworker, Rosie. This career choice takes Frank down the path of driving a truck and loading vending machines for a living. Listen, honest work is honest work, but Frank has difficulty over the fact that he’s mostly dropping off soda pop and flavored condoms for his core clientele. But one of the things that makes Frank such a likable character despite his flaws is his willingness to put his best foot forward and be an absolute beast on his delivery route while trying to hold his family together.
As rude and crude asF is for Familyis,it’s also extremely relatable. If you’ve ever found yourself in a dire financial situation as responsibilities and bills pile up in front of you, leave it to the Murphy family to find some humor in the situation. After all, we’ve all been down on our luck at one time or another, so it’s reassuring to know that this is a universal topic that reminds us to be a little more kind to ourselves as we navigate through our lives.
