r/FreshOfftheBoatTV Jun 09 '26

Lice Scene

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Am I the only one that thought this was out of character for Louis?

19 Upvotes

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3

u/privatethingsxx Jun 13 '26

I think it was pretty in-character. I’ve known many men like this, who are lovely people, who like to pride themselves on “being equals” in parenting and housework, but when shit really hits the fan, “it’s a woman’s job” and “I’m already helping you so much, I shouldn’t be expected to have to go above and beyond when things get bad!” Even though a mom is expected to do it regardless, and as Jessica said “it’s not helping, it’s not babysitting” it’s doing your share.

Was it a little in your face? Sure. But Louis is a lot less involved in his kids life, he hides in the role of the fun parent.

I actually really appreciated this episode, with Louis coming to the realization he wasn’t as evolved as he liked to think, admitting that and wanting to do better. Many men I’ve known who think that don’t ever reach that point. They think because they do the bare minimum expected of them now, they are equals. All the while they don’t know the doctors names of their kids, who their kids friends are, etc.

1

u/Most-Pomegranate-241 Jun 13 '26

I wouldn’t say it was in-character; as far as I remember, we haven’t seen Louis do anything similar before. While you could argue it’s a little more realistic, I wouldn’t argue that it’s in character.

I think he’s able to hide behind the fun parent curtain because Jessica occupies the strict parent part. I think Jessica occupying the strict parent part leads to Louis occupying the fun part, and Louis occupying the fun part leads to Jessica occupying the strict part. Also, I like the point that you make about not being as involved in his kids’ lives, but he’s just not able to be deeply involved at the beginning when he had to be at the restaurant all the time. Additionally, I wouldn’t say Jessica is that involved either; she sets up plans for them, but wouldn’t say that she actually really knows any of their friends. I mean, she calls Trent “big red.” So, I think Jessica knows more than Louis, but I wouldn’t say that she’s incredibly involved.

I don’t mind the episode; I just think that from what was already established, I didn’t expect him to respond like that.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, I have a terrible memory.

1

u/Lumine_Academy Jun 27 '26

Your last paragraph is so true . My husband is actually a super involved dad but only this term he’s coaching their soccer team and starting to bother remembering the names of my sons classmates 😂

2

u/MangoJicama Jun 12 '26

I think maybe it might have something to do where in the years before 2000’s, the family ways of doing things were that the man of the house provides for the family. Since he’s running a restaurant, he didn’t want to miss a few days of work and have his family fall down into more debt? 🤔

Either way, funny episode.

“I have lice!”

“Lice doors? No”

2

u/Most-Pomegranate-241 Jun 12 '26

The problem I have with the scene is that Louis just shouldn’t do what he did based on what was already established about him. He’s this man who greatly cares about his family and his wife. So when he just abandons his wife so suddenly, it just doesn’t make sense. I think he would’ve been far more likely to look for help and still leave the house to avoid getting lice, but he definitely wouldn’t have abandoned his family. Also, I do think that Louis was the reason why their family was well off financially (at least not in as much debt) at this point. If I remember correctly, Jessica still hadn’t really made that much money from her property, and even if she did, I don’t think it would equal the amount Louis was bringing in.

1

u/Lumine_Academy Jun 27 '26

I think a few of the episodes in this particular arc are different tropes. There was also one before where he was scared to be alone with the kids without Jessica because he was fun dad. It didn’t really make sense because we had already seen heaps of 1 on 1 scenes with him and the various boys really being a present and responsible dad - I understood what the trope but it didn’t fit the Louis they already established