Between the Lionized is the eighth episode of the second season of Pork and Konjac, written by Vince Calandra and Elliot Strange and directed by Sajeet Convoy. After singling out a man giving critical expressions during a Trump rally, Alyson would invite him for a celebratory dinner. However, the group would soon learn that he is mentally disabled and held under an abusive family.
Plot[]
After discovering a Donald Trump rally attendee making faces during a speech, Alyson wants to seek the person out to inspire others to break away from Trump. She would plan a congratulatory dinner for the person while sending most of her group to find him. Alex and her group would be invited to attend after building some good faith between each clique, though Mace protests being brought on as a +1, along with the ethics behind Alyson's intent to get the man to the party. Alyson would claim that she needs to act forcefully in order to make an impact, and that those she sent are already out.
Kate, Rhonda, Fiona, Elma, Donna and Alison would recover the man from an airport, knocking out two associates with said man and putting him in the trunk of their car. Upon getting back, realizing what they did Mace scolds Alyson for putting them up to it, and she would be tied up and locked in a closet after Alyson assumes she was going to call the police. As everyone else settles for dinner the group notices the man exhibiting odd behaviors, speaking through grunts and doing things with overt-enthusiasm. The man would eat a dinner roll whole and start to choke, with Donna performing the heimlich maneuver, but the man causes trouble after grabbing Donna's posterior making her lash out. This would be broken up by the associates who tracked him to the house, claiming to be his parents Sandy and Patty. They would claim not to press any charges on the condition they let the man, named Andrew, go with them. As they each had priors, they would reluctantly let them go.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Julie Rei Goldstein: Alex
- Stephanie Hsu: Mace
- Sarah Michelle Gellar: Colleen
- Wyatt Cenac: Anthony
- Olivia Thirlby: Alyson
- Charlie Day: Drew
Also Starring[]
- Joy Osmanski: Kate
- Elizabeth Gillies: Donna
- Linda Cardellini: Alison
- Michelle Trachtenberg: Fiona
- Olivia d'Abo: Rhonda
- Tina Majorino: Elma
- Otter Lee: Ari
- Justin Shenkarow: Tommy
- Jon Heder: Burt
- JoJo: Laura
- Julie Nathanson: Kristi
- Kelly Hu: Kayla
- Jessica Williams: Margot
- Jacob Pitts: Larry
- Jerry O’Connell: Oscar
- Maury Sterling: Josh
- Steve Agee: Donovan
- Melissa Disney: Adelaide
- Kathy Kinney: Muriel
- Ming-Na Wen: Sumi
- Sandra Denton: Amber
- Debi Mazar: Frankie
- Nancy Travis: Martha
- Michael McDonald: Pierre
- Allyce Beasley: Miranda
Special Guest Stars[]
- Michael McShane: Sandy
- Brenda Vaccaro: Patty
Trivia[]
- The name of the episode is a spin on that of the animated series Between the Lions.
- The denoted foods mentioned by Alyson were favorites of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.
- Andrew is named after a character in the 2000 TV movie When Andrew Came Home, his mannerisms being based on the titular character.
- Sandy and Patty are based on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Jenny McCarthy, the former known for his attacks on neurodivergence and the latter a notable anti-vaxxer.
Quotes[]
- Alyson: What better way to celebrate a triumph against America's worst president than with a feast consisting of past presidents' favorite foods? Of course hold the McDonalds, jellybeans and cottage cheese with ketchup.
- Mace: You know Nixon's actions were more liberal than most conservatives.
- Mace: He ended the draft.
- Mace: He helped launch the EPA.
- Mace: He opened trade in China.
- Mace: He ended the Vietnam War.
- Mace: Don't knock it till you try it.
- Mace: You kidnapped him!?
- Kate: Oh relax, he didn't cry, complain or try to run away. Come to think of it he was quiet the whole way home.
- Mace: He was locked in a trunk!
- Donna: He wasn't tied up or gagged, besides, everyone did it just to get around.
- Fiona: Anyone remember to pop the trunk when we got back?
- Alison: Oh geez...