Season 5, Episode 12 - Pressure

Pressure. There is pressure to always be the best, to always win. Those who succeed in life are supposedly rich and happy. Alex is the overachiever, Gloria wants to be the best mother, Mitchell wants to be the "greener" neighbour and Manny and Luke want the prettiest girls. There is so much pressure everyone puts on themselves to be the best.

Luke, Manny and the new girls

Gender roles are key in this episode. Manny subverts traditional gender roles with this soft character and his genuine desire to do what is right. Upon seeing a pretty new girl at school, Luke calls "dibs" on her. Manny defends her saying, "you can't call dibs, she's a human being with feelings, not the front seat." Luke falls into the typical teenage boy category; he wants the easy girl. He says, "I like to describe my type as.. getable." Guys are seen as more attractive if they can be tough, however Manny argues that men can have feelings just as much as women. 

Women on the other hand can be quite aggressive in today's society. At the parent-teacher interview Gloria and another mother fight to win their sons' teacher's approval. Both want their sons to go to a good university. At one point, they play dodgeball against each other and it becomes more than innocent competition. The camera shots become choppy along with the increased action and the tension is obvious. They are so mean to each other. Women, and mothers especially, have come from being passive caretakers to aggressive animals or even, for a lack of better word, bitches. What changed? As soon as women started 'rebelling' in the 1920's starting with the modern girl, aggressiveness in girls was introduced soon after. Today, this aggression has become normal, sexy even. A lack of confidence and/or low self-esteem can also lead to aggression and competition.

Gloria aiming at the other mother

In American society, there is an ongoing pressure to be the best. Men compete with each other, like Mitchell and his neighbour fought over who was more "green". Women want to be the smartest, prettiest and the best mothers. This episode proves that by focusing on winning, we are missing out on relationships with each other. At the end, Alex hugs her mother after her counselling session. Sofia and the other mother find out they have a lot in common, and Mitchell ends up inviting his neighbour over for dinner. 

What is more important in life? To be the best, or to enjoy life and relationships? This episode teaches us that it is important to not succumb to the pressures of the world.