‘The Mick’ Season 2 Finale ‘The Graduate’ Recap: Overcoming Fear and the College Life [SPOILERS]

FOX’s season 2 finale of “The Mick” makes us feel a certain kind of heaviness albeit the normally light and obnoxious tone of the show. “The Graduate” finally sees Sabrina (Sofia Black-D’Elia) finish high school and go to Yale for college. However, fear takes over Sabrina, and there’s nothing that Mickey (Kaitlin Olson) won’t do to see her off. On the other hand, we see Alba (Carla Jimenez) attending a fake reunion in Yale. Meanwhile, Chip (Thomas Barbusca) throws a victory party, signaling “Chip 2.0.” Since Sabrina is finally moving out, Chip thinks he now has the upper hand at home. But things take a spin when an unlikely girl ends up confirming their secret romance.

Sabrina drops the bomb

“The Graduate” opens with Sabrina’s graduation ceremony. Jimmy (Scott MacArthur) films the whole thing, and Mickey is overly excited. It’s an accomplishment for her to be able to see her kid (though technically not her own) walk the stage to get her diploma and go to Yale. Chip, on the other hand, is happy not because of Sabrina’s accomplishment, but because he can finally be on his own, without his sister nagging at him. He calls it “The Era of Chip 2.0.” To celebrate, he’s throwing a party. Usually, Mickey wouldn’t allow it, but because she’s happy about the graduation, she lets Chip do his thing. When Sabrina walks the stage, the entire gang goes wild, treating it like a basketball game. After the ceremony, Farble (Lela Jane Cortines), tries to mess with Chip, with him uncomfortably trying to get away. She tells Chip that she’s excited about his party.

Patrick McElhenney/FOX

That night, the whole gang celebrate Sabrina’s graduation in a restaurant. Mickey stands up to give a speech on how she’s happy that Sabrina is finally leaving them. Mickey event went a bit of an activist with the words “to the death of tyranny and the birth of freedom.” Jimmy also tries to give a speech but felt like throwing up, so he leaves for the restroom. Mickey then offers Sabrina a brochure of advance classes she could take so Sabrina would leave them earlier. But then Sabrina drops the bomb—she’s not going to Yale after all.

Mickey strongarms the Yale Admissions

The next day, Mickey and Alba head over to Yale to try and do something about Sabrina’s admission. As they try to ask the secretary of Dean of Admissions for an appointment, she fails because the only spot left is two months from now. Surprisingly, Mickey keeps her composure and leaves. Outside, she devises a plan with Alba to distract the secretary. Mickey plans to put a burning match on the secretary’s foot. She then instructs Alba to distract anyone named Brian Chang (guest star Ethan Josh Lee), since he’s the one who has an appointment with Dean Kirkland (guest star Tangie Ambrose).

Patrick McElhenney/FOX

As Mickey goes back in to plant the distraction device, Brian arrives with his Mom. Alba pretends to be the Dean’s associate, takes the Changs on a campus tour and ditches them. Alba then sees an ongoing Alumni Homecoming party, so she heads inside and pretends to be one of them. Meanwhile, Mickey successfully places the burning match to the secretary’s foot, causing her to run off. Mickey then forces her way to the Dean’s office. She demands from Dean Kirkland why Sabrina didn’t get in. Despite the Dean’s threats against her, Mickey stood her ground and overpowered the Dean’s threats with her attitude. When Dean Kirkland goes to check, she finds that Sabrina did get in Yale.

Mickey then confronts Sabrina at home. She tries to force it out of her, and Sabrina caves. It turns out that Sabrina is scared. She doesn’t know how she’ll fit in at her new school. With that, Mickey takes her to bar to drink and to tell Sabrina about how she failed in life as a teenager. Sabrina’s mom, Poodle, and Mickey were each given by their mother $5,000 and left them both. Poodle spent her money wisely and ended up marrying a rich guy. Mickey, on the other hand, bought a katana. Now, Mickey used this katana as collateral for a hefty bill in the bar.

Sabrina then reverses the situation and asks Mickey why she didn’t buy it back. Mickey then repeats her burning match plan, this time to the bartender. As Sabrina distracts the bartender, she asks if she could buy the katana. The bartender agrees to sell it for relatively cheaper than how much Mickey got it. When she learns this from Sabrina, it’s all too late because the bartender discovers his hot shoe and throws it to the bar counter, starting a fire. Mickey goes for the kill and takes the katana off its shelf, burning her hands in the process.

Chip throws a victory party

Chip’s party is going as planned. Everyone’s enjoying it, including Farble. She goes to Chip just to make sure he’s okay because after all, they’re the Prom Pince and Princess. Chip then tells her that he’s not looking for a relationship (despite them having a little bit of fun during Prom night). However, Farble also doesn’t want a relationship with him, so she agrees to keep it a secret.

Later, Chip sees his crush, Madison (Caitlin Carmichael), crying in a room. She then tells Chip that her boyfriend, Nico (guest star Ricardo Hurtado) broke up with her. Realizing that this could be Chip’s chance, he encourages Madison to let it all out. Chip then tells her to wait for him so he can get drinks for them.

Patrick McElhenney/FOX

As Chip fills up the cups, Farble again comes to him and drinks Madison’s cup. She then tells Chip about Madison and Nico arguing, breaking Chip’s heart. Now he won’t be able to comfort his crush. Chip sulks in a room, to which Jimmy sees and tells him to be the weakling. Jimmy believes that there’s a chance for the underdog to win than someone like Nico, who’s a manipulative bully. Encouraged, Chip goes back to the fighting couple and tries to neutralize the situation. Chip threatens to make Nico leave if he doesn’t treat Madison right, but Nico ends up threatening Chip.

Patrick McElhenney/FOX

As soon as he aims to punch Chip, Farble tackles Nico to the ground. And just as Madison is about to lean in and thank Chip, Farble pushes her and accidentally announces to everyone that she and Chip are together.

Sabrina’s sad demise

The episode ends with Mickey and Sabrina trying to talk things out in the parking lot. Sabrina finally sees that she’s not afraid anymore and that she’s ready for Yale. Mickey then gives her the katana, but Sabrina refuses, saying she doesn’t want to be known as “the sword girl.” Then, it starts to rain hard. Sabrina tries to get in the car, but Mickey won’t let her unless she takes the katana. Reluctantly, Sabrina grabs it, swinging it around. Mickey is happy that she has finally helped Sabrina overcome her fear of going to college. Sabrina then raises the katana in the air, shouting her victory. But then lighting strikes the sword, making Sabrina collapse in a heap.

In the hospital, the doctor tells Mickey and the entire gang that although Sabrina survived the lightning strike, the current blew off her toe. However, the doctor isn’t sure how it will affect Sabrina’s cognitive or motor functions, crushing Mickey’s hopes for Sabrina’s future.

‘The Mick: The Graduate’ Overall Verdict

In a surprising turn of events, the second season of “The Mick” ends with another cliffhanger. And for some reason, this is an episode that outweighs all the other entries this season. It’s heavy and emotional, albeit hiding in the pretense of humor. Significantly longer than the first season, “The Mick” is a brilliant piece of TV comedy that gives us a much-needed break from the already saturated gags and shows on FOX. Partner this with “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and we’re all good to go. Now, here’s to crossing our fingers for a Season 3 renewal!