In this episode Kahn & Minh - especially Kahn - are pushing to get Connie admitted to Rice University's summer school program - a real coup since she's only about age 13 but quite intelligent. Despite all her accomplishments she is rejected to their chagrin. I hope the university reflected here is nothing like the real Rice University since when Kahn takes his usual pushy manner to confront the admissions person, she actually admitted she was turned down since they already had many intelligent Asians in the program and if Connie were any other race she would have been admitted in a heartbeat (I thought this sort of thing, having racial quotas had been outlawed in the 60's and 70's). Kahn of course doesn't take that too well - why should he. When he confronts the fellow Asians coming out of the Episcopal church as to why they were worshipping there instead of their Buddhist temple, they admit they converted for social & business reasons. When Kahn asks how come their obnoxious son Chane got admitted to Rice's summer program with the same background, they admitted to giving Rice a 10K donation to smooth the way and score him a top dorm room. This creates bitterness and despair among Kahn & Minh due not only to not being able to come up with a similar 10K bribe but Connie's rejection after all the time having immigrated to the US and always playing by the rules. It doesn't help matters when Kahn's boss berates him while he's stuck in traffic causing him to be late for the first time ever. He at this point is vulnerable to a redneck named Elvin who befriends him at the gas station where he accidentally breaks his side mirror en route to work. In short order, Kahn and Minh adopt Elvin's redneck lifestyle to such an extent they neglect to pay the electric bill and the mortgage. The former causes a loss of power and the latter puts their home ownership in jeopardy since the property's deteriorated condition per a local Realtor was dragging down property values. Despite her parents' urging to slack off (totally out of character) Connie perseveres in studying hard and doing her usual routine. Thankfully when Hank gets hold of all this he managed to talk some sense into Minh so she starts paying past due bills before they become homeless. Another school - Stanford (surprise since the real Stanford is in CA and this show takes place in TX) accepts Connie belatedly in their similar program upon learning of her family's recent hardships.
The positive aspects of this episode were Connie's perseverance in keeping doing what she was continually doing all along despite Rice's rejection and her parents adopting a redneck lifestyle. Also the introduction of the Lucky character.
The positive aspects of this episode were Connie's perseverance in keeping doing what she was continually doing all along despite Rice's rejection and her parents adopting a redneck lifestyle. Also the introduction of the Lucky character.
