It’s another Sunday night in Glantontown, which means another chance to observe the Hoagie brothers grappling with the existential quandaries of a life fueled by Universal Basic Income. This week, in “Mark Men,” the spotlight falls on Mark’s burgeoning mid-life crisis, triggered by, of all things, a perceived slight from some slick advertising executives at his local watering hole.
Apparently, slinging back free hot dogs courtesy of Glantontown’s UBI program doesn’t quite cut it for Mark anymore. He craves the respect, the power, the…Mad Men aesthetic. So, naturally, he decides to become an advertising guru. Because why not? He’s got that sweet, sweet UBI cash flow. Hank, ever the agreeable younger brother, gets roped into Mark’s latest harebrained scheme, and the two land internships at a local ad agency. However, Mark’s competitive spirit quickly ignites. When Hank earns a promotion, Mark, feeling utterly betrayed, launches his own rival firm, presumably funded by the very UBI designed to prevent such capitalist shenanigans.
Meanwhile, in a subplot that feels as if it belongs in a completely different show, Mernft Man finds himself in hot water with the Russian mob. Desperate to avoid becoming fish food, he leans on Tammy to pull the plug on a mobster clinging to life after a car accident. The juxtaposition of Mark’s advertising aspirations and Mernft Man’s life-or-death predicament is jarring, to say the least.
“Mark Men” looks set to deliver the usual blend of absurdist humor and social commentary that has become Universal Basic Guys’ trademark. Whether the episode will successfully balance the show’s inherent silliness with its underlying critique of automation and economic inequality, well, that remains a question mark.
Universal Basic Guys airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on FOX.
