Ida comes over to babysit Malcolm and Reese, and brings along Raduca, an obedient girl from her home country as the prize in a contest where the winner gets to marry her. Meanwhile, Dewey, Lois, and Hal get stuck at the airport while trying to fly out to a piano competition.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Ambiguous Situation: When Hal gets stuck with making a decision in front of a board of Ambiguously Evil buisnessmen, he leaves wondering whether he helped the good guys or the bad guys. Nobody gives him a clear answer.
- The All-American Boy: Played with and invoked. When Raduca defies Ida, she claims that she is an American now, and she does everything people from her country think are typical.Raduca: You cannot forbid me. I am American girl now. I have iPod. I wear thong. I shave! (Raduca shows her armpit)
Ida: Hide your shame, whore! - All for Nothing: After Lois explains that she was sabotaging Dewey just to give him a good story about winning the competition despite all odds, Dewey ended up losing to a younger kid.
- Babysitting Episode: Ida comes along to babysit Malcolm and Reese.
- Cock Fight: As part of a family tradition, Ida puts Malcolm and Reese fighting over who will marry Raduca. Malcolm wins, but Raduca breaks with tradition and chooses Reese, her (apparent) true love.
- Elopement: When Raduca refuses to marry Malcolm and chooses Reese, despite Ida's objections, since Malcolm won the last challenge, the episode ends with Raduca and Reese run away to get married in Las Vegas.
- Extreme Doormat: Raduca, an (apparently) obedient girl from their home country.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Lois made Ida babysit Malcom and Reese to keep them out of trouble, as well as to punish them for breaking curfew awhile back. Malcolm tells her the results in the most sarcastic way he has.Malcolm: I have to hand it to you, Mom, having Grandma look after us sure kept us out of trouble.
Lois: Where's your brother?
Malcolm: In Vegas. - "Stuck at the Airport" Plot: Dewey, Lois and Hal's subplot. They were supposed to fly to Dewey's piano competition, but never make it.
