Feeling that the middle class Smith Family are not good enough for him, Roger poses as Greg and Terry's adopted Russian son Michael in order to live the upper class, distinguished life he feels he deserves. Stan retaliates by making himself and the Smith front yard as white trash as possible to get under Roger's skin.
Tropes:
- Education Mama: Greg and Terry have "Michael's" entire life planned out, including having him learn conversational Japanese in a few months and potentially going to Dartmouth.
- Jerkass Ball:
- Greg and Terry have always been portrayed as nice, if a bit snobbish due to the wealth their careers provide. Here, they are revealed to be fanatically controlling parents who control every aspect of their daughter Libby's life. With "Michael", they won't give him a bed but an antique ottoman they tell him not to lay on with his whole body. They also tell him to lose the "nasty" Russian accent, something that no real immigrant child could do. It's enough to make one think Roger did the real Michael a favor by killing him in order to replace him.
- Greg also acts like a domestic abuser, refusing to let Terry have anything he likes that Greg doesn't, forcing Terry to use trickery and deception to get any relief. Greg also grabs Terry by the wrist for buying the wrong eggs. While not explored, it wouldn't be surprising to learn Terry acts like he does to his children out of fear and that his motive to kill "Michael" to keep his secret habits from Greg is more than pettiness, but the actions of a psychologically broken person.
- Kill and Replace: Roger does this to the real Michael in order to take his place.
- Noodle Incident: When Stan begins laughing uncontrollably at Roger's pun, Roger calls for Francine and frantically says "it's happening again."
- Would Hurt a Child:
- Roger switched places with the real Michael by throwing him off his plane.
- Terry almost murders Roger, who is secretly saved by Stan. For all Terry knows, he did murder a 12 year old boy simply for being as snobby as Greg and potentially ruining Terry's secret vices like junk food.
