"Money Becomes King" is the ninth episode of Cougar Town's third season.
Jules' and Grayson's upcoming wedding and a conversation with Holly leads to Grayson and Jules disagreeing about finances, particularly which of their houses will be sold, which leads Jules to drag Grayson to her therapist. When she agrees with Grayson and tells Jules exactly the opposite of what wanted to hear, it makes Jules dig into her position even deeper.
Meanwhile, Laurie and Travis discuss Laurie's booming cake business while Laurie grapples with possibly needing to quit working for Jules, and Andy is pressured by Ellie to play a joke on Bobby, who he believes wouldn't handle it well.
This episode provides examples of:
- Couch Gag: "She's marrying a man her own age, so why is it still called: COUGAR TOWN"
- Did You Just Have Sex?: Jules' therapist was called over under the pretext that "Grayson hit on me", but thought she said "hit me" (but knowing Jules, it's likely she did say "hit me"); Jules claims that it was because she wasn't feeling sexual, but her therapist points out that when she arrived, it looked like she and Grayson had just had sex.
- Felony Misdemeanor: Jules drags friends to therapy with her for even slightly offending her.
- Gilligan Cut: Grayson begs Jules not to take him to therapy; it cuts to the next scene, with Jules and Grayson in her therapist's office.
- Gone Horribly Right: Jules drags Grayson to therapy over their money issues, but her therapist ends up agreeing with Grayson.
- Ellie and Andy prank Andy by telling him an ordinary water bottle can refill itself by pulling water from the air (it can't). Naturally, Bobby goes hiking with a completely empty water bottle, and has to be rushed to the hospital with heat stroke.
- Hypocritical Humor: This episode addresses how Jules places enormous standards upon her friends and loved ones, but frequently violates those very standards.
- Ignored Epiphany: Jules frequently does this, even when explained to her by others, including her therapist, but she just brushes it off if she doesn't like it. Partly subverted when Ellie helps Jules realize that she can pay Laurie by using Grayson's money.
- Innocently Insensitive: Jules drags Grayson to therapy for just saying "their money" in reference to spending money on his daughter.
- The Shrink: Jules' therapist, a type II. Even when she does attempt to lay down some boundaries, it usually backfires. Possibly justified in the fact that apparently Jules' is her most profitable patient.
