Ep 3. Ping-pong

Mike Baxter is back with an all-new episode of Last Man Standing. Season 5 Episode 3 titled "Ping-pong" gives us a glimpse into the playful side of Mike. In the episode, we see Mike getting very competitive at a church's ping-pong tournament.

The episode starts with a friendly competition between the Baxters, where Mike teaches Eve to play ping-pong. They bond over the game and Mike is impressed by Eve's skills. When he learns about the ping-pong tournament at the church, he convinces Eve to be his partner and participate in the competition.

The tournament is not just any event, but a fierce competition where the players are very competitive. Mike, being his usual self, takes it way too seriously and is overly competitive to win the prize. Winning the tournament means a year's worth of bragging rights, and Mike is not one to back down from a challenge.

As the tournament progresses, we see Mike's competitive spirit take over him. He becomes obsessed with winning and tries to intimidate his opponents with his intimidating presence. Despite his intimidations, his opponents put up a good fight, and it seems like Mike and Eve may not make it to the finals.

The episode takes a turn when Kristin, Mike's eldest daughter, shows up at the tournament with her husband, Ryan, and her son, Boyd. Ryan, who is a former ping-pong champion, volunteers to be Mike's opponent in the semi-finals. This leaves Mike in a dilemma - does he accept Ryan's challenge and risk losing or does he let Eve take the challenge and risk losing his chance of winning the tournament.

The episode takes a lighthearted and humorous turn as Mike struggles to decide what to do. There are moments of comic relief with Ryan taking jabs at Mike, and Mike's attempts to counter them. We also see the opposing players' reactions to Mike's intimidating attitude.

The episode also explores the relationship between Mike and Ryan, who have had a rocky relationship in the past. We see a glimpse of how both of them have changed and grown over the years. Ryan is more confident and self-assured, and Mike has become more relaxed and less stressed.

The episode ends with the final match between Mike and Ryan. We see a side of Mike that we have not seen before - he is relaxed, cracks jokes, and seems to be in good spirits. The match turns out to be an exciting one, with both players putting up a good fight. The outcome of the game is a surprise, and the episode ends on a light note.

Overall, the episode is a humorous and light-hearted one, showcasing Mike's playful side. The episode explores relationships, competition, and camaraderie, and it is an enjoyable watch. Fans of the show will love seeing their favorite characters go head-to-head in a friendly competition.