Ep 12. The Casino Trip

The Casino Trip is the 12th episode from the first season of the American television sitcom, Suburgatory. The episode was written by Andrew Guest and directed by Ken Whittingham.

The story revolves around the residents of the suburban town of Chatswin, and their upcoming casino trip. Tessa, the main protagonist, is convinced by her friend, Malik, to join him and other high school students on a trip to a casino in Atlantic City. She initially resists but eventually agrees to go on the trip, seeing it as an opportunity to break out of her mundane suburban life.

However, Tessa's father, George, disapproves of the trip, pointing out that gambling is illegal for minors, and he finds it irresponsible that the school is organizing such a trip. George's girlfriend, Dallas, on the other hand, thinks the trip is a great idea and encourages Tessa to go.

Meanwhile, Dalia, Tessa's nemesis at school, decides to join the casino trip, much to Tessa's annoyance. However, Dalia's presence proves useful when the group decides to sneak out of their hotel rooms at night for some additional gambling.

As the night progresses, each character faces their own challenges at the casino. Malik loses all his money quickly and gets into trouble with some dangerous individuals. Tessa, on the other hand, wins big and finds herself enjoying the thrill of gambling. Dalia, who is a seasoned gambler, helps Tessa out by giving her advice and even lending her some money.

Back in Chatswin, George's father and his friend Fred are dealing with their own issues. They decide to have a guys' night at home, where they drink too much and bet on various things, including a contest to see who can eat the most hot dogs.

The episode concludes with Tessa and the group returning back to Chatswin, exhausted and broke. George, who was worried sick the whole time they were gone, is relieved to have them back safe. However, Tessa's experience at the casino has changed her perspective on life in Chatswin, as she realizes that she wants to experience more of the world beyond her suburban bubble.

Overall, The Casino Trip is a humorous and entertaining episode that explores the theme of taking risks and stepping out of one's comfort zone. It showcases the characters of Suburgatory in an amusing and relatable light, with each one facing their own challenges and learning valuable lessons along the way.