This recap from the Hulu series This Fool season 1 episode 9 “F*ck the Rich” contains spoilers
Fred Armisen, the executive producer, makes a guest appearance on This Fool’s penultimate installment. Hugs Not Thugs is short of funds and desperately needs a large donation from a wealthy donor. Enter Fred Armisen, the vile billionaire Richard Rowell. Minister Payne detests him. Will they receive their donation? Or will someone ruin things before the wealthy snobs sign the dotted line?
F*ck The Rich
Episode 9 of This Fool season 1 features Luis and Julio discovering that Payne is sleeping in the van. Payne claims he has been spending his own money on Hugs Not Thugs and that his ex-wife has evicted him.
Because Payne is unable to resist being sucked up to by rich people, the organization isn’t receiving much money from donors. Julio said that he will have to learn how to.
Maggie is fortunate to have contacts that know a few billionaires. Richard Rowell received his inheritance from his parents. He was not punished for seven DUIs and felt so guilty that he surrendered to prison for a month.
Julio manages to get Richard and Rhonda to Hugs Not Thugs. Payne is instructed by Julio to be friendly and welcoming so they will donate.
Payne can hold his tongue well throughout the entire visit. Richard and Rhonda love the tour. Payne, however, compromises everything by yelling at them over dinner. He can’t hold it in and calls them monsters.
He soon calms down, and he apologizes to the huggers. Richard and Rhonda aren’t bothered. They claim they are worthy to be shouted at. They insist they deserve to be yelled at.
They want to give. Payne requests $1 million. But they demand $15 million. They aren’t offering their kindness, it turns out. They possess a “thing.”
They explain that Rhonda enjoys having s** with people who are poor, while Richard prefers to watch. They chose Payne because they loved the way he put them in their place.
Julio informs Payne that he doesn’t have to do it; they’ll find the money another way. Payne said that he would do whatever it took to keep the non-profit running. He walks out of the building, dejected, to meet them in their van.
The end
The Rowells visit the facility and participate in group therapy sessions. Minister Payne is forced to confront Richard’s trauma and says that he is also a victim. Richard pretends to be crying and there is a chance for another photo-op. Payne clearly wants to crack, and that’s exactly how he’s doing it at the table. He insults and calls out the donors. After the lights go out, Luis decides that he will serenade them with his beatboxing prowess. The Rowells accept Payne’s apology and acknowledge their appreciation for the abuse. Minister Payne claims he would do whatever it takes to support this program, and he’s about to discover what that “anything” might look like.
The Rowells offer to donate fifteen million dollars to the charity. The couple’s generosity is a surprise to the team, and they are thanked. There is however a caveat. In exchange for the money, the billionaires will have s** only with one member of the team. Richard reveals the details and chooses Leonard Payne as his victim. Julio informs his boss that he doesn’t have to. But Payne has already decided that he will take one for the team. It’s a dark and twisted ending that is laughable, but almost succeeds.
EPISODE REVIEW
For such a lighthearted series, season one’s penultimate episode is deeply sobering. Michael Imperioli is at his best, and more than that, he lives up to the complexity of this episode.
“F*ck the Rich” cleverly uses misdirection to imply that Payne’s pride is going to ruin their attempt to keep the nonprofit afloat.
In the end, it’s not his pride that is taken advantage of, but his devotion to Hugs Not Thugs. We get the desired outcome–a huge donation–with a gross and exploitative twist, as well as some cutting criticism of the rich.