The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: Lamilton 'Smokin with Cigarettes'

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6 entitled 'Smokin with Cigarettes' introduces us to one of the most inherently evil characters of The Boondocks ever (and that's saying a lot). Lamilton Taeshawn is first introduced to us in some footage where he is being interviewed about his bad behavior, before we learn just how bad Riley's newest bad influence really is. So what's the message behind The Boondocks, season 3 episode 6, and what's so horrifying about 'Smokin with Cigarettes'? Review the recap and find out for yourself.

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: Lamilton enjoys smokin with cigarettes while driving

Eight-year-old Lamilton proves he's an even worse driver and worse friend to Riley than wannabe ganster Ed, as he lights up a cigarette while wreaking havoc with his grandmother's stolen car. We learn very fast that Lamilton loves to hurt people; smoke "cigawettes"; and hit stuff with the stolen vehicle. He takes Riley on one wild ride, which ends in a high-speed police chase that results in a wreck. It's very apparent that Lamilton really doesn't care about anything...including killing people.

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: Lamilton and Riley's Forbidden Friendship

After Lamilton and Riley get caught, Grandad tries to whip him into forgetting about Lamilton and forbids him from hanging out with the embodiment of evil ever again. However, Riley can only be jealous that Lamilton made the news and got to give an interview (something else he was forbidden from doing). Lamilton's grandma also gave an interview stating that all children his age steal cars and $#!*. Riley tries some tough talk on Huey after the interview about how he and Lamilton just want to be different from normal; they want to be abnormal (before his grandpa's warning that he's going to whip him until he pees himself again shuts him up).

Lamilton's grandmother shows up on the Freeman's doorstep, much to Grandad's dismay, and she welcomes herself and Lamilton inside in order to make him deliver a forced apology to the Freeman family (after which he truthfully states that his grandmother made him do it and he didn't mean a word of it). She just wants Grandad to know that she would like for Milton and Riley to remain friends (apparently Riley is the best influence on Lamilton, which is sad), and informs the family that his anger management issues stem from him witnessing domestic violence from his uncles, cousins, dad, etc. Grandad rushes them out, reassuring her that Riley and Lamilton can still hang out (which he quickly recants when the duo has left).

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: Lamilton: A National Sensation

As further proof that Lamilton is not someone any kid should be friends with, he becomes even more of a national sensation by being captured on camera at a Walli-Mart assaulting his own grandmother multiple times when she won't by him fried chicken. His response? "What's she expect?" And hers? "You have to understand; he really likes that fried chicken." And so the next time Riley and Lamilton meet up, he lets Riley know that he wants to continue being famous for doing bad things.

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: Lamilton and Riley's "Bad Things" Bonanza

And so Riley and Lamilton continue to do "bad things" that they can't become famous for (since nobody knows they are the ones behind the chaos). The duo go for the classic dumping trash off of an overpass; a urine/hot sauce water gun drive by; throwing a baby doll over the overpass; tipping over a port-o-potty with an occupant in it (the "port-o-dump"); and tossing a flaming mattress onto the freeway. None of which they get caught in the act of doing.

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: 'Halloween'

Meanwhile, back at the Freeman household, Huey and Grandad are confronted by a mysterious mad who reveals himself as Dr. Dumas, a Donald Pleasance-like character who delivers a speech straight from 'Halloween' about how Lamilton is not human with his blank, emotionless face, and how he must be killed before he kills (because no one will lock him up).

However, Lamilton continues to show more and more of his dark side. As he and Riley watch a 'Halloween'-like movie starring a murderous clown, Lamilton brings in his grandmother's gun and points it at a stunned Riley (he says his grandmother told him not to touch it, which is why he's touching it). Riley tells him he's trippin', heading home and telling his Grandad that he's going to his room; not eating dinner; and will whip himself (to which Grandad simply replies, "Don't break my belt!").

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: The End of Lamilton?

But, while Lamilton actually seems too hardcore for Riley to hang with, he won't leave the poor kid alone, using the gun to scare him into attempting to break into the home of "an evil old white woman with a bunch of guns". Lamilton seems to believe that he can't be sent to jail, since he's been on TV. However, they don't make it to the house, because, when they are startled by a chained dog, Lamilton shoots it and the two flee. He tells Riley that the dog got loose and he was just protecting himself, while Riley says it was not loose. Despite being disturbed by the ordeal, Riley reassures Lamilton that he is no snitch. Dr. Dumas is revealed hiding behind a tree, having witnessed the whole thing.

And so Lamilton is arrested at age 8, stuck in the system to "get the help he needs" after Dr. Dumas turns him in, leaving Riley to fear being labeled a snitch by his psychotic friend (Dr. Dumas tells Riley he couldn't let anyone know he turned Lamilton in because his grandmother had a restraining order against him).

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: The Return of Lamilton

However, in another 'Halloween' reference, Lamilton reemerges while Riley is in school, appearing from behind a tree as he gazes out the window. Riley cries out, but is simply given detention for disturbing the class. Dr. Dumas tells Grandad and Huey that Riley is in danger, and Grandad tells Huey to get his shotgun and some silver bullets. But Huey informs him that Lamilton is not a werewolf.

Lamilton sneaks up on Riley at his locker, threatening the "snitch" by letting him know that he doesn't care about anything...including himself. He shows Riley that he's got the gun again, and Riley tricks him into thinking the two of them can go back to how it was before, tackling Lamilton when he has his back turned. In another classic 'Halloween' moment, Riley takes off running to the roof with weapon in hand, while Milton simply slowly walks after him. Riley tosses the gun off of the roof, which results in something McGruder loves: an old-school anime-style throwdown (well, sort of). Uncle Ruckus (who apparently includes school janitor among his plethora of professions), walks in on the scuffle, but promptly leaves when he realizes it's just two black kids going at it (to put it nicely). The fight ends when Lamilton goes over the roof, but Riley proves he's got a heart by grabbing his friend by the hand. Unfortunately, he informs Lamilton that he's really fat and his grip is slipping, and, when Dr. Dumas, his Grandad, and Huey show up in what seems like the nick of time, Dr. Dumas instead is elated to see Lamilton fall to his death.

But Lamilton disappears! Or not...Grandpa points out that he's just walking away. However, Dr. Dumas leaps off the roof and attacks him. The show ends with a 'The Omen' twist: another kid asks Riley for "cigawettes," perhaps proving that Lamilton's evil soul has moved on to another body.

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: The Lesson

So what is the story of this 'The Boondocks' tale? Perhaps it's an attack on how our society (well, namely the internet) condones violence (as evidenced by YouTube videos that showcase beat-downs). Or perhaps it's a statement that some kids are just the spawn of the Devil and there's no way to change them. Or maybe McGruder is just showing some love for some of his favorite horror movies.

The Boondocks, Season 3 Episode 6: Latarian Milton

As it turns out, this episode of 'The Boondocks' was based on the life of Latarian Milton, an 8-year-old who actually did take his grandmother's SUV on a joyride to do "hood rat stuff". Latarian became an internet sensation thanks to giving an interview about the ordeal, and he subsequently also really did beat his memaw down at Wal-Mart when she wouldn't buy him fried chicken. Latarian Milton even became the subject of a 'Judge Judy' special. In short, extremely bad behavior got Latarian Milton, one evil eight-year-old, a lot of attention.

So the real lesson here? Bad seeds Latarian Milton (or Lamilton) really do exist on this Earth, and are responsible for one of the darkest and most disturbing episodes of 'The Boondocks' I've ever seen. And it also looks like the child version of Stinkmeaner could someday return.

SOURCES: http://www.dlisted.com/node/26740