Last Man Standing: Season 5
Season 5 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Last Man Standing Season 4.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 5 Progress Shield
The Wolf Returns
Sep 25, 2015
Mike has returned from being on a fantastic two-month road trip traveling to far-flung places for Outdoor Man. It's great to be back with his wife, Vanessa, and their three daughte
Free Range Parents
Oct 2, 2015
Amidst the mass chaos of picking up Ryan from school, Mike asks a reluctant Ryan to let Boyd walk home unsupervised. Meanwhile, Ed and Kyle hold a "Doomsday Preppers" meeting, and
Ping–pong
Oct 9, 2015
Vanessa tries to educate Eve on why she should be more on board with having a woman president. Meanwhile, after Ed mentions to Mike that he hasn't seen his own daughter for years,
Educating Boyd
Oct 16, 2015
When Mike blames the public school system for suspending his grandson Boyd from public school, he tells Ryan they should start looking at private schools. Meanwhile, Kristin and Ky
The Road Less Driven
Oct 23, 2015
When Vanessa and the girls surprise Mike with a 1967 Impala for his birthday, he's excited to have alone time in the garage with the car. But when the car's original owner, Joe, ke
Halloween
Oct 30, 2015
On Halloween, Mike and Chuck decide to spend the evening watching football instead of passing out candy with their wives. But when Vanessa and Carol start pranking them, the compet
The Dad Hat
Nov 6, 2015
Kristin is surprised that Mike is treating her more like a dad than her boss when she tells him she wants to oversee the opening of the next Outdoor Man Grill restaurant. Meanwhile
The Big Sleepover
Nov 13, 2015
When Eve tells the family her annoying best friend Cammy needs to move in with them, Mike springs into action to find a way to hand Cammy off on someone else, namely the Larabees.
The Gratitude List
Nov 20, 2015
Although Vanessa is disappointed it will only be her, Mike and Eve at the Baxter Thanksgiving table, she's more let down when Eve bypasses one of their holiday traditions and calls
The Puck Stops Here
Dec 4, 2015
When Boyd's hockey team needs a new coach, Mike surprises everyone when he recommends Ryan for the job since he was an all-star hockey player in high school. Meanwhile, Vanessa doe
Gift of the Wise Man
Dec 11, 2015
Mike, annoyed at how far his family has moved away from the true spirit of Christmas, tells them he doesn’t want any physical gifts this year. Instead, he just wants each of them
Polar Run
Jan 8, 2016
When Mike and Vanessa need a sure winner on their annual college alumnae 5k race teams, they go to extreme measures to see who will win over Eve. Meanwhile, Kristin senses work mig
Mike and the Mechanics
Jan 15, 2016
To snap Eve out of her funk of not getting into West Point Academy, Mike hopes that taking her to Outdoor Man will show her different career options. But both Mike and Vanessa are
The Ring
Jan 29, 2016
When Ed secretly gives Kyle a task involving an engagement ring, Mike thinks Kyle is going to propose to Mandy.
Home Sweet Loan
Feb 5, 2016
Mike has convinced Kristin and Ryan to buy a home instead of renting an apartment. But when he finds the ideal place for them, Ryan surprises everyone with a change of heart and ba
Eve's Band
Feb 19, 2016
Mike tries to break up Eve's new band, but his plan doesn't turn out as he expected; Mandy and Kyle baby-sit Boyd.
Tanks for the Memories
Feb 26, 2016
Mike is anxious to buy the miniature tank collection once belonging to the late husband of his neighbor, Helen Potts. But when he discovers Helen already sold the collection, he go
He Shed She Shed
Mar 11, 2016
Mike thinks Vanessa is using too much of his space at home to do her work, so he builds her a detached shed he calls a "she shed," in their yard. Meanwhile, Kyle has to cope when K
Outdoor Woman
Mar 18, 2016
Mike's ex-girlfriend, a famous rock climber, wants him to go on a trip with her to promote her line of climbing gear; Kristen and Ryan part with their old possessions.
Tattoo
Apr 8, 2016
Vanessa hopes getting a tattoo will help her become closer to her daughters; Kyle gives Ryan camping lessons.
The Marriage Doctor
Apr 15, 2016
When Mike finds out future son-in-law Kyle fears meeting with the church's new minister, Mike tells Kyle to use him and Vanessa as a strong marriage example. But a recent argument
The Shortcut
Apr 22, 2016
In honor of Mike's 25 years at The Outdoor Man, Ed plans a surprise dinner for him and asks Joe and Chuck to come up with the after-dinner speech. Also, Mandy decides that in order