The Goldbergs Review: The Dynamic Duo (Season 4 Episode 20)

It’s 1960’s Batman versus 1980’s Batman on The Goldbergs Season 4 Episode 20, “The Dynamic Duo,” directed by pop culture expert and ultra-nerd, Kevin Smith.

Barry feels left out of all the fun that Pops and Adam have together. He takes cues from the Batman villain, The Joker, to teach them a lesson.

Adam and Pops make plans to see the new movie Batman. They don’t think to ask Barry, but he invites himself anyway.

They continue to ditch him the rest of the day, and it is really sad.

There are a lot of hilarious moments, but the underlying sense is what a bummer it is for Barry.

It’s no fun when friends leave you out of things, but when family does it, it can hurt a little deeper.

Especially coming from an adult like Pops. It is the type of behavior you would expect from a sibling, but not a grandparent.

Pops does speak up for Barry a little bit, but lets Adam talk him out of doing anything about it.

Each time Barry confronts them, his reactions are comical, but you can see it’s affecting him.

The last time, he leaves the jokes out and looks to be on the verge of tears when he tells Pops that it feels like he doesn’t love him. It kind of breaks my heart because usually the one family love you can count on is a grandparent’s love.

Just like the sitcoms in the ’80s, there is a feel-good resolution, and “The Dynamic Duo” becomes “The Fearsome Threesome.”

While the premise is somewhat somber, there are plenty of jokes to keep it light. Pops’ pronunciation of “Batman” being a high point, as well as the Shrinky Dinks bit.

Barry: What’s in the oven, dudes?
Adam: Don’t look in the oven.
Barry: Oh my God. You two made Batman Shrinky Dinks without me. You know I live for shrinking dinks.
Pops: We know that. Everyone knows that.
Barry: There’s only two shrunken dinks, man.

Erica’s storyline is not quite as strong and a bit of a let down.

Erica is overly confident, or overly stubborn (or perhaps both), regarding her future plans. I expect her to be a little smarter than this.

She blows her Penn State interview in a really awkward, cringe-worthy scene. Then there is a part two when she corners the admissions guy in the parking garage.

Her failure leads the family to find out that Murray never did graduate from Penn State, being shy just one credit.

Finding out information like this about your parents can be shocking and disheartening. Erica uses it as an excuse to busk her way to stardom “like a true artist.”

Hayley Orrantia’s performance throughout the episode is really strong, so I guess it’s the plot that isn’t working for me.

However, it ends with what I really have come to like about this season, which is the father/daughter bond growing between Murray and Erica. It is a really sweet moment.

“The Dynamic Duo” is directed by Kevin Smith, but nothing stood out as being distinctly his style. It looks and feels like any episode of The Goldbergs.

Smith tweeted before the episode aired, “they gave me credit for directing (I really just watched)!”

Though, his enthusiasm for super heroes and nerd culture is a perfect fit for the show, and that certainly shows.

Stray Observations:

• I love Murray’s Adam West impression.
• “The guy who plays Beetlebuzz?” “Beetlejuice.” “Beetlejazz can’t be Batman.”
• “Two words: family.” Adam’s reaction is priceless.
• “It’s cheaper, more affordable, and it costs less.” “That’s the same thing said three different ways.”
• “Carnegie Mellon rejected my baby? Well, I’m never buying another melon.”
• Another great Counselor Glascott scene. This one is complete with a Sally Struthers Correspondence School infomercial. Remember those? I do, clear as day. “TV/VCR repair.”
• Along with the Shrinky Dink scene, another one that has me laughing out loud is when Barry calls Adam ‘Adamander.’ “Do you think Adam is short for Adamander? Do you think it’s like Alexander?”
• The Rad mention though.
• The humor is not lost on me that Kevin Smith directs episode 4.20.

What did you think of this episode of The Goldbergs? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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The Goldbergs airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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