The Goldbergs Review: Graduation Day (Season 4 Episode 24)

The Goldbergs season 4 episode 24 “Graduation day” brings the season to a close with the end of the school year, and Erica’s graduation.

“I think the problem is you’re focusing on logic, not the lovable cast of characters.”

Adam’s advice about the Police Academy movies applies to my viewing of Season 4 Episode 24 of The Goldbergs. I get caught up in Erica’s absurd overreaction to leaving home when I should’ve just enjoyed all these characters that I have come to love.

Once I was able to let go of logic (thanks to Adam), “Graduation Day” became much more enjoyable.

Growing up is hard, even for adults—and especially for a smother like Beverly Goldberg.

Watching Erica and Beverly gleefully cheer about Erica’s failure to graduate is a tad alarming.

Erica: My life is coming to a grinding halt!
Beverly: It’s everything I’ve ever hoped for!
Erica: Yay! I’m a cautionary tale.

If you ignore any realistic comparisons and just go with the straight comedic value of it, this scene is pretty funny. The problem is that the series usually can be funny and realistic at the same time, with a healthy dose of absurdity. This is a balance I’ve come to expect from the show.

It’s as if the writers felt that Beverly being upset about Erica leaving home wasn’t enough of a plot. But have you seen Wendi McClendon-Covey act? She can make it work. Trust me.

Luckily, Murray comes to the rescue and drops some knowledge that even gets through to Beverly while she’s flying high on her daughter’s love and attention.

Murray: I’d rather lose her for a few short years than hold her back forever.

Beverly gets Erica’s diploma for her by going to “battle” with Coach Mellor. They both treat this as if it’s the last time they will spar over her children’s education, because the whole episode has a feeling of finality to it.

You haven’t seen the last of Beverly Goldberg, Coach. She’s still got two kids in high school. But, nice try.

Along with this finality are some, shall I say, ominous warnings about what awaits us next season. I’m not sure if it’s intentional, but there are a couple of lines that make it sound like the show will change somehow.

“Everything you’ve come to know for the past few years is about to be turned on its head.”

This is said to Beverly to prepare her for life without one of her kids living at home, but it also feels directed at us viewers. The ending, too, which is narrated to us by future Adam (Patton Oswalt), alludes to a shift.

Future Adam: For me the best had yet to come. Sure, sometimes I’d forget details, and always seemed to get the dates wrong, but everything we knew was changing. Those next few years of 1980-something, well, they’d become the stuff of legend.

What does this mean?! 

I thought a lot of the series over the past four seasons was pretty legendary. I am happy with the status quo, but maybe I need to be brave like Erica, and Beverly, and Barry, and Adam—okay, all of them, really—and accept that things change.

The Adam/Jackie storyline merges nicely with the Barry/Lainey one, but they both don’t seem substantial enough. They fall just shy of being significant subplots for a season finale episode.

All in all, I am a little underwhelmed as I have enjoyed what I thought was a really strong season. I am curious and excited to see what The Goldbergs has in store for us next season. 

Stray Observations:

• “You’re going to miss my cuddles, and snuggles, and plubbies.” “I’m sorry, plubbies?” “It’s something I’ve been workshopping, and I think it’s ready to go. Guard your belly button.” Oh dear God, Beverly, what even?
• How sad for the rest of the graduating class. The whole graduation ceremony is about The Goldbergs.
• I love how the cake says 198– and the slice after the 8 is gone so the year remains ambiguous. Very clever.

What did you think of the season finale 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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