The Goldbergs Review: The Hooters (Season 5 Episode 13)

On The Goldbergs Season 5 Episode 13, “The Hooters,” Erica becomes a snob and Adam fights for his sense of humor. Both of their ventures seem a little over-the-top, but the signature Goldbergs comedy usually helps these things out, and that is the case here.

Whereas The Goldbergs Season 5 Episode 12 (successfully) filled a whole episode with one storyline, “The Hooters” crams too many plots, sub-plots, and side-plots into the half-hour.

Erica’s story is very relatable. Finding something to be snooty about at college is a common phase. I went through one where I thought only independent films were good. It’s natural. It’s fine.

So the backlash from Beverly and Geoff is a bit much. Like Erica says, “I’m not allowed to go away to college to change and grow like a normal person?” They agree. She is not allowed.

Beverly: Erica is going to leave Jenkintown behind to experience the world and become an interesting person!

And she says it like it’s a bad thing. Beverly, remember your Bevolution. Rein in that smothering impulse.

What’s worse is Geoff, a young person himself, goes along with Beverly. Although, I love the dynamic of the two of them in this episode. Wendi McClendon-Covey and Sam Lerner do a great job together.

Geoff: Is it weird that we’ve been hanging out?
Beverly: A little.

Erica comes to her senses. It’s the quickest snob phase ever. I would’ve liked it better if it wasn’t so neatly wrapped up in one episode. Erica and Valley Erica are pretty funny as college snobs.

Erica: I can’t believe our lame-ass RA called us poser freshman who are going through a pretentious phase.
Valley Erica: These personas that we just discovered, like, last week are who we are going to be, like, for the rest of our lives.

Oh, and then there’s a whole Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous thing with Barry that, while humorous, feels forced into the overall plot.

Similarly, Adam’s storyline is muddled, and weighed down by his overreaction to his dad’s well-known resistance. Murray doesn’t understand Adam’s passions. We know! It’s been the heart of many a plot on this show before.

For Adam to get so furious about it now is odd. If his rage was brought down just a couple notches it might’ve worked better.

The side-plot stuffed into this storyline is this wood shop teacher. I feel we’ve just scratched the surface of this complex man.

Mr. Crosby: But as time wore on, the jungle madness took me. I tried to summon a monkey army to free me from my elegant prison. I soon realized that I needed to forgive the wood that encaged me.

The slow push-in and dramatic music make this and his other monologue about his “ballet of tragedy” worth the crowded feel that its addition gives in the first place.

The Goldbergs is good this way. Like how even bad pizza is still pretty great; even ho-hum episodes are still highly entertaining.

Stray Observations:

• “Flight of Hamburger Helper.”
• What is Water (Wurter) Ice? Is it water or is it ice? How is it a dessert?
• “Did my daughter just say ‘water’ like she’s from Delaware?”
• It is nice to see Adam’s friend Emmy again.
• “Laughter is a real profession, and I’m all in.” “In what? This house when you’re thirty?” I think the real comedian here is Murray.
• “I bet the letters stand for stuff.” “Oh yes, it’s called a mammogram.”

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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