The Goldbergs Review: Hail Barry (Season 5 Episode 15)

On The Goldbergs Season 5 Episode 15, “Hail Barry,” the two most tenacious Goldbergs, Beverly and Barry, learn a lesson in not giving up.

This is one of those episodes that runs two parallel storylines with the same lesson. I usually like this method because it’s streamlined and cohesive.

“Hail Barry” is a great example of it.

Beverly gets caught up in her fashion dreams as a QVC mogul, and Barry wishes he could be the star football player without the talent. They each aim higher than their capabilities will allow, and they each get discouraged along the way—a totally natural progression of these situations.

Luckily, they have a supportive family to bolster their spirits. Murray is in Bevvie’s corner, and Adam has got Barry’s back. And in true Goldberg style, their support is both sweet and funny.

Adam: Even if I don’t get a chance to play, I can still help my team.
Barry: Like how you film the baseball games like a weird creep?
Adam: It’s game film. It helps them improve.
Barry: Or how like when the basketball rolls under the bleachers, and you climb under to get it?
Adam: I do fit in small places.
Barry: So even though you are an unbearable loser with no athletic ability and everyone talks behind your back, you still find a way to make a difference?
Adam: And you can, too. Also, what?
Barry: Thanks for inspiring me, loser!

At first, it’s a bit surprising that out of the Goldberg clan, Beverly and Barry need the pep talk. They are both pretty confident and usually stop at nothing to achieve whatever weird goal they want at the moment, but it is a good lesson for them to learn.

As much as they’d like to be perfect at everything, they have to recognize their limitations and make up for them with their strengths. And the way their family rallies behind them with different variations of this support is heartwarming.

Murray: We’ll ship them off to Erica. All of her artsy college friends will flip for them.
Beverly: Yes! We’ll get the young tastemakers to create some buzz and then QVC will come knocking down our door.
Murray: You’ve got a business plan, little lady!

I really love how Murray goes all in…even after seeing the jacket. That’s an unconditional kind of love right there. Also, Adam continues to be supportive even as Barry insults him repeatedly. This tight-knit family has got each other’s backs no matter what.

Stray Observations:

• “Our people don’t fish fish, we buy fish and then we schmear it.”
• “The problem with jean jackets is that they’re almost entirely jean, but BevWear has fun, flash, doilies, and tic tac toe.”
• Is it weird that I kind of want the one that Pops was wearing that said “fashion” on the front and had pockets you can’t reach in the back?
• This pep talk from Coach Mellor though: “You know when you gaze into the dark night sky and you see all those shimmering stars? I got a secret for you—they’re not alone. There are a bunch of weak, crappy stars right behind them on God’s great space bench, shining their dim, pointless light.”
• There’s a bunch of stuff at the end with real Philadelphia Eagles people and the real JTP, but I don’t know much about football, so it’s a bit lost on me.

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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