The Goldbergs Review: Let’s Val Kilmer This Car (Season 5 Episode 23)

The Goldbergs Season 5 Episode 23 finale, “Let’s Val Kilmer This Car,” gives us a big send off and sets us up for next season and the 90s spinoff, Schooled.

Erica’s decision to drop out of college causes a ruckus at home, and sends Beverly into a confusing tailspin. She’s been working hard on her Bevolution, so Erica being home again throws a wrench in that machine. Beverly can’t help but put the ‘smother’ hat back on.

Part of that smothering is to “foolishly fill her with confidence” and unrealistic expectations. And Erica eats it up.

Murray, on the other hand, puts his foot down. These two sides to parenting ring very true to me.

On the last two episodes (The Goldbergs Season 5 Episode 21 and 22), Beverly has been going back and forth between being blindly supportive and practicing tough love. This motherly disorientation culminates on this episode. She wants to play good cop to Murray’s bad cop, but sees the harm it does, and ends up putting her foot down, too.

Murray’s instant frustration at Erica’s decision is understandable. The “college” montage is great reminder of how Murray views the importance of higher education. He also has always looked forward to his “morons” leaving the house, and now “the girl moron” is back.

Murray is usually portrayed as comically stern. On this episode it is a bit more realistic while still being comical. It’s a subtle difference, but one I appreciate for this storyline. Jeff Garlin really nails it.

Similarly, Beverly’s fluctuation in tactics is hysterical as always, but also hits home the insecurities parents can have when dealing with their kids. I can relate so well to both Beverly and Murray as a parent—frighteningly so, actually.

Pops: Murray put his foot down.
Beverly: Which was great, and now it’s my job to ever so gently lift it up.
Pops: Nothing about Murray can be lifted gently.

The journey the three of them go through on this episode is beautiful. Erica’s realization that she has to face real life responsibilities and Beverly’s assurance that their home will always be a “safe place” for her brings me to tears. Murray’s rationality extends to the end of Barry’s plot in the final scene when he tells Beverly that it’s “tomorrow’s problem.” Their dynamic as parents is really something special, and is showcased well on this episode.

This brings me to Barry’s storyline, which started out as a simple challenge to pull off the best senior prank at school. This is a natural goal for Barry to attempt (and fail), but the way it develops and interweaves with Erica’s storyline is unexpected. The plots aren’t usually interconnected as cause and effect like this, but it makes for a nice added complexity.

His prank messes up Beverly’s scheme to help Erica which, in turn, lets down Lainey. He does the right thing and turns himself in, showing that he is a stand-up guy—one that Lainey agrees to marry. This is a shocking finale twist I did not see coming.

Erica dropping out of school to start a band with Lainey brings them both back home. ABC has greenlit a spinoff on which Lainey is a teacher at William Penn Academy in the next decade. This sets up the possibility that she and Barry will be married during that time, keeping the Goldberg family close in the loop.

It also piques my curiosity of what Season 6 will look like. Adam will be the only one still in high school. Barry and Lainey might be married, and Erica could still be living at home. It’s a lot of change, but still familiar, and I’m excited to see what’s in store for this family.

Stray Observations:

• I love love love Real Genius! This is an excellent tribute. And, yes, Val Kilmer is a “dreamboat” in that movie.
• “Khak attack!”
• “How can you brisket at a time like this?” I love when Beverly’s food is used in verb form.
• I am so here for Valley Erica living under the Goldberg roof.
• “I’ve got a foot, too, missy. Homegirl’s gonna find out what it means to work for a living. You better get ready to sew some buttons, and hot tar some roofs, and tend to them chickens.” “What era do you have me working in?” The writing is so good on this show!
• “I earned these boots with my potential.”
• Barry’s guesses at who the car belongs to are hilarious! And it goes on for so long which makes it even funnier. “That cool sub who’s always teaching with rap lyrics? Charles Barkley? Power couple Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson?” Troy Gentile has really mastered that balance of clueless and clever for Barry.
• There is very little Adam in this episode, and he wasn’t really included in the recap they did at the end. There is a lot going on so I get it, but it still seems odd.

What did you think of this season finale of The Goldbergs? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Goldbergs will return to ABC in the fall.

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