Superstore Review: Toxic Workplace (Season 4 Episode 3)
When you work in retail, the people you work with can become like your family. You see them all the time, you’re involved in each other’s lives, and you bond over the different aspects of your job.
Sometimes, though, the opposite of that can happen. Superstore Season 4 Episode 3, “Toxic Workplace,” explores the darker side of retail employees spending all their time together. It isn’t pretty…but it IS funny.
“Toxic Workplace” brilliantly sets up pins and knocks each one down in both unexpected and hilarious ways.
The two driving stories on the episode are Jonah and Amy trying to throw people off the scent of their relationship, and Kelly wanting to transfer to a different store.
Jonah and Amy pretend to fight with each other so that people won’t find out that they’re dating. This leads to some seriously funny moments, like their old-fashioned insult fest in the backroom (where people can hear them but not see them) and Dina chewing Jonah out for being mean to Amy.
It’s funny and it works. Ben Feldman and America Ferrera’s rapport essentially built the show into what it is today and with good reason. Their banter communicates all the nuance of their relationship but played for laughs (and gets them).
But also, to an extent, it doesn’t work. I don’t think it worked on their coworkers like they think it did. My instincts say that when Jonah and Amy’s true relationship comes to light, only Dina will be surprised.
The most brilliant story, though, is Kelly’s desire to transfer to a different Cloud 9 store, which is met with resistance by Glenn (of course). It takes a simple question (Why would Kelly want to leave?) and then slowly answers that question scene by scene.
The obvious answer, of course, is that all of the people at this Cloud 9 store are insane.
Every person at this store has unhealthy attachments to one another (see Dina to Amy, Glenn to Kelly, Mateo to Employee of the Month) and can’t have a meeting without invasive or insanely personal stuff coming out.
Still, if these characters were normal people who just showed up, clocked in, worked, and clocked out, what kind of show would Superstore be?
One of the best qualities of “Toxic Workplace” is that it showcases Superstore‘s deep bench.
Sure, the main gang (Jonah, Amy, Dina, Garrett, Glenn) can always be counted on for solid performances and laughs. But “Toxic Workplace” was a feast for the other characters like Mateo, Cheyenne, Carol, Sandra, and Kelly. Each one of these performers has incredible comedic chops, and this episode was a nice sampling of everyone’s skills.
A few stray thoughts:
- I laughed very hard during this episode and intended to give it five stars, but Sandra losing Jerry to Carol in a coin-flip is just way too weird.
- That said, Sandra’s surprisingly poignant breakthrough re: Carol is incredible.
- When in doubt, have Nichole Bloom do her Fran Drescher impersonation randomly in an episode. Hysterical.
- Can we talk for just a second about what an incredible friend Dina is? She went AFTER Jonah, which is one of many ride-or-die characteristics she’s displayed over the run of the show.
- I’m sad to see Kelly go. I understand why Jonah and Amy being together might render her redundant, but it still makes me sad.
What did you think of this episode of Superstore? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Superstore airs Thursday at 8/7c on NBC.
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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.