The Goldbergs Review: RAD! (Season 6 Episode 3)

On The Goldbergs Season 6 Episode 3, “RAD!,” Barry, Lainey, and Erica learn some new truths about the world of adulting, and Murray and Beverly are there to assist in these life lessons.

You know what is not rad? Saving money. I can’t think of a more boring topic for a sitcom.

But, The Goldbergs manages to make money management funny, and combining it with a whole plot based on the 1986 movie Rad is even better. Murray being the frugal father that he is also adds to the success of this episode.

I was not familiar with this movie as a kid. I was introduced to it by my husband who shares the same enthusiasm over it as Barry and Adam. (We even have a Helltrack built into our yard—there’s a sign and everything.)

My enjoyment of this storyline is not from a sense of nostalgia, but by association, and that’s pretty rad, too.

Barry: This movie has it all: rad BMX bikers on rad BMX bikes doing rad BMX biking.
Adam: It’s why they called it Rad. They literally had no choice.

It’s great how they work in this totally random movie with Murray’s lessons in saving money. And Barry being willing to be the saver in the relationship is really sweet, even though we know he will not stick with it.

Murray is right, there usually is a spender and a saver in a relationship, and being the saver sucks big time. It is a nice story arc for Murray to impart his advice to Barry and Lainey and then be reminded by Pops that he was the same at their age.

Pops: Face it, you were just as young and dumb, but I didn’t care ’cause you loved my daughter, and that’s all that matters.

I love when the show references back in montage. We get two in this episode: Beverly embarrassing Erica and Murray yelling about the thermostat. This is a fun addition to Murray’s lesson.

The entire lesson is hilarious and the pay off (pun intended) is, too. Barry saves six whole dollars, and his reaction is priceless: “I’ve been up everyone’s ass for days! I damaged every relationship I had to save money.”

Maybe it’s because I’m the saver in my relationship, but I find this plot very real and very funny. Jeff Garlin and Troy Gentile bring the perfect amount of quintessential Murray and classic Barry to this story, making it less silly and more poignant, and they are still able to keep the high-quality comedy.

It’s rare for me to have a Beverly-centric story take second fiddle, but it does in this case. I just am really able to connect with this Murray/Barry plotline. That is not to say the Beverly/Erica story isn’t funny. It is.

It really is.

And it gives me the musical numbers I was wanting from The Goldbergs Season 6 Episode 2, “You Got Zuko’d.”

Wendi McClendon-Covey as Beverly Goldberg is such a gift. She does the comedic Smother bit so well, but she also can bring the feels. She hits heavy in both departments on this episode—a one-two punch of funnies and feels.

I’m glad she teaches Erica a lesson, and she does so by simply telling Erica how she makes her feel (after an “embarrassing medley of mom singing and dancing”). The resolution is nice and spurred by a comment from hopefully a new recurring character, Erica’s boss. Gary seems like a wise sage who would fit in well with all of the Goldbergs.

And he named his karaoke bar after himself—Gary-oke’s. Genius.

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

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The Goldbergs airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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