Superstore Review: Cloud 9 Academy (Season 4 Episode 10)
After a lengthy hiatus, Superstore has finally opened its (caution, automatic) doors.
Superstore Season 4 Episode 10, “Cloud 9 Academy,” is jam packed with all of our favorite characters both growing and staying exactly the same.
While Superstore is mostly a hilarious romp through lots of different retail problems, sometimes it gets too far into cringe territory, which only serves as a detriment to the show’s comic talent.
For instance, Amy and Cheyenne going to Cloud 9 Academy works pretty well as a catalyst for two brilliant comediennes in Nichole Bloom and America Ferrera. But some of Amy and Cheyenne’s moments in the class felt far more cringe-worthy than funny.
For instance, when Cheyenne went to get the extra chair and moved it across the room, I could feel my own face turning red.
Cheyenne: Baller, I was afraid I was gonna get stuck with some dunce.
And when Amy found out she could fail the course? Whoo boy. SO awkward.
The same is true, to a lesser degree, for Jonah and Mateo’s attempt to make Mateo a political activist so that he could seek asylum from the United States. This story was overall far funnier, but Mateo walking back his stances as soon as he gets on TV feels more awkward than anything.
Still, Ben Feldman and Nico Santos are far funnier with a much flimsier story.
The best part of “Cloud 9 Academy” is simply that after a long hiatus, every character is involved and gets a chance to be funny. While the Jonah/Mateo and Amy/Cheyenne team ups feel like the primary stories, every Superstore regular gets to be funny.
For instance Garrett and Dina, target of many shippers affections, accidentally start a daycare service at the store while watching Glenn’s daughter. The farther it escalates the funnier it gets, but the audience also learns terms like “bag of water” and “sack of margarine.”
As a fan of physical comedy, I’m especially drawn to any drawn-out slapstick a show can offer me.
Glenn child proofing his office delivers that ten-fold. Really, I never knew I wanted to watch a grown man knock himself unconscious and then lock himself in his office while child-proofing, but Mark McKinney sells it every step of the way.
At the end of the day, Superstore is relevant through its multi-faceted approach to comedy. Despite the occasionally awkward cringe humor, they never fail to deliver a laugh.
A few stray thoughts:
- The embalming conference was a really nice touch. Especially bringing it full circle with the “dead body party” bit.
- Shouting out Pokemon Go! I wonder if Sayid caught his Snorlax.
- Perhaps the most laugh out loud funny moment of “Cloud 9 Academy” is Sandra making up the entire story about pulling the plug on her grandmother.
- I would love to be in a politically active organization with Jonah, Mateo, Marcus, and Sandra. Wouldn’t you?
What did you think of this episode of Superstore? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Superstore airs Thursdays 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.