The Goldbergs Review: Eight-bit Goldbergs (Season 6 Episode 19)

On The Goldbergs Season 6 Episode 19, “Eight-bit Goldbergs,” it’s all about family love and the different ways to express it. 

There is something about episodes of The Goldbergs that center mostly around the family that have a special magic. This episode is an example of that with the added bonus of the show’s unique self-awareness and meta quality that makes it work on a whole other level.

“Eight-bit Goldbergs” follows the story of how the series came to be in a hilarious computer game format with top-notch graphics in pixelated 8-bit glory. The details, as well as the connections to Adam Goldberg’s real-life journey, make this episode so much more impactful. I especially like the Erica/Eric element.

The show is based on Adam Goldberg’s family. There is really a smother, an often pantsless dad, an angry older brother, and a nerdy Adam. There is another brother, Eric, but they decided to bring a sister into the mix.

The real Eric might not have been the musician with rockstar dreams but a lot of Erica’s storylines have come from Eric Goldberg’s real-life shenanigans like breaking into a senior living complex’s pool to eat knishes on The Goldbergs Season 5 Episode 19, “MTV Spring Break,” and sending his dad’s car off a cliff while on a romantic holiday with his high school love on The Goldbergs Season 6 Episode 14, “Major League.”

Adam’s game doesn’t have the forethought that Adam Goldberg had when creating his TV show, but the change from Erica to Eric proves to be a very funny bit.

Erica: Not now, babe. I’m busy yelling at Adam for not putting me in his game.
Geoff: What do you mean? Clearly, you’re Eric.
Erica: No, he’s a guy. And a lazy, couch-surfing, wannabe rockstar– [gasps] You bastard!
Adam: No, no, no. You are not in any way Erica. I give you my word, Eric.
Geoff: You just called Erica “Eric” like they’re the same person.

The game provides many laughs throughout the episode from its popularity among the students (“This game’s hilarious ’cause I can wedgie you without real-world consequences.”) to Barry giving notes on his computer likeness (“I have more notes on Big Tasty, mainly that you include that nickname as much as possible.”). But, it’s the lesson learned in the end that makes it meaningful. 

Narrator Eric: Thanks to my dad, I realized I had to stop listening to all my critics and just make something that I believed in. Maybe it wouldn’t be perfect, but at least it would be real. 

I love this advice so much. It can be applied to all creatives and should be the foundation of any artistic endeavor. I don’t know if Adam Goldberg’s family really reacted this way when he decided to make this TV show, but it is certainly apparent that it is made with love.

The other Beverly/Pops storyline (with the fun addition of Bill) is also teeming with familial love, even if it is misguided on Beverly’s end. It’s hard to see the older people in your life struggle with the frustrations of aging, and it is sweet that Beverly tries to gently help her father with his gambling problem.

Like so many of her schemes, though, it goes horribly wrong—thirty thousand dollars wrong, in fact. This win/loss hurts, but it does lead father and daughter to a place of honesty where they can work on their struggles together. It’s another nice heartfelt message, making this episode a two-for-one in the feels department.

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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