Superstore Review: Forced Hire (Season 5 Episode 3)

Superstore has started off the 19-20 television season with a real hot streak. They explore issues, sure, but they’re also proving they can have a lot of fun.

Superstore Season 5 Episode 3, “Forced Hire,” sheds some light on some of Dina’s enemies, gives Mateo some purpose, and removes a major obstacle to creating the Cloud 9 workers union. 

The union is probably as close as “Forced Hire” gets to a serious subject. It’s important for the long-term future of the employees and will definitely spur more stories as the season goes along. But it doesn’t really fit in the same category as immigration issues.

It does, however, give Jonah and Marcus a chance to interact. Ben Feldman and Jon Barinholtz play hilarious opposites as Jonah tries to get Marcus back on board with joining the union. Barinholtz and Feldman deserve more scenes together. 

Better still, though, is Dina and her feud with new transfer employee Colleen. 

Colleen has been mentioned before but “Forced Hire” is the first time we meet her. Sure, the beef Dina has with her is funny, but learning about all the people Dina hates and the various reasons is the funniest part of the episode. 

But the real key is getting Garrett involved. Dina dangles forgiveness over his head in exchange for messing with Colleen, but he ends up liking her! A classic romantic story! 

It makes sense that an episode written by Colton Dunn would work best for Garrett, but Garrett in particular shines on “Forced Hire.” His comedic nonchalance works perfectly among the other higher-maintenance characters.

And I know I shouldn’t say this to avoid angering the shipper gods, but Colleen totally works for him. But I guess he doesn’t have a lot of boxes to check. 

Probably the only story that doesn’t totally land is Mateo working at the store for free so that he has purpose. It’s sweet, sure, but it leans a little to far into the discomfort of Cheyenne and Glenn. 

It’s noble of them to make Mateo feel useful, but not stopping him when he upsets people just gets a little sad and frustrating. It’s ultimately a minor annoyance, but no episode is perfect.

“Forced Hire” is nowhere near short on laughs, and sets up a few stories that are sure to pay off in the future.

A few stray thoughts:

• I want to know about the 34 other people (assuming that Colleen, Garrett, and Elias make 37) on Dina’s list of enemies. 
• Sandra is going to walk down the aisle to the Hamster dance. Unreal. I have to see this.
• I’m filled with both terror and excitement at the prospect of Colleen finding out about Garrett’s promise to Dina, or Dina finding out that Garrett’s interest in Colleen is legitimate. 
• “Because I’m a bully”

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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