Superstore Review: Testimonials (Season 5 Episode 2)
Superstore, over the last five years, has often been and still is a great place to find hilarious quips and quotes alongside social commentary.
Superstore Season 5 Episode 2, “Testimonials,” may be one of the funniest episodes they’ve ever done. It’s filled with one-liners and hysterical moments. But it also doesn’t shy away from the social commentaries and issues that make Superstore so relevant today.
“Testimonials” is a master class in balancing serialized stories that are both serious (Mateo’s hearing) and funny (Sandra’s engagement party), all the while making audiences giggle.
Sandra’s engagement party (or lack thereof) feeds into her life as a sad-sack character, although it she really isn’t one. Dina, who usually treats her like garbage, is her maid of honor but doesn’t plan to throw her an engagement party. So Jonah tries to throw her one in secret!
Garrett: “You don’t tell a fish about land, you just leave it!”
Dina makes this all about her, as she takes Jonah feeling bad as a personal affront. Of course, the best part of this story has to be Jonah getting a cake, Dina catching him, and then she forces him to eat the entire thing.
This whole story would feel much more cringeworthy if it weren’t for Kaliko Kauahi and her earnest portrayal of Sandra. Sandra is so thrilled to be marrying Jerry that she doesn’t care about the whispering behind the forklift, or Mateo’s release overshadowing her.
The best story in “Testimonials,” though, is Amy working toward Mateo’s release by giving his attorney a testimonial. When the attorney talks to other people in the store, he gets a better impression of Mateo…though none of it is really helpful.
Jonah: “Classic Slut Squad Tea”
But really, this points to a larger issue in a way that only Superstore can. People talking to the attorney don’t understand the severity of Mateo’s situation and that they are not helping. For people unaffected by immigration issues, this is the norm. Sure, they’re upset about their friend in trouble, but it doesn’t affect their lives all that much, so Mateo’s quirks is all they have to talk about.
It’s only people who are informed and aware like Amy and Jonah who are doing the actual fighting in this scenario. Getting Jeff involved as a lost love of Mateo’s is a stroke of genius, too. If Superstore‘s goal with “Testimonials” is to make people think about how they’d react to this, it’s successful.
The culmination of the two main plot lines comes together, too, when Sandra finally gets her engagement party on her day off. Mateo’s release takes over the festivities, but Sandra greets him with nothing but a long embrace. It’s certainly a powerful moment that transcends the comedic moments of the episode.
A few stray thoughts:
- Marcus has only gotten funnier over the last few years. I hope Jon Barinholtz sticks around!
- One of the better sequences that Superstore has done: all the fake inspirational stories about Mateo
- I can already tell I’m going to love Jerry’s new attachment to Garrett as a friend.
- “I need you to go to Dollywood with me for Jerry’s bachelor party” “Umm….what?”
- I desperately want to find out what happens with Jeff. Obviously he testified, but did he lose his job?
Ultimately, “Testimonials” tells a both compelling tale of a detained friend and some other hysterical stories. I definitely recommend it.
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.