Superstore Review: Negotiations (Season 5 Episode 10)
Superstore is spending its fifth season juggling several storylines, so an episode exploring perhaps the largest one is necessary before the turn of the decade.
On Superstore Season 5 Episode 10, “Negotiations,” an update is revealed on the union story with hilarious and hopeful yet devastating results.
“Negotiations” centers around Jonah and Sandra representing the union in negotiations (ah, I see what they did there) over their demands for better healthcare and wages. They, with their union appointed negotiator Gloria, meet with Cloud 9 corporate to try and iron things out.
For many reasons, this does not go as planned. But, there’s some funny stuff within this story, and it may be the most important story in terms of advancing the show forward. It’s clear from stories like these that Superstore is trying hard to push beyond funny things that happen in retail and into realistic, character-focused plots.
Certainly there are laughs within this story, such as Jonah looking like he seems through email (He gets that a lot). But the central plot of “Negotiations” is not the funniest.
Funnier than that is Amy’s inability to deal with letting Jonah and Sandra handle themselves. It’s funny to watch her get worked up over not getting Jonah’s updates. But perhaps the best bit is when Amy, Cheyenne, and Dina go to chop down a Christmas tree and accidentally knock out the power to the store.
The funniest story of the episode, though, is easily the sales competition between Mateo, Garrett, and Glenn. It speaks to all of the really dumb things one can find in a big-box retail store. The pig shoe/gravy boat is the most ridiculous, but only because the microwaveable sweater and the Tony Danza popcorn maker are completely believable items.
So, naturally, the sales competition generates the most laughs, as three of the arguably funniest characters on the show try to outdo one another in selling ridiculous things. Even though the overall subject of the episode is relatively serious, the show’s silliness shines through here.
The show will still have new, serious issues to deal with as Mateo awaits his hearing and Cloud 9 gets bought out (*gasp*), rendering the union negotiations null and void. But hopefully the laughs will still roll via sales competitions and cutting down Christmas trees to ease the pain.
A few stray thoughts:
- I was sure Maya was calling Amy to say she knew about Amy’s union support. Never would’ve guessed Cloud 9 got bought!
- Always good to see The Drew Carey Show‘s Larry Alamada (Ian Gomez) pop up on my favorite shows.
- Glenn trying to sell to the timeshare lady and then asking her for info is the most Glenn thing to ever happen on this show.
- My inclination is to believe that Cloud 9’s sellout will cause a management shakeup of some kind, but it will not completely bust the union.
- Amy letting Jonah keep the celebration going is both melancholy and sweet. I appreciate it quite a bit.
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.