Superstore Review: Cereal Bar (Season 5 Episode 15)
Superstore never fails at balancing issues that real retail workers are facing with laugh out loud funny stories.
Superstore Season 5 Episode 15, “Cereal Bar,” is a perfect example of this, as issues like scamming a store’s return process, fair wages, and paid suspensions are addressed.
Not only this, but there’s also an entire lampoon on tech companies buying into the retail space, like Amazon and Whole Foods.
Much like a trendy tech company would – Cloud 9 is gifted with a cereal bar at their store. As you might expect, the results are uproariously, laugh out loud funny.
But Cloud 9 Ozark Highlands doesn’t only have breakfast related comedy situations. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“Cereal Bar” presents opportunities for Glenn, Dina, Jonah, Amy and Garrett to be at the top of their game character wise. Each character’s situation is approached normally, but completely within their character’s context, to both sweet and hilarious end.
Glenn’s sweet and sunny disposition, for instance, perfectly combats Garrett’s monumental effort at maintaining laziness (trying to get paid time off).
Glenn Sturgis: I once drove a pallet of Mentos into a stack of Colas. I thought it was the rapture.
It seems like someone in Garrett’s shoes could pretty easily get what they’re looking for in most cases – but most people don’t have Glenn for a boss. Of course, this also illustrates a larger need for paid time off in the retail industry. You should be able to take a day off to be lazy every now and then.
Dina gets involved with a scammer – who is returning item boxes with rocks in them for a refund. It’s extremely in character for Dina to be upset with this guy, go after him, and also be attracted to him. Her scenes with Benny (Scott MacArthur) are absolutely marvelous – and the resolution is both predictable for Dina and hysterical.
But perhaps the most character focus comes to Jonah and Amy, who spend most of the episode arguing about issues facing the workers of the store. But in between their (many) arguments are extremely adorable Valentine’s Day surprises for each other.
Jonah and Amy are naturally both argumentative and sassy characters, but this story gives them comedic, in-character moments, and reminds the audience that they’re in love. It’s both funny and sweet. Sometimes America Ferrera and Ben Feldman don’t get enough credit for the incredible work they do on this show.
A few stray thoughts:
- Though less of a presence in “Cereal Bar,” Mateo’s gossipy approach to being Amy’s assistant is very in character for him.
- I enjoyed Glenn’s shouting in the storm shelter very much.
- Question – I have friends who work for an acquired company who were subsequently given the benefits of the parent company. Why is that not always the case? I guess not having them makes for a better comedy show.
- “What if I already filled up on breakfast?” Marcus, never change.
- Superstore has been issued a Season 6 renewal! And there was much rejoicing!
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.