Superstore Review: Hair Care Products (Season 6 Episode 5)

Superstore is back! Viewers now know that Superstore is in its final season, so the return from hiatus is a bittersweet one.

On Superstore Season 6 Episode 5, “Hair Care Products,” Garrett takes center stage as the Cloud 9 employees are forced to reckon with white privilege and racism as it relates to them. It starts with officially “unlocking” black hair care products, which is a modest step in the right direction.

Superstore has not been one to shy away from social issues and this is no different. Likely this episode aired long after it was intended to, but is important to recent happenings in the real world. 

Mostly, they do a good job tackling not only the topic of implicit bias and racism, but how it applies on an individual basis. 

For instance — Garrett takes charge of several meetings that Cloud 9 Ozark Highlands has regarding racism and biases expressed by store policies and fixtures. As a result of this, many of the Cloud 9 employees treat Garrett as their “black friend.” 

What’s really important about “Hair Care Products” is the message it sends to caring white people who want to help and be allies. The likes of Glenn and Dina really struggle with how to act appropriately to Garrett, even though they genuinely care for him and his intentions are good. 

The single best moment on “Hair Care Products” is Garrett complimenting Jonah on his response to everything. Viewers might assume Jonah would be the worst one, but it’s clear that he actually listens to Garrett and respects what he has to say, unlike some of their coworkers. Superstore, as a rule, makes Jonah overly and annoyingly woke, so this is an excellent change of pace. 

Colton Dunn really brings his A game this time out, and the rapport between he and Ben Feldman makes the whole thing click. These are the best kind of stories to come out of America Ferrera’s departure.

“Hair Care Products” is a truly important episode and tackles a truly important topic in a hilarious way that only Superstore can, but it isn’t a perfect episode. It’s a little dialogue heavy in a way that doesn’t help the message, and Cheyenne and Mateo’s subplot about getting Sandra to come to their movie is cringeworthy and doesn’t land.

Though not perfect, “Hair Care Products” contains important messaging that any casual viewer should take to heart. 

A few stray thoughts:

• “So it’s an all lives matter pizza party?”
• Jonah’s woke-ness is pretty tolerable this time out, but he’s in an “anti-racism book club” which is pretty hysterical.
• Cheyenne and Mateo’s B-plot is not necessary, but it is VERY funny. It might’ve been better suited to a different episode.
• I never thought of Mc Cool Cloud as appropriation — but spot on!
• “Is that bug spray?” “A virus IS a bug.”

What did you think of this episode of Superstore? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Superstore airs Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on NBC.

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