The Goldbergs Review: Sunday Chow-Fun Day (Season 9 Episode 20)
The Goldbergs Season 9 Episode 20, “Sunday Chow-Fun Day,” has some funny moments but it’s feeling very been there, done that.
Probably because all of this has been done. It’s baffling to me that this show would go for another season past this. Adam (Sean Giambrone) graduates at the end of this season, and I can’t think of a better way to end the series.
This episode has a tone of desperation, and it is so freakin’ loud.
The Goldbergs hasn’t quite jumped the shark with some ridiculous plot that makes an audience suddenly take notice of the decline in quality, but it is in the process of fizzling out. To be honest, the news of renewal and a 10th season makes that even more glaringly apparent.
With the passing of George Segal last year, the character of Pops is sadly gone, and Murray (Jeff Garlin) has only been making sporadic appearances on the second half of this season. And, again, let me stress that all of the kids will be out of the house away at college.
I just can’t understand the choice to continue under these circumstances—every sign seems to be pointing towards ending the series.
As much as I love Beverly Goldberg, I would like to see the comedic powerhouse that is Wendi McLendon-Covey in other roles. Not to knock the rest of the cast (which are lovely), but McLendon-Covey carries this show and always has. It’s high time she hang up the beloved Beverly’s sequined sweaters and spread her talented wings elsewhere.
Or, you know, an Empty Nest-type situation centered on Beverly Goldberg might be something.
All this is not to say the show isn’t funny anymore or entertaining—it is—but it has reached a natural conclusion, and it is frustrating to see this wonderful series overstaying its welcome.
The Goldbergs Season 9 Episode 20, “Sunday Chow-Fun Day,” is a prime example of my aforementioned grievances.
There are jokes that hit, clever dialogue, funny puns, and time spent with characters that feel like family. However, after nine seasons many storylines have been reused and repurposed.
Beverly is a pain in the ass at school that makes both Adam and Principal Ball’s lives difficult inside the walls of William Penn Academy. That is the basis for the Beverly-focused plot on this episode as well as countless others.
We literally just saw this two episodes ago on Season 9 Episode 18, “School-ercise.” Granted, there are some differences, but not enough to overpower the strong feeling of redundancy.
McLendon-Covey’s performance, though, is never anything but exceptional. She is more often than not the source of my laughter, and that, thankfully, is no different when the scripts provide regurgitated material.
Two other overutilized story devices are put into play for the Erica/Geoff plotline.
Erica, yet again, selfishly ignores Geoff’s feelings, and Geoff, yet again, lets her and everyone else walk over him until he cracks in an adorably exasperated way. Then they talk it out and figure out a fair resolution.
We’ve seen this scenario time and time again, and at this point it’s a disservice to both Erica and Geoff by not allowing them to grow, both as individuals and as a couple.
Just because The Goldbergs is set in 1980-something, doesn’t mean the show needs to stick around for a decade, too. It’s time to look to the future.
What did you think of this episode of The Goldbergs? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Goldbergs airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on ABC.
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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.