The Goldbergs Season 10 Episode 1 Review: If You Build It

On The Goldbergs Season 10 Episode 1, “If You Build It,” the family faces loss and renewal. As each family member comes to terms with life without their patriarch, they also look forward to the arrival of Geoff and Erica’s baby.

With the departure of Jeff Garlin from the cast, the writers had to come up with an idea of how to send him off. The absence of Murray from his daughter’s wedding on The Goldbergs Season 9 Episode 22, “Adam Graduates,” was more than a little bit awkward. Nonetheless, they finished the season without making too much faux pas.

But with this new season, they had to make a more permanent decision on how to proceed. Their decision was death.

The death of a significant character in any series can spell complete disaster. My mind first goes to 8 Simple Rules and the less-than-perfect results that ensued. It wasn’t complete debauchery, but the show was never the same without John Ritter. 

The Goldbergs seem to be handling it a bit better by not going all out on the subject matter.  Yes, Murray’s death is mentioned several times throughout the episode, but it is balanced out with the typical humor and additional storylines.

While 8 Simple Rules focused on carrying on, The Goldbergs is focusing on rebuilding.

What better way to do that than by creating new life! 

It’s been a little while since Geoff and Erica got married, and her baby bump goes a long way in proving it. She is ready to pop at any minute, forcing Erica into nesting mode. The American Pregnancy Association defines nesting as, “The overwhelming desire to get your home ready for your new baby.” Tag teaming with her mother, the two take on the clutter of too many people living under one roof.

As new things come in the door, old things have to go out. Unfortunately, this means many of Murray’s old things may have to be taken off to charity. If he isn’t there to use them, then they are only there taking up space. 

Of course, this impacts Beverly dramatically. 

I have never had to go through something like this. Choosing what things to get rid of when a person dies has to be one of the most difficult things in coming to terms with the loss. What things can you part with? What things are too important to live without?

Adding each thing to the giveaway pile has to seem like opening a fresh wound. Items from when you first met all the way until your last goodbyes are on the chopping block. How can you be sure you are making the right decision?

In an act of haste, Beverly donates Murray’s chair to charity. She believes she is doing it for the greater good, but Erica begs to differ.

Some of our most precious treasures mean nothing to someone else. An old ticket stub, a trashed teddy bear, and so forth. They all look meaningless to a random stranger who will never understand the memories attached to them. 

Murray’s chair was his safe spot, the place he went for comfort after a hard day at work. No one else ever sat in it, making it a special piece of his history. Without his chair as a focal piece of the house, everything seems finite. 

It isn’t until Erica points this out that Beverly realizes the errors of her way. Immediately, Beverly is crushed.

Within the context of making room for the baby, things seem less important. Under different lighting, less chair means less Murray.

But it wouldn’t be The Goldbergs if the family just packed up and tried to move on. Nope, not a chance. This only means it is time for a rescue mission!

Itineraries are given and commands spoken. Murray’s chair will be back by sundown —  no matter what. 

Erica: While we’re cleaning, maybe you should do some cleaning of your own.

Elsewhere in the episode, Barry and Adam have a rough and tumble situation. Adam plays a well-meaning prank on Barry to get him out of his hair. Leave it to Adam to not fully pay attention to detail causing a tear in the relationship with his brother.  

I’m old enough to remember Field of Dreams when it first came to VHS. Not being much of a sports fan, the movie never mattered that much to me. After the discussion on this episode, I just might have to go back and give it a rewatch. 

Adam’s prank revolving around the plot of the movie seems innocent enough. Keep Barry occupied with solving a mystery that doesn’t exist. I could imagine my brother doing the same thing to me ages ago.

But as the JTP eventually explains to Adam, the movie is less about baseball and more about Kevin Costner accepting the loss of his father. Ouch! Smooth move Adam Goldberg!

As we learned over the last nine seasons of the show, Adam isn’t one to make up for his mistakes after they originally fall apart. He needs to make one last ditch effort to make things right without actually making things right. 

I can’t say that I’ve never done the same. We all know the saying — two wrongs don’t make a right.

To make matters worse, Barry overhears Adam’s plotting and calls him out. Adam has to face the facts that he truly messed up.

In a family, these things are bound to happen, especially as we grow older. Our connection to each other fades with distance, and we unwittingly hurt each other. We don’t typically have malicious intent, it only appears that way.

The good news is that even when our connections aren’t where they used to be, we can use our memories to rebuild the bonds that have begun to crumble. 

The foundation will always be there. 

Before closing out, I’ll admit I was skeptical going into this season with a flash forward. After all, many shows have jumped the shark in doing so. Although it is a bit early to tell, The Goldbergs still seems to be the comfort show it has always been. 

Each character seems to have matured just enough to make things believable, and the heart is still in the right place. As we face many changes within the family, I hope we can all stay connected with them — even if they are all fictional.

 What did you think of this episode of The Goldbergs? Are you excited about all the changes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Goldbergs airs Wednesday at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

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