I think I speak for everyone in the audience when I say that The Goldbergs has just been an absolute delight this season. I’ve loved the show since its inception, but it’s just incredible to me how consistently solid the series has been in Season 2. As we enter the final three episodes of its sophomore run, we’re treated to an absolutely fantastic episode in “Dance Party USA.”
The main story in “Dance Party USA” deals with Erica getting to be on the local Dance Party USA. Barry, of course, wants to be on the show with her (and Lainey), but Erica just won’t let him. Barry is determined to get the chance to show everyone at school that he’s cool (even with a bad case of pink eye), but Erica refuses to change her mind.
Without realizing what he’s doing, Barry flops onto Erica’s bed, and she wakes up the next morning with pink eye. Because of that, she can’t wear her contacts and has to revert to her ninth grade (extremely large) glasses. She runs into a locker at school and has to make an emergency trip to the dentist. Meanwhile, Barry’s coach decides to teach him how to dance (in one of the best sequences Barry has ever been involved in on this show), and he uses his new dance moves to convince Lainey to let him appear on Dance Party USA. Unfortunately, Lainey wants to use him to replace a now-dorky Erica, who goes on a pudding-pear rant and gets detention. Barry convinces Erica to join them on the show, though, because her new appearance reminds him so much of how he feels everyday.
Elsewhere, Adam has plans to spend the day with Pops. They lie to Beverly about their plans, though, and head to Atlantic City to gamble. Pops does very well, thanks to his “lucky watch,” and he wins even through losing. Adam ends up having a great day with his grandfather, and Pops convinces him that he is just as lucky.
Believe he’ll do just as well as his grandfather, Adam decides to test his gambling skills at school with a game of finger football, but he loses just about everything to his name. Murray breaks it to Adam that night that Pops isn’t as lucky as he acts, but Beverly decides to try and settle Adam’s gambling debts. She confronts the principal (whose son is the one Adam lost everything to), and she decides to gamble with him to win everything back. Unfortunately, the principal is just as skilled as her son. She tags Pops in, but he is just as unlucky as the rest of his family. Bev tries to convince Adam that Pops was able to win everything back by giving him replacement toys, and it ends up revealing to Adam that Pops has been lying to him about his luck for years. This absolutely crushes Adam, as his illusion of his grandfather is shattered. Adam does manage to get his toys back, but his thoughts about Pops are ruined. Murray talks to him, though, and Adam soon realizes that he is the lucky one for having his grandfather in his life.
“Dance Party USA” surprisingly ended up being one of my favorite episodes of the season. It used every character perfectly, and both of the storylines were executed in the best way possible.
Additional Thoughts/Favorite Quotes:
– I’d like to thank Adam Goldberg himself for providing me with a copy of the episode for my review as my DVR somehow didn’t record it as it usually does. Thanks Adam!
– Ninth grade Erica was a really great scene. (Rejected by the clarinet player!)
– Pops got a great episode!
– I absolutely love the use of Stan Bush’s “The Touch” in this episode.
– “I’m not just your wrestling coach, I’m your life coach. Now drop and give me feelings.”
– “Nintardo!” “What did you call me?”
– Lainey getting Barry and Erica’s pink eye was a great tag, and of course, Barry is still into her.
[Photo via ABC]
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