It’s been several weeks since a new episode of Superstore, but I for one am ecstatic that it has returned. They continue to explore deeper, more emotional stories and still having a blast in this unique retail environment they’ve created. Every cast member is proving to be both important to the story and hysterical in the process.
This week on Superstore: Glenn is unable to keep the secret that Amy is in marriage counseling, which turns the entire store into sympathy mode. Dina decides to help Amy feel better by kidnapping her for a “ladies lunch”, which gets a little rowdy. While left at the store, the men get involved in a fiercely competitive game of “Muffin-ball”
Shows like Superstore are generally better off when they don’t keep secrets or drag stories out, which brings out both the best and the worst of “Ladies Lunch”. It was perfectly in line with the character to have Glenn spill the beans about marriage counseling immediately, and it worked really well to create material for an episode. I much prefer to deal with those problems out in the open when everyone knows, than keep it a secret with an occasional solo phone call and let it boil over in the finale.
Which brings us to Sandra and the whole “Jeff” situation. I’m sure she wanted to continue protecting her friend, but when she actually met a man and wouldn’t just come clean to her co-workers, I found it more frustrating than anything. All of Sandra’s moments building up to that were fantastic, but meeting the perfect guy at the bar shifted the story from “this lie is funny” to “this lie doesn’t make sense anymore”. The lunch would’ve been the perfect time to come clean about Jeff. Of course, not having seen the remaining episodes, my frame of reference could be skewed. Here’s hoping that later I will eat my words!
Retail is a physical job, so one of my favorite parts of Superstore is that they really embrace the physicality of the workplace. Maybe not always in the traditional sense (Amy and Sandra moving the heavy box), but they usually get physical in a really fun way. Muffin-ball was that way tonight. Now, I’m adding Muffin-ball to the list of fictional games I want to play, right up there with True American.
Here are a few other thoughts/funny moments:
- The general notion that marriage counseling was worse than a drug problem was really funny
- Sandra has proven to be so likable that they had to introduce this Carol lady just to be “the worst” from now on.
- “You’re just jealous cause I got a manny bump on my first try!”
- Sandra’s “exploits with Jeff” made everyone so uncomfortable that they circled back around to male anatomy. Hysterical.
- Head injury Glenn facing off against drunk Dina was the encounter I never knew I wanted.
Not a perfect episode, but rarely do shows have perfect episodes. Still, this was really funny and the emotional stakes are higher than ever, which bodes well for the show’s future. Overall, a well done episode.
What did you guys think? Did you enjoy the episode? Let us know!
Superstore airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC
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