We’re hitting the home stretch for Season 2 of The Goldbergs, but the show’s hot streak during its sophomore run continues with “As You Wish.”
The main plot in this episode deals with Adam wanting to learn to fence, primarily due to his affection for The Princess Bride. He tries to get Murray to give him $200 in order to take lessons and get equipment, but he doesn’t think Adam would commit after his first match. After a story from Pops, though, he decides to give Adam this chance. Adam decides to throw the first match so that the fencing sword can become his movie prop, but Murray wants to sell the sword once Adam quits. Murray realizes that Adam played on his love of sports to get what he wanted, so he forces Adam to continue fencing (by giving him an encyclopedia to study). Adam accidentally injures Murray with the sword and decides to give the sport another chance in order to make his father proud. Unfortunately, he is still terrible. With a little encouragement from The Princess Bride, though, he is able to win the match. Later, Murray joins Adam’s film after watching the movie and finding that he enjoyed it.
Elsewhere, Bev is spending her time being a “Yenta,” or gossiping busybody mother. Going along with her “yenta-ness,” she decides that she wants to set up Miss Cinoman (Erica’s music teacher) and Coach Miller (Barry’s wrestling coach). The kids don’t want her to interfere, but she just can’t help herself. She manages to arrange a meeting at the Goldberg house between the two teachers, and they hit it off quickly. Afterward, all of the gossiping moms tell absolutely everyone about what happened, and Barry and Erica hear about it the next day at school. The school administration is against the relationship, and it is decided that Miss Cinoman will be forced to take a leave of absence. Bev finds out what teacher complained, and she decides to set him up, too. Coach Miller, meanwhile, is completely distraught, and the school choir is in shambles without Miss Cinoman. Barry and Erica complain to their mother about what is going on, but she is already trying to find a woman for the other teacher. Luckily, Erica offers them an idea, and Bev realizes that she is turning into a yenta herself. Together, the mother and daughter set up Mr. Woodburn, and Miss Cinoman is able to return to school and Coach Miller.
“As You Wish” wasn’t quite as strong as the most recent episodes of The Goldbergs, but it was still more enjoyable than most comedies on television. The biggest positive in this episode, though, was that it gave Pops a strong role, something he’s been missing for quite a while. I believe that the show is stronger when there is equality among the family, and this episode really did a good job at giving everyone a good role.
Additional Thoughts/Favorite Quotes:
– I’ve never actually seen The Princess Bride. I’m sorry, friends.
– That wrapping-paper-tube sword fight was my childhood in a nutshell.
– “I’ve got glasses, they protected me.”
– Coach Miller is always a delight when he appears in an episode, and “As You Wish” is no exception.
– “Don’t you dare knock Zorro! He is a man of honor!”
– Hayley Orrantia is a really fantastic singer, and I am so glad the show is giving her the chance to show off that talent a lot this season.
[Photo via ABC]
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