S04.E16: Books

[chitowngirl]

A debate over a controversial book leads Ava to remove it from the library, but some parents push for its return.
 

Airdate March 5, 2025 on ABC, next day Hulu

[Galileo908]

"That song is from 2005."
"I was born in 2018."

Good god. I knew a cold open about "oldies" was gonna lead to jokes like that, but I still didn't need to be attacked by that. "What were iPods like?" First of all, how dare you?

Krystal is back, and of course she's the book banning Christian. I loved the book speakeasy, and when the show found an excuse to shoehorn Tariq into the episode. Just how long was he waiting to bust down that pile of books like the Kool-Aid Man? lol

Something I learned from the subreddit: Channel 6 is the ABC channel in Philly, while Channel 3 is CBS. And that they don't call it the symphony, they call it the orchestra.

Somehow not surprised that Mr. Johnson was dishonorably discharged from the Salvation Army. And that he'd be the one to pull the fire alarm to get Captain Rob to show up for Melissa. I liked that that plotline finally went somewhere.

Interesting that they didn't resolve Gregory's plot about getting other jobs. They're definitely setting up a plotline where he and Janine move in together.

[Annber03]

"Okay, we're gonna play 'Hot Cross Buns' on the recorder."

Oh, god, that opening segment with Gregory and the kids. I related so much to him there. 

I also laughed at the "I don't even like channel six! I like channel three much better!" line, because "Abbott" airs on channel six here in our area. Channel three is our CBS affiliate :p. 

But man, did I cheer Barbara's "Duh!" reaction to the mom being like, "I guess I might've taken this a little too far." Can we get Barbara to say that to every parent who kicks up a ridiculous fuss about some book that they're not comfortable with? Same with her and Ava being like, "Then talk to your kid!"? I loved the two of them working together to stick up for the library and letting kids read whatever books they wanted, and I felt for Ava having to deal with the push/pull of the conflicting demands from the parents. 

I also like Barbara being sympathetic to this cause because she's no doubt all too aware of the controversies that have dogged the Bible throughout its history, and she certainly wouldn't want that book banned, so... 

But yeah. This isn't hard. A parent doesn't want their own child to read something, that's their choice as a parent. They don't get to make that call for other kids and their parents. Period. End of story. 

As for the other stories, Gregory getting a second job makes sense, and I sympathized with his struggle on the job hunt despite his qualifications. Hopefully this works out for him. 

And aw, Melissa, starting up a new relationship :). 

[Blakeston]

This was confusing. Krystle - the woman who recently paraded around the children with the words "slut" and "whore" emblazoned on her wardrobe - is now some book-banning reactionary?

I mean, it happens in real life, usually when people become religiously born again. I was surprised that they didn't give us an explanation like that.

My guess is that because Raven Goodwin's star is rising (starring opposite Travis Kelce on Grotesquerie), and she's clearly talented, Quinta and company wanted an excuse to bring her back, and they didn't concern themselves too much with consistency.

I thought the conflict was resolved way too easily. Off the top of my head, it would have been a lot more believable that Krystle would do a 180 like that if she found out that her daughter secretly read the book, and it gave her confidence.

[possibilities]

I feel a little bad for the date who is now getting stood up for the symphony. 

Edited 9 hours ago by possibilities

[kathyk2]

I didn't like this episode as much as last week. Ava shouldn't have given in so easily. Krystle was being a hypocrite because she has no problem with profanity but she does with magic? I loved how supportive Janine was of Gregory it's clear she grew up poor. Why couldn't Tariq be this responsible when he was with Janine?

[anna0852]

1 hour ago, Galileo908 said:

"That song is from 2005."
"I was born in 2018."

Good god. I knew a cold open about "oldies" was gonna lead to jokes like that, but I still didn't need to be attacked by that. "What were iPods like?" First of all, how dare you?

It says a lot that Gregory willingly handed out the recorders rather than continue the oldies conversation. Those instruments are in instruments of torture.

[possibilities]

It annoyed me that when Janine realized that she spends less in a relationship than out of one, and that means Gregory is paying for her and struggling, that she didn't decide to pay her own way like an adult. 

 

[Annber03]

9 minutes ago, kathyk2 said:

Krystle was being a hypocrite because she has no problem with profanity but she does with magic? 

I have relatives that are like this with their kids, so sadly, that didn't really surprise me. Hypiocritical, for sure, but that tends to be a recurring thing with people who try to regulate what others can read/watch/listen to. 

[kathyk2]

13 minutes ago, possibilities said:

It annoyed me that when Janine realized that she spends less in a relationship than out of one, and that means Gregory is paying for her and struggling, that she didn't decide to pay her own way like an adult. 

 

Gregory might pay for their dates since he has such a limited diet. We don't know how much his rent was being raised he could be fine with a small increase but not a large one. Janine paid for everything while she was with Tariq.

[Galileo908]

41 minutes ago, kathyk2 said:

Why couldn't Tariq be this responsible when he was with Janine?

Sometimes you need a kid that reads to you before you go to bed to experience some growth in your life.

[txhorns79]

3 hours ago, Galileo908 said:

 

Something I learned from the subreddit: Channel 6 is the ABC channel in Philly, while Channel 3 is CBS.

Yes, they've referenced real Channel 6 reporters on the show as well. 

2 hours ago, Blakeston said:

My guess is that because Raven Goodwin's star is rising

I had no idea she played the teenage girl that a drugged out Liz Lemon mistook for Oprah on 30 Rock all those years ago.   

Edited 8 hours ago by txhorns79

[Harvey]

It is so funny Gregory thinks a masters in education is this big thing. You can tell he has not much experience with job hunting.