ElectricBoogaloo September 23, 2015 Share September 23, 2015 Nicole convinces Eddie to ditch piccolo and become her tutor, then ends up ditching him when she meets a new boy. Crushed, Eddie stops eating and listens to Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" on repeat. Jessica is confused by his behavior and seeks parenting advice from Honey. Meanwhile, Louis longs for a daughter which makes Emery and Evan panic that they will be forced to move out of their room. Link to comment
EarlGreyTea September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 (edited) This episode was just okay. I loved the bit with Louis imagining he had a daughter, then looking all gray at her wedding while Jessica still looked perfect. I know they based this off Eddie's memoir, but I kinda think they missed the boat by not making one of the boys a girl like they did with The Goldbergs. I really don't like the Eddie/Nicole storyline. The actress looks way too old for Hudson Yang so I always get creeped out with their scenes. I will say that they have her 90s wardrobe and hair down PAT. She looks totally 1995. Edited September 30, 2015 by EarlGreyTea 3 Link to comment
Setlist September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 This episode wasn't as strong as last week, in my opinion, but it was still better than so many shows on today. Seriously, I hope this one remains on air for awhile. I don't know anyone who watches it, which makes me a little nervous. Emery and Evan bringing that puppy to Louis, and then immediately and silently turning around when he claims out loud that he doesn't want to deal with a teenage daughter, made the episode for me. It was such a small moment, but I was cracking up. 8 Link to comment
DB in CMH September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 That was pretty laugh free. What happened to my sparky show from last season? 2 Link to comment
partofme September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 I loved this episode. I always loved End of the Road, loved the whole family singing get it. 13 Link to comment
Bazinga September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 Too much Eddie is not a good thing. More Jessica being full-on Jessica is needed. Link to comment
anonymiss September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 I think even the real Eddie Huang would've liked this episode. It was funny but not over-the-top and totally warm and relatable with Jessica's parenting and Eddie's heartache. I liked the parenting styles that Jessica and Honey learn from each other. It also progressed Eddie's character instead of making him do useless, unfunny stuff. We can all relate to what Eddie went through and I love how they incorporated Eddie's rap and RnB influences to tell the story. I really don't like the Eddie/Nicole storyline. The actress looks way too old for Hudson Yang so I always get creeped out with their scenes. I will say that they have her 90s wardrobe and hair down PAT. She looks totally 1995. Which is why it's great he's finally been forced to move on and, as luck would have it, discovered an age-appropriate girl literally next door with the same taste in music. It was totally realistic for the younger and/or slower-to-develop boys to crush on the most developed girl in school. 6 Link to comment
ElectricBoogaloo September 30, 2015 Author Share September 30, 2015 Although I didn't really like the Eddie has a crush on Nicole storyline, I thought it was realistic as well. Kids that age often like someone who is older, especially if they have any sort of proximity to them and since Nicole was his neighbor and went to school with him, it totally makes sense to me that he would like her. Even though she looks noticeably older than Eddie, that's pretty common at that age too because girls often have their growth spurt before the boys. On top of that, girls start wearing makeup and dressing more like teenagers because they want to look older. According to IMDB, the actress playing Nicole turns 14 later this week so at least they didn't do the typical Hollywood casting thing and hire a girl who is 19 or 20 to play a much younger character. But I am glad that Eddie is finally moving on to someone in his grade. Nicole was never going to see Eddie as anything more than a friend and while it's painful to deal with those unrequited feelings in real life, it can get tedious to watch every week. I don't think that Nicole was ever malicious (for example, I think she sincerely wanted Eddie to come hang out with her during fifth period because she liked talking to him, not because she wanted him to get into trouble) but knowing that he she was never going to see him as more than the younger neighbor, I'm glad that he has a new girl who might actually return his feelings. Loved Nicole's Phil Collins shirt and her mention of Sam Goody. The guy with the Asian wife was creeping me out. Nitpick: Nicole says she has the new Boyz II Men CD, but the first season took place in 1995 so I'm assuming S2 takes place in 1996. There was no new Boyz II Men album in either year. Cooleyhighharmony (which Eddie was seen holding in his bedroom later) was released in 1991 (and then re-released in 1992 with End of the Road added to it). II was released in 1994 and the Remix Collection was released in 1995 (but it did not include a remix of End of the Road). 5 Link to comment
readster September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 Although I didn't really like the Eddie has a crush on Nicole storyline, I thought it was realistic as well. Kids that age often like someone who is older, especially if they have any sort of proximity to them and since Nicole was his neighbor and went to school with him, it totally makes sense to me that he would like her. Even though she looks noticeably older than Eddie, that's pretty common at that age too because girls often have their growth spurt before the boys. On top of that, girls start wearing makeup and dressing more like teenagers because they want to look older. According to IMDB, the actress playing Nicole turns 14 later this week so at least they didn't do the typical Hollywood casting thing and hire a girl who is 19 or 20 to play a much younger character. But I am glad that Eddie is finally moving on to someone in his grade. Nicole was never going to see Eddie as anything more than a friend and while it's painful to deal with those unrequited feelings in real life, it can get tedious to watch every week. I don't think that Nicole was ever malicious (for example, I think she sincerely wanted Eddie to come hang out with her during fifth period because she liked talking to him, not because she wanted him to get into trouble) but knowing that he she was never going to see him as more than the younger neighbor, I'm glad that he has a new girl who might actually return his feelings. . Nitpick: Nicole says she has the new Boyz II Men CD, but the first season took place in 1995 so I'm assuming S2 takes place in 1996. There was no new Boyz II Men album in either year. Cooleyhighharmony (which Eddie was seen holding in his bedroom later) was released in 1991 (and then re-released in 1992 with End of the Road added to it). II was released in 1994 and the Remix Collection was released in 1995 (but it did not include a remix of End of the Road). I see Fresh Off the Boat similar to The Goldbergs just in the 90s. They established in this season premiere that its 1996 and the creators said they were going to progress the stories in order. So, say the show lasts four seasons, it will be 1999-2000 by the end. However, I agree, being a Boyz II Man fan myself (I graduated HS in 1996) the songs were right buy the history was wrong. Of course, I remember in 95 when Shaq was all the rage and then they got things wrong towards the end of season 1. I take it with a grain of salt trying to make the plots work. I loved the men singing the song at the table and then the grandmother nodding to it. Made the episode. 1 Link to comment
BubblingKettle September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 (edited) The End of the Road faux video and dinner table scene with the youngest brother doing the Michael McCary spoken part cracked me up!!! I also liked the lunchroom scenes when the boys were feeling more free to be themselves because of Nicole. The smallish kid in the glasses is a hoot. I agree with ElectricBoogaloo - loved Nicole's fringe Su-Su-Sudio shirt. The actor who plays Eddie seems to be sorting out that speech issue he was having, so that's good. ETA: Almost forgot the hilariousness of the spooky baby calendars Louis put all over the house. I remember when those stupid/creepy "babies as vegetables" photos were the in thing. I loved how Jessica summed them up by saying the babies were cursed. Edited September 30, 2015 by CoolWhipLite 3 Link to comment
peeayebee September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 I, too, am glad to see Eddie apparently moving on from Nicole to the piccolo girl. One comment I wanted to make is that Constance Wu's voice sounds different this season, maybe like Jessica has less of an accent. Link to comment
mansonlamps September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 I actually liked this episode way better than last week's. I like when Jessica softens a bit, even if she has ulterior motives. I loved when she said she bought a book on parenting and it was called something like "Chess Strategies" LOL. 4 Link to comment
backformore September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 I like the show, but the school scenes bug me. I don't like the viewpoint that bullying at school is something kids have to learn to put up with, and the hopelessness of the minor characters, Eddie's friends, makes me feel sad for them. Yes, I know that the show is set in the 90's, and I know bullying happened then and still happens now. But playing it for laughs bothers me. Are kids just supposed to suck it up and accept their roles in life as nerdy, overweight, or scrawny, losers? If it wasn't for that, I would like the show so much more. 3 Link to comment
smilestar September 30, 2015 Share September 30, 2015 (edited) Such a great epsiode. Loved the part where they all start singing End of the Road at the dinner table. I, too, only have boys and I've had my moments of what Louis went through. Especially when he imagines what his life would be like if they had a girl. Would be nice to have a partner in crime. After a few days of pining, I also remember that a cute little baby girl will turn into a teenage girl before I know it, and I seriously don't think I would know how to handle that :D Edited September 30, 2015 by smilestar 2 Link to comment
Racj82 October 1, 2015 Share October 1, 2015 (edited) I'm often at a loss when a show has been deemed "not what it used to be" "where's my show". There's nothing different here. I don't always laugh the show out loud but I still enjoy the humor. I think sometimes that is what equals funny (outwardly laughing) but I don't. I will admit that I laughed out loud at the dinner singing scene. But, I find myself smiling through most of this show. Always a good time. I don't personally care about the bullying stuff. It is something you have to learn to deal with. People will mock you. People will pick on you. Of course, you can report but that rarely helps from what I remember. It doesn't last anyway. Just find people you can be yourself with. Also, bullying has been used for humor since Happy Days. Doesn't really make me flinch. I didn't have a problem with his crush either. It was a crush. Now, Eddie can move on to someone possibly more his speed. I also enjoyed the fact that she seemed to appreciate Eddie as a friend. It was refreshing. Lastly, hell to no with the thought of more Jessica. This is about Eddie's life. It's supposed to be through his eyes. So, I never had a need for less of him. It's what the show is. Second, I never want more of scene stealing characters. It gets tired real quick. See Barney on How I Met Your Mother. Jessica already gets plenty of screentime anyway. I don't want her to swallow the show whole. I also don't want this to be The Goldbergs 2.0 where the moms abrasive personality takes center stage too often. Less is more on that. Constance is definitely getting a Golden Globe. I notice that people always go for the Emmy dreams but Golden Clobes are the awards that actually awards breakout performers. See Gina Rodriguez, America Ferrera and many others. Anything beyond a nom for Constance at the Emmy's aint happening. It's Julia Louis Dreyfuss award to lose at this point. Edited October 1, 2015 by Racj82 6 Link to comment
Blakeston October 1, 2015 Share October 1, 2015 I don't personally care about the bullying stuff. It is something you have to learn to deal with. People will mock you. People will pick on you. Of course, you can report but that rarely helps from what I remember. It doesn't last anyway. Just find people you can be yourself with. Also, bullying has been used for humor since Happy Days. Doesn't really make me flinch. People beating you up for wearing glasses is not something most adults have to deal with. And if an adult ends up in that situation, they can call the police, or file a lawsuit, which don't seem to be options Eddie readily available to Eddie and his friends. The "just ignore it, the kids will have to learn how to deal with it" mindset was a lot more prevalent among teachers before they realized just how many victims of relentless harassment were killing themselves. 2 Link to comment
Racj82 October 1, 2015 Share October 1, 2015 People beating you up for wearing glasses is not something most adults have to deal with. And if an adult ends up in that situation, they can call the police, or file a lawsuit, which don't seem to be options Eddie readily available to Eddie and his friends. The "just ignore it, the kids will have to learn how to deal with it" mindset was a lot more prevalent among teachers before they realized just how many victims of relentless harassment were killing themselves. I just don't take these things seriously. There was bullying. It sucks but it happens. There's no one way to deal with it and it aint going away. At least the friends have each other. I got a kick out of them letting their flags fly and doing what they wanted. Just because it was so silly. There is another side to that where people can't feel free to dress and be the way they want but I'm not trying to get all deep. It's a comedy. 4 Link to comment
mansonlamps October 1, 2015 Share October 1, 2015 Lastly, hell to no with the thought of more Jessica. This is about Eddie's life. It's supposed to be through his eyes. So, I never had a need for less of him. It's what the show is. Second, I never want more of scene stealing characters. It gets tired real quick. See Barney on How I Met Your Mother. Jessica already gets plenty of screentime anyway. I don't want her to swallow the show whole. I also don't want this to be The Goldbergs 2.0 where the moms abrasive personality takes center stage too often. Less is more on that. Vivian is definitely getting a Golden Globe. I notice that people always go for the Emmy dreams but Golden Clobes are the awards that actually awards breakout performers. Yes X 1000 to no additional Jessica, there is already a good amount, any more and we may be veering into not only Barney Stinson territory, but Sheldon, Urkel and all the other "hilarious" characters who's funny characteristics and screen time got amped up until they took over and ruined the show. And seriously who is Vivian? I have no idea. 4 Link to comment
Raja October 1, 2015 Share October 1, 2015 And seriously who is Vivian? I have no idea. An actress famous in the 80s, I guess the OP remembered "Wu" and Vivian came to mind before Constance Link to comment
Racj82 October 1, 2015 Share October 1, 2015 Yes X 1000 to no additional Jessica, there is already a good amount, any more and we may be veering into not only Barney Stinson territory, but Sheldon, Urkel and all the other "hilarious" characters who's funny characteristics and screen time got amped up until they took over and ruined the show. And seriously who is Vivian? I have no idea. Yes, I meant Constance Wu. Link to comment
teebax October 1, 2015 Share October 1, 2015 That was pretty laugh free. What happened to my sparky show from last season? I agree. Last week's was just okay for me and this one was meh. I liked the singing scene at the table, but the rest of the episode fell flat for me. I loved this show last year, so I don't know if it's me or the show, but I'm just not finding it as funny this season. I hope that changes and will stick with it for a while; when the show is good it's very good. 1 Link to comment
Rockstar99435 October 1, 2015 Share October 1, 2015 From Eddie dealing with his broken heart by listening to Boys II Men on repeat to Nicole fake laughing at the cute boy's dumb jokes to Louis wanting a girl, I related to all the feels in this episode. The dining room scene was great, as was Jessica's story about the poor cursed baby who can't be saved because Democracy replaced all the Emperors. 4 Link to comment
Camera One October 2, 2015 Share October 2, 2015 Jessica is definitely the breakout performer on the show, but the character is all over the place. I don't buy that she would talk to Eddie about her own breakup, even though I did like her relationship with the neighbor. I like the kids as well, including Eddie, but the show relies a little too much on cutseyness with the boys. I'm just worried whether they can sustain the humor when they grow a little older. Link to comment
biakbiak October 2, 2015 Share October 2, 2015 I hope the show can adapt but even this episode had scenes that seemed to go one for several beats too long with no one speaking and made the lack of voiceover obvious. Link to comment
mstar1125 October 2, 2015 Share October 2, 2015 (edited) I have to admit that 95% of the reason I watch this show is because of the way they incorporate the music of the time into the episodes (see also: Black-ish). I was about Eddie's age at this time period, and I was all about that Boyz II Men album as well as all the west coast/east coast rap that came out in that time. The girl at the end playing Nuthin But a G Thang on the piccolo was a highlight for me. Edited October 2, 2015 by mstar1125 5 Link to comment
Ms Blue Jay October 2, 2015 Share October 2, 2015 (edited) One comment I wanted to make is that Constance Wu's voice sounds different this season, maybe like Jessica has less of an accent. A Chinese friend of mine's first comment about the show is that Constance's accent is so poor and unrealistic, so maybe she's dealing with those criticisms. I don't know. "End of the Road" was my song, I think in 1992. Over and over and over and over again and these days I can never look at it with the same affection. ElectricBoogaloo I wore out my Cooleyhighharmony cassette tape. Did it even come out on CD at the time? Remember when Stephanie on Full House danced to "Motownphilly"? And then I think "I'll Make Love to You" was the big song when we were graduating from elementary school. I love this show! I'm so glad it exists and it makes me feel personally lucky that it does. Edited October 2, 2015 by Ms Blue Jay 1 Link to comment
solotrek October 2, 2015 Share October 2, 2015 I definitely think Constance changed her accent a bit, and Randall doesn't have one at all. I feel like Jessica is being Janeway'd. Half the writers wanted Janeway to be a badass bitchy captain and the other half wanted her to be a motherly captain. I see that happening here. Constance's expression during the singing part was hilarious though. Link to comment
EarlGreyTea October 2, 2015 Share October 2, 2015 I definitely think Constance changed her accent a bit, and Randall doesn't have one at all. I feel like Jessica is being Janeway'd. Half the writers wanted Janeway to be a badass bitchy captain and the other half wanted her to be a motherly captain. I see that happening here. Constance's expression during the singing part was hilarious though. I recently re-watched the pilot and both Constance and Randall's accents are much lighter now. I predict in a few seasons if it's still on, their accents will be gone completely. Link to comment
Camera One October 3, 2015 Share October 3, 2015 I just watched the real "End of the Road" music video and the callbacks to it during the musical montage part was amusing, though as with much on this show, it felt totally random (eg. the neighborhood women walking club being in that part). Link to comment
Kromm October 3, 2015 Share October 3, 2015 I thought this was a really truly lovely episode. I liked it a lot. This show is hitting a lot of the same notes as The Goldbergs. Which is a very good thing. I know I'm in the minority, but I miss the narrator. It worked here for the same reason it still works on The Goldbergs. It's just a framing device really, but sets a mood. Link to comment
Blakeston October 4, 2015 Share October 4, 2015 (edited) I just don't take these things seriously. There was bullying. It sucks but it happens. There's no one way to deal with it and it aint going away. At least the friends have each other. I got a kick out of them letting their flags fly and doing what they wanted. Just because it was so silly. There is another side to that where people can't feel free to dress and be the way they want but I'm not trying to get all deep. It's a comedy. It's one thing to say, "It's just a show, so it doesn't matter." But it's very different to say that kids in real life just need to learn how to deal with this stuff. In real life, when a kid gets beaten up for wearing glasses, it does matter, and adults have an obligation to do something about it. Edited October 4, 2015 by Blakeston 3 Link to comment
Racj82 October 4, 2015 Share October 4, 2015 It's one thing to say, "It's just a show, so it doesn't matter." But it's very different to say that kids in real life just need to learn how to deal with this stuff. In real life, when a kid gets beaten up for wearing glasses, it does matter, and adults have an obligation to do something about it. I just don't care. I can't really go any further with it. I'm sorry that it is having a different reaction for you. Link to comment
Ottis October 5, 2015 Share October 5, 2015 Which is why it's great he's finally been forced to move on and, as luck would have it, discovered an age-appropriate girl literally next door with the same taste in music. I knew this show had gotten to me when they cut to the girl playing the Dr. Dre melody on her flute, and then to Eddie being dumbstruck, and my eyes almost teared up! Finally, he found someone who might get him. My kids were only mildly surprised when I started rapping to the flute player with the Snoop lines and then the actual song cut in and Snoop came on. Thank god I remembered the first two lines correctly. 4 Link to comment
anonymiss October 5, 2015 Share October 5, 2015 (edited) People beating you up for wearing glasses is not something most adults have to deal with. And if an adult ends up in that situation, they can call the police, or file a lawsuit, which don't seem to be options Eddie readily available to Eddie and his friends. The "just ignore it, the kids will have to learn how to deal with it" mindset was a lot more prevalent among teachers before they realized just how many victims of relentless harassment were killing themselves. I scratch my head at this. Affective fallacies are always peculiar to me--to judge a work not on its artistic merits, but on how you agree/disagree with it moralistically. The bullying that kids learn to deal with on their own was a fact for Eddie and kids then, now, and in the future. I like how they show this reality as much as a network sitcom can rather than diluting it more than it already is. It's like how Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and even Saved by the Bell showed some of that truth vs. the Disneyland of Full House. According to his memoir, Eddie and his friends retaliated with loads of violence and he and his brothers dealt with the physical abuse from their parents on their own, too. Edited October 5, 2015 by anonymiss 5 Link to comment
TrininisaScorp October 6, 2015 Share October 6, 2015 Man, it wasn't the funniest, but I enjoyed it. I remember feeling like Eddie & remember listening obsessively to Boyz Ii Men (II is still on streaming rotation on my playlists). Plus, we spent the next week singing End of the Road at my house. That can't be bad! Link to comment
biakbiak October 6, 2015 Share October 6, 2015 Randall was on Conan and mentioned his daughter Ruby played the first little girl in the daughter dream sequence. 1 Link to comment
ElectricBoogaloo October 6, 2015 Author Share October 6, 2015 Normally I'm against nepotism but for something like that, I find it adorable. Link to comment
PRgal October 8, 2015 Share October 8, 2015 A Chinese friend of mine's first comment about the show is that Constance's accent is so poor and unrealistic, so maybe she's dealing with those criticisms. I don't know. "End of the Road" was my song, I think in 1992. Over and over and over and over again and these days I can never look at it with the same affection. ElectricBoogaloo I wore out my Cooleyhighharmony cassette tape. Did it even come out on CD at the time? Remember when Stephanie on Full House danced to "Motownphilly"? And then I think "I'll Make Love to You" was the big song when we were graduating from elementary school. I love this show! I'm so glad it exists and it makes me feel personally lucky that it does. I had (still have??) Cooleyhighharmony on CD, so yes, it did. Bought it in '92 or '93-ish. 1 Link to comment
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