Fresh Off the Boat, Season 2, Episode 17: “Doing it Right”
Original airdate March 22, 2016.
Microsynopsis: Jessica gets into an argument with the mother of Evan’s best friend, resulting in Evan’s being disinvited. With supreme effort, she forces herself to apologize, but Evan’s invitation is not reinstated, and Jessica learns that Evan is the real problem. Louis’s obsession of the week is the upcoming North Orlando Chili Cook-Off, for which he enlists Eddie as his apprentice. When Eddie gets frustrated by Louis’s unwillingness to consider his suggestions, he enters the cook-off on his own.
Good: Jessica flying off the handle is funny, but Jessica humbling herself as she apologizes is hilarious. This is a strong Jessica episode, and Evan gets a rare shot at central plot. The subplot is surprisingly cute, too. There’s something about Eddie’s tweener status that suits Hudson Yang well: his undisguised, sincere admiration for his father is sweet, and it gives the show a credibility that lots of family shows struggle to earn. Oh, and the episode’s teaser is stilly, stupid, and pretty funny. And oh yeah: this young actor who plays Trent is really growing on me. He’s not a bad actor.
Bad: Marvin’s downfall at the chili cook-off is lazy writing.
FOB moment: Jessica is displeased with Evan’s A+ on a test until she realizes it’s really an A++.
Soundtrack flashback: “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” by Whitney Houston (1995). “Race Against Time” by Public Enemy (1994) (heck yeah).
Final grade, this episode: It’s funny, and both plots are really sweet. B+.
