Fresh Off the Boat, Season 3, Episode 18: “Time to Get Ill”
Original airdate April 4, 2017.
Microsynopsis: Jessica comes down with the flu, a phenomenon so foreign to the Huangs that Eddie can’t remember it ever happening before. After first refusing to believe she’s taken ill, Jessica relents and puts herself to bed. The Huang men take advantage of not being under Jessica’s constant gaze and order the pay-per-view Battle of the Swamp Creatures wrestling event.
Good: I love the setup, where Jessica sees what each of her boys is up to even when she’s not looking directly at them, or when they’re not even in the room. Eddie’s speech about seeing Jessica’s sickness as an opportunity is great. And the aftermath, when Jessica eases up on her family, feels right. The whole episode is plotted nicely so that the arc is satisfying and amusing. Honey’s martini bit kinda cracked me up. Oh, and Marvin speaks Mandarin. Funny surprise.
Bad: Shameless product placement with the beverage on Jessica’s tray and the bottle of medicine Eddie gives her. The resolution could have done without the “You’re always watching us!” “I get it” conversation near the end. The short bits right after, where the boys adjust to having their mother not being all up in their grill explains it fine.
FOB moment: Jessica uses white flower oil to treat everything. Yeah, I know I used this in season one, but it’s the best I’ve got.
Soundtrack flashback: I got nothing! Did I miss it?
Final grade, this episode: An entertaining, silly, funny, rewarding episode all the way through. These episodes can be about stupid things, can avoid the overt sappiness, and can still be good television. B+.
