Not sure what it is about Fresh off the Boat's third season but the show really upped its game. The jokes are way funnier, the stories are more engaging and the writers are exploiting all the cast members to their fullest potential.
Quick Recap:
- Like every mom on Earth, Jessica Huang was nagging about how she has to do all the cleaning on her own. So Louis in a very ill-conceived attempt to help hired a cleaning lady, which made Jessica spiral out of control.
- Meanwhile, the kids faced new life challenges as a new school year started. Evan was struggling to make bus friends after Emery moved on to middle school. Emery had issues with Eddie cause of all the ideas Eddie made up to slide easily through school.
What worked:
- Jessica's and Louis' initial fight about the cleaning lady. It was so hilarious. Jessica's inability to accept help once again shone through and Constance Wu nailed every single line, including
Do you think I need a cleaning tutor?
- The cleaning lady herself played by Melanie Hutsell. She was tremendous in the role. Her straight forward attitude and not caring for Jessica's crazy behavior was very complementary energy wise. I really hope we'll see Mary again at one point.
- Just like in last season's premiere the resolution talk between Louis and Jessica was on point. They are a match made in heaven and complement each other so well. Jessica opening up about her need to be needed by her family was really sweet. Her character development is truly remarkable and a joy to watch. I really hope Constance Wu will finally get the critic recognition she deserves.
- I'm a huge fan of Lucille Soong as Grandma Huang and her old school awkwardness just adds to the scenes. This time, she delivered another great line in the middle of Jessica's rage outbreak.
If my husband got me a cleaning lady I would throw myself into a river.
- The Eddie-Emery feud. A truly hilarious setup which flashed out the kids bound with a great resolution at the end. Eddie's made up superstitious customs that helped him lazy through school were so funny and Emery's disgust towards them made me laugh even harder.
Do you know in how much trouble I would get? I would have to redo the 7th grade.
- Evan once again came into the story and stole the show. The way he knocked sense into Eddie for not letting Emery be his awesome self was completely on point. So much authority and energy within such a young human being worked unbelievably well.
- Evan's side story was another highlight of this episode. His inability of letting anyone sit next to him in the school bus was so well executed. Ian Chen is a fabulous actor, his grief process was impeccable and truly convincing. Not to mention how perfectly he executed the stereotype joke about every Chinese person knowing every other person of Chines decent.
Evan: Why do you wanna sit in this one?
Zach: Cause you remind me from Indiana.
Evan: He was Chinese wasn't he?
Zach: Yeah. Do you know him?
Evan: Yes.
Zach: You do!!!
Evan: And he told me not to sit next to you.
Zach: Sounds like Charlie. Always busting balls.
Evan: *Deep Sigh* Guess my day is a five now.
What didn't work:
- The Olympic games joke at the beginning of the episode. Felt out of place with the whole episode and
- Bogdan Dragomir, the Olympic medalist, was just way to stereotypical and his energy didn't suit the show at all.
Season 3 of Fresh of the Boat started really well and makes me excited about the upcoming episodes. What did you think of "Breaking Chains"?
