Is anyone else still in recovery mode from Raven's A+ dancing last week? ME. TOO. That episode will stay in my heart, and mind, until "Booker's Back" starts airing in 20 years and Grandma Ray performs at her grandchildren's dance.
Until then, Levi and 'Steve Harvey' are trying to sell their moms on buying them Virtual Reality Goggles.
Think about the adventures they can take, without leaving their apartment! All this for the low, low price of... $600.
They're not having it. The boys proceed to suggest they start getting paid for the chores they do around the house, as they'd then have enough funds for the goggles!
Apparently that's the funniest thing they've ever heard. In the moms' defence, they never charged for womb rental! And they don't ask for money for keeping a roof over their kids' heads. After a total 180 takes place, the boys now owe their moms for the years of mothering they've provided.
Boys: OUT!
Later, Booker and Levi are disappointed about not getting the VR goggles. Nia's not surprised - she once asked for regular goggles and was told to simply swim with her eyes shut.
Lest she forget.
Levi says he knows his father would've bought the goggles for him, and that he's a great businessman. Chels agrees with her son Raven's just straight up confused.
Raven pulls her aside and asks if they're talking about the same criminal father, to which Chelsea calls her cray cray. I'm starting to wonder if we're the ones living in a virtual reality.
After the kids leave for school, Raven confronts Chelsea on why she was talking up Garrett, Levi's dad. Chels wants her son to know that despite his thievery, he's still a good guy. Ummm...
Chelsea continues to say that she doesn't tell people that he's in prison - but rather out of state.
We find out that Chelsea had created an incredible product that was sold on infomercials. #Goals. But Garrett had to go ahead and STEAL it!
Chelsea tells Raven (Lydia) Baxter that she isn't mad over what happened, despite what Raven may think.
Something tells me otherwise.
At school, Booker and Levi are discussing the VR goggles. Tess and Nia find them, Tess upset that the vending machine is broken as she can't sleep in math on an empty stomach! Girl, I feel you on that.
Levi's sharp mind kicks into gear, and he sells Tess a granola bar for $3.
She only has $2. Levi says she'll pay him back.
Nia is quick to quiet the boys down, announcing that selling stuff at school for profit is against the rules. Secretly, her and Tess want IN! They're trying to raise enough money to buy best friend glow sneakers. Booker says he's in charge, but then passes the torch to Levi when Nia says whoever's in charge will be the one to get in trouble.
The next day, all of the kids arrive at school with matching backpacks to look recognizable to customers. Or stand out to the principal. You know, whatever.
Uh oh, the vending machine is up and running again. And Coach Spitz is buying a treat!
Levi shares that his dad says they should crush their competition. Except, their competition is a machine.
Tess suggests throwing a rock at it. They decide against the idea. Tess and Nia head to class, and Levi comes up with another suggestion - they pretend like the machine is still broken! Booker doesn't think it'll work, and then has a vision.
On second thought, maybe it will. Booker excitedly tells Levi to go ahead with his plan!
It's a done deal.
By later that day, the crew's got a full scale business happening - with Levi at the helm of it all.
Everyone's thrilled with how much money they've made, praising Levi. Things couldn't be better!
Until Coach Spitz is onto the black market. He wants answers, and he wants them NOW! The kid confesses to buying the snack from someone, and Coach Spitz is on the case - thinking if he finds the cold, hard criminals he could get a promotion. Those kids better sleep with one eye open!
Back at the apartment, Raven decides it's time for Chelsea to come to terms with what happened with her ex. She creates a 'prison visitation centre', where Raven will be playing the role of Garrett.
Do I hear "Orange is the new OH SNAP!"?
Chelsea loves it. She tells her 'husband' that she lives with Raven. 'Garrett' replies that Raven talks to much. Chelsea agrees.
On second thought, no she doesn't. 'Garrett' proceeds to say that prison is terrible and that he shouldn't be there. Chelsea tells him he broke the law. Raven's impressed that she's admitting what really happened. Things take a turn when Chels questions why Garrett ran away to the Cayman Islands - perhaps he isn't a criminal after all!
Chelsea has a serious case of denial. Raven says she'll help her find a way to come to terms with her past - Chelsea suggests they do it through interpretive dance.
I'd pay to see more of Raven dancing! Although Raven doesn't seem all that thrilled with the idea.
At school, the kids find out that Coach Spitz is onto them, and they throw the backpack full of cash back and forth at each other to avoid being caught.
Too late. Except all Coach Spitz could find in the backpack was this:
Doesn't look like cash to me! I do like the crown, though. The kid behind him is totally giving side eye.
Coach Spitz then approaches Nia, checking her backpack. Tess's rock falls out and she scurries away. He chases down Tess, who has a bag full of bananas that belong to Booker - he never eats the bananas Raven packs. Finally, he finds Levi, cornering him. They have a standoff.
Levi glances at the garbage can and Coach Spitz pulls the bag out.
It was cashless! Where did he find all of those super balls?! Coach Spitz says he owes him an apology, but never gives one. Booker, Nia and Tess ask Levi where the money went...
Not far. This will be a painful process. Booker removes the bills, one by one, Levi yelling after each tear.
On the apartment rooftop, Raven declares that the two are going to smash Chelsea's wedding china. She won't do it. Until, that is, Raven introduces us to the SCHMOP.
Chelsea's invention, of which Garrett stole the sale proceeds. This makes Chels mad. REAL MAD. She starts smashing the plates, and releases that built up anger!
Who cares if they were like, $300 each?
SAY WHAT?! Raven realizes she could re-sell the plates for a high price. She admits it was a bad idea, and tells Chelsea she can break her cheap plates. Chelsea is enjoying smashing the wedding plates too much, and can't stop.
Chelsea chases her back downstairs, and Raven suggests she smash a tacky vase. Oh wait... Chels gave her that vase! The two snap out of it when they hear Levi yelling about Whoopi Goldberg and something stinging.
Booker rips the last bill off of Levi. He shrieks, and the moms walk in - Raven asking who's making it rain.
Raven sends everyone out to the living room, except Levi, who looks like a hairless cat.
The kids won't budge on where they got the money from. Raven tells them they don't have a choice, as they're living in the United States of Raven!
Iconic. So iconic.
Chelsea goes total Bad Cop on them, and Raven pulls her back. The kids are just a little shook.
Raven tells Chelsea that she's supposed to be the Good Cop; she doesn't listen and threatens to shave their heads. Nia's terrified, as that's the way people differentiate her and Booker from one another. Oh snap, this really is a crisis! Raven continues trying to get Chelsea to calm down, to no avail. Tess runs away. Levi admits to what happened, acting like it isn't a big deal. Chelsea finally realizes she shouldn't have lied to Levi about his father being a good man.
Later, Chelsea visits Levi in his room. She tells Levi she never spoke badly of his father to try and protect him from reality - but she doesn't hate him, because without him she wouldn't have Levi. Levi says he's mad at his father, and Chelsea replies that he has every right to be. The two hug it out. They really do have such a special relationship.
Levi's grounded for two weeks for what happened at school. Without a chance for parole.
Then, we get to see Chelsea... SANS the last name Daniels, in an informercial promoting her Schmop.
Levi's not a fan of his mama's hair. Neither is Raven - although perhaps she spoke too soon.
YUP, that's her!
This episode wasn't just about repercussions for breaking rules - it was about being truthful with ourselves and that we shouldn't shelter our kids from the harsh realities of life. Chelsea had kept Levi in a virtual reality, away from what really happened with his dad. Knowledge is power, and I believe Levi will become a better person because of his newfound truth.
Down below, let me know what you thought of the deep underlying message this episode conveyed, if you can't believe Raven EVER had a pixie cut (I can't!), and if you'd be interested in using a Schmop!
Catch Raven's Home Friday Nights on Disney Channel.
