Fresh Off the Boat: Week in Review reveals that in Grandma Huang’s day, the men made the money and killed the spiders. That when the word lice is uttered, everyone takes one step back. Team Jessie-Lou falls apart but gets back together and Eddie not only saves the day but learns that “being homeless” is no big deal. Two of the Huang children bring lice home.
We also learn, according to Jessica, that lice are the “pedophiles of the insect world.”
Before the oldest Huang son is ejected out of the house for being lice infected, Eddie and his friends discuss the upcoming student faculty basketball game; the winning team gets pizza. In class later, Eddie talks smack with his teacher Mr G (Al Madrigal). The teacher tells Eddie if he gets a basket against him, that Eddie will have no homework for the rest of the year.
Eddie responds that if he does not score, the teacher can give him double homework. His schoolmates are horrified. Jessie and Louis are shocked that Eddie has lice (We didn’t come to this country so our son could get lice, says an annoyed Louis). Later Evan comes home infected as well. Both boys are evicted from the family home until the lice are gone.
Comic Moments:
Jessica yelling at Trent:
“Wait, no, Big Red, keep your distance! Eddie is DISEASED!”
Evan telling his parents that he has lice and stretching his arms out for a hug, “Bao bao.” The next shot has the littlest Huang outside with Eddie. Jessica places her hand, which is made into Vulcan palms through the window.
Louis and Jessica covered from head to toe to treat Eddie and Evan.
Emery not getting lice and saying, “Wait. How come I don’t have lice? I mean, how do you not want to be up in this?” He follows this with a self-satisfied slow-motion hair flip.
Eddie flinging his towel into the crowd at the gym and their horrified reaction to it.
Jessica’s “Louis.”
Grandma Huang watching Jerry Springer and chanting “Jer-ry, Jer-ry.”
Jessica admiring the team name that Louis has made up for their team, Jessie-Lou.
Jessica: “Sounds like a country girl who’s has sex too early.”
Louis and Jessica hugging, even though she has gotten lice from Eddie. As the couple embrace she says:
Jessica: “Louis, I just want you to know that if you get lice, I’m putting you outside with Eddie.”
Louis (sighing): “I know. I’ve always known.”
Overall Thoughts:
Not having watched the first season, except via binging after the fact, it took some time to really get into Fresh Off the Boat and its “based on real people” characters and storylines. However…
The performances of the actors, the writing and the chemistry between the players makes this a brilliant, funny and addictive show to watch.
Park and Wu are perfect together and how can one not adore Constance Wu’s Jessica? The scene where Louis has worked out four minutes of “alone time” is cute and funny.
Louis: “And, uh, ooh, here I made a note that Wednesday afternoon, you and I have the whole house to ourselves… for four minutes.”
Jessica: (Giggling) ” Louis.”
Louis: “And you know I only need two.”
Jessica: (Giggling) “Louis.”
Louis: “Shall I pencil you in… twice?”
Jessica: “Oh, Louis.”
Later on the day of the “four minutes” there is more romance and Jessica “Oh Louis-ing” again until Eddie returns with the news he has lice.
Everyone clicked in this episode. Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, Ian Chen as the Huang kids were spot on (Ian Chen’s little gasp/scream at the sight of his stuffed toys in the box was brilliant) and Hudson just rocked it in this episode.
Even the school friends of Eddie’s were a delight. The smack talking sequence with the teacher was hysterical as was Eddie’s saving the day and announcing he has superpowers while eating the victory pizza.
Fresh Off the Boat continues to deliver the laughs and is another addictive comedy. The show airs Tuesdays on ABC.
