THE PLOT THUS FAR
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“The Goldbergs” is an 80s throwback that’s part memoir and part honest sitcom. It doesn’t hurt that Patton Oswalt offers up stellar narration. The show started off rather weak and cliche, then picked up. That being said, it’s not hard to miss all of the sitcom tropes that get wheeled out on an episode. At times, I wonder if I’m watching more for the story or for the neat 80s trinkets that pop up from time-to-time.
I love that ABC got behind the show at a time when most networks are letting sitcoms die on the vine. Coming from an era where sitcoms defined your weekly schedule and kids couldn’t wait for TGIF, I miss a throwback to the era. It’s just that everything is done with so many winks and nods that it can feel a bit phony at times. But, my generation is finally getting their nostalgic tastes on TV in a way that doesn’t feel like Buzzfeed bullshit. But, isn’t it all bullshit if you can’t appreciate the narrative? What makes this family different than any other family on TV? Maybe, it’s the fact that Adam Goldberg based a generous portion of the material on his real family. Just a thought.
The DVD comes with commentary tracks and featurettes as the special features. The A/V Quality is pretty solid for a show like this. The standard definition transfer pales when compared to the ABC HD broadcast. But, the Dolby surround track kicks in with back channel action a lot. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans of the show.
RELEASE DATE: 09/09/2014