In the latest chapter of the East Hollywood DMV story, the team discovers that "family hires" are often not the best idea. This week, we encounter a saboteur and a relationship that Noa finds hard to understand. Here's a recap and review.
The status quo is shaken up when Barb hires a new driving instructor, Robin (Anna Camp), who is also the niece of the "Big Boss" downtown. This decision recalls Barb's earlier attempts this season to modernize the office by bringing in fresh faces, which often clashed with the old guard's wariness of outsiders. While Gregg, Barb, and Vic are instantly charmed by Robin’s bubbly personality and her seemingly homemade cookies, Colette smells a rat, much like in episode two when she was the only one to question the arrival of that "efficiency consultant."
During a ride-along, Robin reveals she’s vying for Colette’s job and, surprisingly, can’t drive. She excludes Colette from breakfast and gives her a "pity shirt,' blending fake friendliness with sabotage—an icy sweetness when threatened. Her smirk while causing discomfort hints at deep insecurity, possibly rooted in a powerful family background, as she’s the Big Boss's niece. Her frantic efforts to undermine Colette suggest a long history of needing to prove herself, driven by fear of failure and a desire to be recognized. The episode shows Robin as more than office villain—she’s haunted by her insecurities and desperate for validation.The guys finally see the light when Gregg realizes the "homemade" cookies were actually just a Subway platter. As the team realizes Robin is both incompetent and a fraud, they decide to run an "undercover sting" (which was arguably unnecessary but very on-brand for Vic) to catch her in the act.
Robin thinks she’s untouchable because of her uncle, but Barb isn't having it. After Robin confesses her plan, Barb fires her on the spot. The kicker? The Big Boss calls Barb immediately—not to complain, but to thank her for finally getting his nightmare niece off his hands.
Brent-y Business In the lobby, Noa is horrified to discover that Ceci is officially dating the department's most annoying regular, Brent (Mark Feuerstein). Their relationship is a rollercoaster of high-drama breakups and make-ups that happen in the span of a single afternoon. Despite Noa's attempts to intervene, Ceci and Brent have a strange, combustible chemistry, though we doubt it'll survive the next renewal cycle. But as Ceci gets pulled further into this chaos, she risks irritating her coworkers and distracting herself from the job that she worked so hard to land, which gives her impulsive romance real personal and professional consequences.
"The Fourth Wheel" is a nice episode that highlights the strong bond among the ensemble, even as it takes them a little time to realize that Colette isn't just being overly cautious. It's a heartfelt, character-focused episode that captures the "us against the world" spirit of the East Hollywood branch, much like earlier episodes this season where the core team rallies together against outside interference. That thread of unity keeps deepening, making the group's loyalty feel more earned each time. There’s always something delightful about watching someone try to tear the group apart, only for the team to come back even more united and eager, maybe even craving some better cookies together!
Gregg’s hilarious reaction to discovering the cookies were from a fast-food chain was a real highlight. Tim Meadows brilliantly playing a "cookie connoisseur" perfectly captures the easygoing humor this show consistently delivers. It was truly gratifying to see Barb stand firm and put her office first over politics. The surprising twist of the Big Boss wanting his niece fired was a clever take on the usual "corrupt boss" stereotype. Plus, Harriet Dyer’s portrayal of 'frantic' is unmatched on TV right now; her intense showdown with Robin was a fantastic display of her physical comedy skills.
But while Mark Feuerstein is great as Brent, the pairing with Ceci feels almost too absurd. It’s funny in small doses, but watching them argue about "pacing" in their relationship while Noa looks on felt a little repetitive.
Overall, I give this episode a 7.5/10
What did you think of this week's episode? Now that the "Big Boss" owes Barb a favor for taking care of his niece, will she use that leverage to get a new office budget, or is she just happy to have peace restored? Leave a comment.
You can catch DMV Mondays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
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