Christmas With The Huangs!: Fresh Off the Boat "Cousin Eddie" fall finale

It's one of the best Christmas episodes of Fresh Off the Boat that I could remember, even the one from last season. Here's a recap!

As Christmas is near Jessica and Louis begins their traditional family Christmas routine, but Eddie wants to go visit Nicole in New York City. But Jessica won't allow it and makes Eddie do what they normally do from decorating the Christmas tree to a family photo to even going to the Nutcracker, but it turns into a battle of mom vs son.

Eddie tries to ruin and get out of the tradition from volunteering at the shelter and brings a friend over too, but Jessica wouldn't give in playing along to Eddie's game. But when Jessica realized that her angel on the top of the tree is broken, she lost it and canceled Christmas.

Jessica talks to Eddie and tells him that the reason why she does these traditions is that it worked so well with him as a baby. And after that, it was like they grew closer this holiday season and not only fixed Jessica's angel but performed the classic holiday tune "Christmas In Hollis" by Run-DMC, which was classic!!

Meanwhile, with Marvin and Honey went to visit Nicole in New York City, Louis allowed the kids to bring a friend over to their house for Christmas. As it was easy for Emery, it was hard for Evan to figure out who he can bring over because he has so many people that he calls his friend. Even Louis couldn't help and learned that Evan got his decision making from him. But it was a Christmas miracle from It's a Wonderful Life as Emery got all of his friends to come over. That was till Evan decides to send them home because Emery was his best friend.

"Cousin Eddie" was not only hilarious but it hit the holiday family spirit on the head. The title of the episode never made sense, but it was by far the best Christmas episode that I could remember. I just love the mother-son battle between Jessica and Eddie and learning the reason why Jessica does these traditions just makes you grab some tissues.  It was a strong episode with great character development, writing, and performances from the cast. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch Fresh Off the Boat when they return with new episodes on Friday, January 11 at 8/7c on ABC.

Scary Reality: Fresh Off The Boat "Workin The 'Ween"

It's another Halloween episode, will Fresh Off the Boat top it off this season? Here's a recap!

"Workin the 'Ween" is basically what the episode stands for, the Huangs working on Halloween one way or another.  Louis was hoping for him and Jessica to go out on Halloween but instead she accepted Honey and Marvin's request to babysit their daughter, Maria. Kind of devastated, Louis makes the best of it and dresses up while babysitting from Mario to Sylvester the cat.

Honey gave Jessica a list to follow to work with the baby, but Jessica and Louis believes they know how to parent a baby; but it turns out they are totally wrong. They come clean about their past parenting with Eddie and Emery with their pacifier. Jessica thought Eddie was weened off of it. But Louis confronts that it was he that gave him the pacifier back and weened him off a few months later.  And it was the complete opposite for Emery as Jessica paid her mother. But Evan didn't need any help as he's was the perfect child.

But after they couldn't get the Maria to calm down; they dressed up like Honey and Marvin as soon as Honey and Marvin got back from their date. Jessica apologizes for what had happen, but Honey was okay with it and didn't revoke Louis and Jessica's godparent status.

Meanwhile, Eddie is working at a mattress store with his boss (George Wendt). He works on Halloween and his friend Trent comes over that night, basically scared to go to the cemetery alone. And with Louis and Jessica babysitting, Emery and Evan handle the trick or treaters at home as Mulder and Scully. They come upon a girl who's trying to take more than one candy.  When the fourth time came, Evan had had it and slap Emery to sense and denied the girl: but turns out that she was one of quadruplets and got the house all egged up.

This was a very funny episode that had some hilarious moments and some that didn't quite work out. The ones that did were Jessica and Louis babysitting. It was a real strong character development for their characters I thought. Also Emery and Evan as Mulder and Scully was funny watching them debating one another about this tick or treater that keeps coming for more candy. Perfect choice for a show that was so popular at that time.

I really didn't care for Eddie and Trent's storyline as it was okay. It did show some of those elements of past Halloween movies of being scared and that was coming from Trent. It just didn't work out for me.

Overall, I give this episode a 8/10.

You can catch Fresh Off the Boat Fridays at 8/7c on ABC.

To Help and Bond: Fresh Off The Boat "The Hand that Sits on The Cradle"

Sometimes the best way to deal with disappointment is to help someone else.

With the free time that Jessica has now, she decides to help Honey and Marvin with their baby. She gives them by given them a zuo yue zi or "Sitting the Month." Jessica helps with everything while Honey and Marvin don't do anything but sit and relax, but didn't know it was going to be for a month.

Honey believes something is up. After Day 3, she learns why Jessica has been acting the way she has been. She learns that Jessica's books didn't do so well and comforts her with her southern tradition of drinking sangria.

With Jessica out of the house, Louis tries to bond with Even. From getting their hair done to chasing storms, it gets hard for Louis to fine something they have in common. That is until they can really criticize a movie like Twister.

Eddie and Emery get inspired to start lifting weights from watching "Pumping Iron." But the two never quite go through it and instead bonds with their dad in getting their hair done.

"The Hand that Sits The Cradle" was a hilarious episode and one that will be in my favorite list. The cast puts on a good performance, mainly Constance Wu, Chelsey Crips and Randall Park but Ray Wise does steal some moments.

Overall, I give this  episode a 9/10.

You can catch Fresh Off The Boat Fridays at 8/7c on ABC

Family Trip: Fresh Off the Boat "Fresh Off the RV" Season Premiere Press Release/Photos/Clips

Here's a look into the season five premiere of Fresh Off the Boat, titled "Fresh Off the RV."


"Fresh Off the RV"

While Honey and Marvin celebrate the birth of their baby, Jessica's book is finally released and she's optimistically looking forward to a book store reading that's been set up by her publisher to help boost sales. Louis is so excited to promote the book across the country that he buys an RV from Los Angeles Lakers great Kareen Abdul-Jabbar, who owns an RV dealership which is managed by underappreciated Calvin (Jaleel White) Meanwhile, Emery and Evan are concerned about Eddie after Nicole tells him that she's moving to New York, and he seems completely unfazed about losing his best friend.


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Promo:

You can catch the season premiere of Fresh Off the Boat Friday, Oct. 5 at 8/7c on ABC.

Fresh Off The Boat Season 5 TGIF promo

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ABC's Fresh Off the Boat is back for a fifth season and sets the tone for the new season by kicking off on Fridays bring back the tradition TGIF. Plus the season's poster is pretty awesome!

Here's a promo: