Together as a Family: Fresh Off The Boat "Family Van"/"Commencement" Series Finale

The one-hour series finale leaves the Huangs with a lovely bow to end the series. Here's a recap!

In the first half-hour, the episode "Family Van" deals with the Huangs saying goodbye to their family van after it breaks down trying to go to Disney World. While Louis tries to save his van, Jessica gives it up after learning nothing can be done to save it. Louis goes on memory lane while Jessica tries to blow it off until when they go car shopping, she steals the van that looks like theirs. Jessica tells Louis that her grieving process was to bury it, but after Louis kept pushing her and pushing her, they came to miss the van.

Meanwhile, after finding a measured map in the van, Eddie, Emery, and Evan go on a road trip to their home in D.C. to find their time capsule. While Eddie looks forward to having an adventure with his brothers, Emery and Evan aren't as seeing Eddie dealing with an upset stomach from gas station hot dogs. But as soon as Emery and Evan found their time capsule, they realized that Eddie wanted to spend enough time before leaving for college.

The second half-hour, the episode "Commencement,t" deals with when Eddie tells Jessica and Louis that he scored 1500 on his SATs, and that gets Jessica to turn a 360 as she's pleased about her accomplishments with Eddie.

Jessica was so happy that she took Eddie off of housework and even did the dishes. They spend the day buying clothes and such and soon get an interview with Harvard. However, after the interview with Andy Ritcher, they learn that Eddie might not get in because of Jessica's helicopter parenting.
But Eddie tells Jessica that he doesn't want to go to Harvard, as he wants to go to Culinary school and work at Cattlemen. Even though it took her a while to come to terms, she was on board with Eddit.

Meanwhile, Emery and Evan come to different terms with Evan's memoir and using stories from Emery and even helping the birth of Honey's first baby. Emery gets back at Evan by running for his seat on the neighborhood council. Evan sees the probable and apologies to Emery and Honey about the memoir.

Jumping to 2008, and while we see that Louis and Jessica are at Harvard for graduation, we don't quite know whose graduation it was until we learn that Evan graduated with high honors and gave his commencement speech. We see Jessica, Louis, Eddie, Emery, and Grandma celebrating Evan's graduation.

"Family Van" and "Commencement" are excellent episodes and place a nice bow to end the series. While it might not have been the most incredible series finale of all time, it was an accurate fitting to see these characters where they ended up happy and together as a family. Was this better than the Season 5 finale? Yeah, it was. The writing was so good, and the cast gave such excellent and memorable performances, like Constance Wu, who I hope gets an Emmy nomination. Overall, I provide these episodes with a 9/10. I give the season a 9.5/10.

You can catch episodes of Fresh Off The Boat on ABC.com. Hulu and Google Play. 

Connecting with Each Other: All Rise "Dancing at Los Angeles" Season Finale

The season finale of All Rise finds a way to pull of an episode during the COVID-19 crisis and pulls it off very well. Here's a recap.

At the start off the episode, we see everyone zooming each other; while they're doing their exercises and trying to keep their mental status in check during this COVID-19 pandemic. Almost everyone is worried about the backlog of cases as the list gets longer and longer by the day; Judge Carmichael comes up with an idea of doing a test trial using Zoom and lives streaming it or the public.

The first live stream trial is about a man who's in jail for stealing a car and being aggressive with his brother. Lopez and Callan have a difference of opinion of a pled deal. After both brothers were arguing during the trial; Carmichael looks back and talks to her mother about a message that she tried to understand; that pretty much was suitable for the case. Soon the two brothers come to terms; with the brother that was in jail got to be released that day to be with his pregnant wife.

Along with seeing Judge Carmichael bonding with her mother; we see how both her and Callan could never be in the same room for a trial. Callan and Amy talk about seriously moving in with each; Lopez and Watkins not only was dealing with the pandemic; but celebrated the night with dinner. But ended with a group dancing that got everyone from the cast, crew, and fans of the show that ended the episode on a high and happy note.

"Dancing at Los Angeles" couldn't have been better as it was such a good hour episode. I thought the overall episode was very good and the cast gives a good performance as they filmed this episode in their homes. The case of the week story was very good and had a good emotional impact. I think while the case of the week was good enough; being distracted and keeping busy was also another theme in this episode; along with thanking the men and women that put their lives on the line for us. That live stream DJ was pretty good and fitting throughout the episode. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

I hope that CBS would consider renewing All Rise for a second season. I very much want to see what comes next for this cast of characters that I very much got invested in.

You can catch episodes of All Rise available on CBS and CBS All Access.

Spinoff and Advice: Fresh Off the Boat "The Magic Motor Inn"/"Mommy and Me"

"The Magic Motor Inn" 

When Evan is worried about the spelling bee, Eddie tries to get him help from a three-time champion  Simryn, a former classmate. While Eddie takes Evan to get her help; he has Trent looking out for his SAT scores just in case Jessica gets a hold of them. But soon Eddie learns that he scores high and Evan learns that while Eddie might not have studied just as hard as he, even Simryn didn't either as they are both naturals.

Eddie tells Evan that his natural is studying hard than the rest of the people and that got the encouragement to be in the spelling bee. Which I think probably won.

Meanwhile, Emery must find a job or he won't be having anything new or to eat. While Louis gave him the benefit of the doubt; Jessica made sure Emery got a job and a job he has got as a shirtless model at the mall. While Jessica tries to hide it from Louis; he finally learned pretty fast about Emery's new job.

"The Magic Motor Inn" was a very good episode from start to finish. This is the episode that has a backdoor pilot for a potential spinoff that I'm very much interested in watching and hopefully ABC will go for it. Megan Suri was very good and funny along with making Mandy Moore references. All in all, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

"Mommy and Me"

When Honey asks Jessica for advice about kids clinging to their mothers; what Jessica didn't know was that her advice was going to hit her right back. Just as Jessica was recording the audiobook of her novel, Evan comes home in tears as his girlfriend had broken up with him. This turns Evan into cloning to Jessica in the creepiest way.

After trying and trying, finally, grandma played a recording of Jessica talking about how clinging he has been with her and that pretty much snapped that with Evan.

Meanwhile, Louis, Eddie, and Emery are burger hopping trying out burgers that is until Emery decides that he's going vegan. After doing to a vegan burger shop, Eddie and Louis decide to go on without Emery to a burger joint with Trent. While hurting Emery's feelings, Louis and Eddie come up with a new burger at the Cattleman's of a vegan burger that Emery enjoys.

"Mommy and Me" was a very funny episode. I've always enjoyed an episode story with Jessica and Evan and this one was no expectation. I'd very much enjoyed this and even the Louis and the boys dealing with eating vegan burgers. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

Family and Work: Fresh Off The Boat "Jessica Town"/"A Seat at the Table"

"Jessica Town"

For the final season of Fresh Off the Boat, their final Christmas episode will be marked as perfect. Just like Jessica's Christmas.

Like Louis with Halloween, Christmas is Jessica's holiday and as she tries to make this holiday season perfect; Louis tries to help her out because he wants to spend time with her this season by ice skating. Of course, Jessica sees that Louis is doing things wrong to her with the Christmas cards and the gingerbread house. That is until she realizes and tries to make it up with Louis by going ice skating but Louis ends up with two broken arms and Jessica getting her perfect gift: a couple ice skating for her Jessica Town.

Meanwhile, Evan and Eddie accidentally broke Honey's gift for Marvin, a navy nutcracker. In order to find a replacement, Emery works as a mall elf and it's not even pleasant. As Evan tries to get the nutcracker at the mall, he steals it instead. But by the time Honey comes back to wrap the gift; grandma hands the nutcracker to her as she bought it to help the boys in return for their gift cards.

"Jessica Town" was probably one of my favorite episodes of the season and could be the best holiday episode of the tv season. While Eddie, Evan, and Emery's story were very good and hilarious; Jessica and Louis' story was so heartwarming and funny as it brought so much Christmas spirit. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

"A Seat at the Table" 

As Jessica gets to be a Dean at a college; she learns that they didn't hire her for her ideas but for being diverse. Trying to figure out whether to quit or not; Louis's advice was to play the long game and so she did. After an incident, Jessica took to press conferences and not only promise to fix the diverse issues but also fooled the president of the college too.

Meanwhile, Evan sees that Emery and Eddie don't hang out during school and wished that they could do that before Eddie graduates. After Eddie tries to hang out with Emery and his drama club, things took a dip but Evan tries to fix it but Eddie and Emery gave what Evan wanted during his math club.

"A Seat at the Table" was a very funny episode: mainly with the character mispronouncing wong phrases. I thought the cast gave a good performance in this episode. Plus Mr. Buns! Overall, I give this episode an 8,5/10.

Helping and Answering: Fresh Off The Boat "TMI: Too Much Integrity"/""Lou Wants to Be a Millionaire"

"TMI: Too Much integrity" 

Louis tries to start a new way to start a new business consulting. But soon finds away by using Honey's mommy blog called TMI (True Mommy Insights). Honey sees that Louis is taking the fun out of her new blog when he pushes her and the website too far after getting sponsors. Louis apologies to Honey after he took off the post from her blog and posted the original post.

Meanwhile, Jessica is jealous to see her boys having more fun at the new neighborhood piazza that's in their circle drive neighborhood and tries to stop it by using a fun wheel. She tries to ruin the piazza for the boys by taking over the park; which got the boys upset. Both apologies and played boccie ball.


"TMI: Too Much Integrity" was a fun and good episode. It wasn't the best overall episode this season but it was entertaining. Overall, I give this episode a 7.5/10.

"Lou Wants to Be a Millionaire" 

As Lou goes on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, trying to win a million dollars; while filming he and Eddie argue over the idea of adding Asian fusion to the restraint menu. Meanwhile, Emery and Jessica are locked out of the studio but he uses acting to get back but Jessica doesn't follow him as she believes it's dumb.

After a while, Emery comes back for Jessica and talks about him loving acting and wants her support. After she accepts, as they go in Lou gets one question that uses the phone a friend to Eddie and tells him that his idea was a good one. As for the answer, Lou got it wrong.

Evan awaits for Lou's phone call from millionaire but gets distracted from Marvin's accident phone switch and Grandma's phone call to the all science question hotline.

"Lou Wants to Be a Millionaire" was a very good episode. I've very much enjoyed it from start to finish. While Eddie and Lou's story was good the Jessica and Emery's story was the better out of this episode. Seeing Jessica, who's not a fan of acting, finally accepting her son as he wants to be an actor. I hope that producer calls back soon for Emery. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

You can catch Fresh Off the Boat Fridays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

All Rise Season 1 Episodes 12-20

As All Rise has been one of CBS's biggest new shows this season; the second half of the first season proves it's powerful stories and characters.

I have been amazed at what All Rise has shown this season. With such strong and well-developed characters; plus their interesting and sometimes predictable storylines. While this ensemble cast has shown strong chemistry with one another; some like Simone Missick as Judge Lola Carmichael and Jessica Camacho as Public Defender Emily Lopez have given such strong and powerful performances; as the development of their characters grow.

In the second half of season one, Carmichael deals with helping Judge Lisa Benner with her campaign; as she finds anything dirt that could ruin her chances for the State Attorney General. Also dealing with personal issues like whether or not to continue to be separated from her husband due to their professions.

Meanwhile, Emily Lopez's relationship with former deputy sheriff now turned law in the DA's office, Luke Watkins grows; but takes a couple of steps back at times not only due to their work but personal struggles as well. Lopez still deals with PTSD of her former abusive relationship and it shows in episode 19 "In The Fight" where she defends an abuser in court that affects her.

There have been some humorist moments too like Sherri Kansky, Judge Carmichael's assistant dealing with a fun relationship with an LAPD detective that brings the fun out of the character since the series started. Even her and Carmichael having a breakfast outing too.

Also while I'm loving DDA Mark Callan and Carmichael's relationship as best friends; Callan and Amy Quinn have been a fun relationship to watch.  Even Judge Carmichael's court reporter, Sara Castillo been dating Judge Brenner's son and seeing Brenner finding out by her son picking up Sara's phone by mistake.

I've enjoyed watching All Rise this season; I hope that CBS will give this series a second chance and renew it. I want to see where these characters go; besides the COVID-19 has pretty much ruin the season as it shortens the number of episodes this season. This second half of the season I give an 8/10.

Monday's new episode will have the actors portraying them at their own homes via Zoom/FaceTime due do check-in and spread the awareness of communicating family and friends for support. I'm looking forward to it.

You can catch All Rise Monday at 9/8c on CBS.

Parks and Recreation Special

This past Thursday NBC aired the anticipated special reunion episode of Parks and Recreation. And while it was everything we had wanted, it's really what we really needed.

In the episode, Leslie Knope gets everyone to contact the gang via FaceTime/Zoom to check on how they are doing during this COVID-19 situation. It builds into a chain from Leslie and Ben to Leslie and Ron and it goes from there till we end up with Garry, who no one wants to contact.

During the episode, we also check on Joan as she interviews Leslie and Ben. Jamm still jamming things up again with his business. And Jean-Ralphio doing his advertising thing and asking anyone to call him at his personal number. And not to mention, Bobby Newport (played by Paul Rudd) who beings the episode with a message and has no clue about COVID-19 because he's in Sweden.

But it was when Leslie tells Ron that she just wishes that she could contact everyone all at once; that got Ron and everyone to facetime with Leslie and Ben. Ron tells her that they know how important it is to stay connected during these times and has Andy playing 5,000 Candles in the Wind.

The episode was darn right perfect; as it didn't ruin anything from the series finale that's probably the best thing coming out of this special. But in seriousness it talks about during these social distancing times; we must connect to the people that we love or haven't seen in a long time and to pay tribute to the men and women that are putting their lives to helping people in this time from doctors, nurses, firefighters, and cops. This special was a 10/10 but really it's what we all needed at this time. Thank you Parks and Recreations!