I literally almost teared up watching this episode. Takes me back 15 years ago in junior high. for a 30 minute episode they are jam-packed with SUBSTANCE. layers on layers! Donald Glover you sir are a blessing to tv!!
5 Reviews
Vivid, Accurate Portrayal of School Pains
matthewtessnear30 May 2019
This episode shows the fear that follows around a young grade school student. No matter the age, gender, race or location, bullying is a present danger. I wanted to hug young Earn in this episode. I was fearful he would get laughed at by the whole school or beat up. I was bullied in school, so much it affects me now in my 30s. The trauma from experiences in third grade and beyond formed much of my anxiety and depression that I'm just now starting to fight back from. I talk a lot about that in my memoir, 'Eating Me Alive: How Food, Faith and Family Helped me Fight Fear and Find Hope.' And because of that, this episode was so special for me and for all of us in relating the dangers of youth.
School days
CJPALLISTER200218 January 2022
fake
dannylee-7808222 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
1. Earn wears fake shirt
2. Earn passes notes
3. Al saves Earn
I love multilayered episodes like this. On its own, it has a very strong narrative about status and fashion. It talks about how status that can be achieved by means such as fashion, can bring you people's respect, love and attention. At the same time, people who are stripped of that status is very easily ridiculed, bullied and be pushed off to the edge. While effectively narrating that story with a nostalgic plot that everyone can relate to, it also tells the story of Earn and Al as a kid so that we can understand their current relationship better.
Even as a kid, Earn was smart but concerned about validation. It's the same problem but just through a teenager's lens. He looks up to his cousin Al, as he says "I'm not cool like you". Al also is mirrored in the past as he saves Earn from scrutiny whether the shirt is fake or not. It shows that their relationship has always had this imbalance, just like it does in the present day, and this episode was critical in pushing the main conflict forward with an exploration of the past.
Love this episode. Very clever writing at an appropriate moment in the season.
I love multilayered episodes like this. On its own, it has a very strong narrative about status and fashion. It talks about how status that can be achieved by means such as fashion, can bring you people's respect, love and attention. At the same time, people who are stripped of that status is very easily ridiculed, bullied and be pushed off to the edge. While effectively narrating that story with a nostalgic plot that everyone can relate to, it also tells the story of Earn and Al as a kid so that we can understand their current relationship better.
Even as a kid, Earn was smart but concerned about validation. It's the same problem but just through a teenager's lens. He looks up to his cousin Al, as he says "I'm not cool like you". Al also is mirrored in the past as he saves Earn from scrutiny whether the shirt is fake or not. It shows that their relationship has always had this imbalance, just like it does in the present day, and this episode was critical in pushing the main conflict forward with an exploration of the past.
Love this episode. Very clever writing at an appropriate moment in the season.
FUBU
Prismark1026 May 2020
This would never happen in my school. Everyone were so hard up that wearing designer fake brands would be seen as an improvement.
A flashback to Earn's childhood where he persuades his mother to buy a bright yellow FUBU shirt that he proudly wears to school the next day.
The only problem is another boy wears the same shirt but there are subtle differences. Whichever one is wearing the fake shirt will get roasted.
Trouble is that no one knows and Al acts as a referee as people trust his opinion. Young Al does his cousin a favour, but the next day Earn hears some bad news.
A reminder of the cruelty of school days, trying to act cool but only to find yourself being bullied by people who cannot even tell the difference between real and fake.
A flashback to Earn's childhood where he persuades his mother to buy a bright yellow FUBU shirt that he proudly wears to school the next day.
The only problem is another boy wears the same shirt but there are subtle differences. Whichever one is wearing the fake shirt will get roasted.
Trouble is that no one knows and Al acts as a referee as people trust his opinion. Young Al does his cousin a favour, but the next day Earn hears some bad news.
A reminder of the cruelty of school days, trying to act cool but only to find yourself being bullied by people who cannot even tell the difference between real and fake.
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