Title: The Goldbergs Season 3 & 4
Release Date: Released on DVD October 2
Starring: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantia, AJ Michalka, George Segal, Jeff Garlin
Rated: 12

The cast is perfectly chosen and their chemistry together is genuinely impressive. Even in this third and fourth season it feels fresh and the actors remain invested in their roles not allowing themselves to fall into parody as actors so often do the longer TV series run. The show is funny, heartwarming and, at times, poignant.

Writing and direction is handled by various directors as is the case with most TV shows but the writing always feels tight and the direction is even handed throughout. The show feels warm and cosy each episode - as with most TV shows it’s more or less a rest each episode with little having changed since the previous episode, but there are some series long emotional and relationship arcs, such as who Adam, Barry or Erica is dating. In fact there is a big change coming up for one of the siblings with regards their loves lives, but I won’t say which so as to avoid the spoiler.

As I near 40 years of age, I wonder if it is weird to be watching a show focussing mostly on teenagers and their day to day lives, experiences of school and college and their relationships. I often wonder who this sort of show is aimed at - with Modern Family for instance there is the whole spectrum of ages but The Goldbergs tends to focus on the younger generation. Is this show then marketed at that age group? Or is it marketed to people who were that age in the 80s? If it’s the former I may need to reassess my viewing preferences, if it’s the latter than I guess I’m more or less watching the right show!

Featuring a perfect mix of 80s nostalgia and pop references The Goldbergs is a very welcome trip back to the 1980s with all of its charms but also all of the tribulations of growing up.

Season 3 DVD Bonus Features:
• Gag Reel
• Episode Commentary on “The Dirty Dancing Dance” with Adam F. Goldberg, David Katzenberg,Wendi McLendon-Covey and Troy Gentile

Season 4 DVD Bonus Features:
• Gag Reel
• 20 Deleted Scenes
• Episode Commentary on “The Kara-te Kid” with Adam F. Goldberg, Doug Robinson, Lew Schneider,Wendi McLendon-Covey and Troy Gentile

Adam (Giambrone)a geeky, movie-obsessed teenager continues to record his childhood years on VHS in the 1980s. His overbearing and affectionate mum Beverly (McLendon-Covey) continues to (lovingly) embarrass him at every opportunity, his Dad mostly ignores him or berates him for not being interested in sport (but in a kindly, fatherly way). His older siblings Barry (Gentile) and Erica (Orrantia) continue to beat him up or trick him as well as helping him to understand growing up. But Adam’s only help comes from his elderly grandfather (Segal), who despite his advancing age is Adam’s sidekick. Voiceover to narrate the episodes is provided by Patton Oswalt (as the older version of Adam) much like in The Wonder Years.

Author : Kevin Stanley