The May 3 episode of ABC’s The Goldbergs — the Adam F. Goldberg valentine to his 1980s Jenkintown youth — brought the popular series to an apt conclusion after a decade. Earl Hopkins wrote a finale-episode recap for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The series, which leaned heavily into pop culture of its time, did so again in its final installment, mimicking the 1985 hit Back to the Future.
In it, Adam Goldberg (Sean Giambrone) takes mom Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) to her high-school reunion. There, she becomes interested in “George,” a fellow alum.
Displeased with the match, Adam, launches a distraction, a Marty McFly-esque rendition of Chuck Barry’s “Johnny B. Goode.”
His pitiful performance ruins the night.
Adam then tries to unwind the damage by traveling back in time in the augmented DeLorean of his Pop-Pop (George Segal).
Adam eventually apologizes to Beverly and welcomes George into the home.
The finale involves apologies and reconciliations before the end-credit roll, the final image of which is a title card reading: “Dedicated to a decade of The Goldbergs.”
As the show ended, Adam Goldberg tweeted out news of his next project, a Muppets-centric Disney+ show.
More on the finale of The Goldbergs is at The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Cast commentary about the final episode.
