The Goldbergs – Preventa Mode

By starrymag | February 18, 2020

By: Ariba Bhuvad

 

 

Back in the 80s, teachers had a more nerdy look to them. But in college, things changed for Barry (Troy Gentile) when he had a good looking professor Elana Reid. Even Erica (Hayley Orrantia) thought she was pretty! Barry was certainly hot for teacher and it showed.

 

Erica and Barry get their essays back and Erica is shocked to see that Barry got an A on his paper, too. She doesn’t believe he could pull off such a great grade and is certain that the professor had it wrong. The professor, Elana (Miranda Cosgrove) asks Barry to come see her after class. During their conversation it turns out Elana is really cool. Overwhelmed with excitement, Barry asks her out–on Valentine’s Day. Surprisingly, Elana agrees to go out with him as long as it stays between them. 

 

Adam (Sean Giambrone) had his eye on someone special for Valentine’s Day–Brea (Sadie Stanley). Even Dana (Natalie Alyn Lind) was interested in someone, who turned out to be Andrew Gallery (Matt Cornett). Unfortunately, Andrew asks Brea out before Adam and Dana can invite them to the upcoming Valentine’s Couples Skate. They decided to mourn over a bowl of ice cream. 

 

Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) is disappointed to see Dana at their house, until she learns that Adam and Dana are not interested in each other. She’s upset to learn that the girl Adam is interested in though is with someone else. So, she started scheming immediately. Beverly says she can break the couple up by going into “preventa” mode, basically she’ll break them up, just like she broke up Murray (Jeff Garlin) and his first love. Adam is reluctant to get Beverly’s help, but Dana says she’d love the help. 

 

The other JTP members Andy (Matt Bush), Naked Rob (Noah Munck) and Matt Bradley (Shayne Topp) decide to spend Valentine’s Day together, coining it “Pal-entine’s Day.” They’ll spend the day together while Geoff (Sam Lerner) and Erica go out on their date. Everyone is surprised to see Barry dressed up in a blazer. Since he promised Elana that he wouldn’t tell anyone, he has to keep hush-hush about it. 

 

Erica is suspicious over Barry’s behavior so she and Geoff decide to follow him. She’s shocked to see Elana and Barry together at dinner and is convinced that’s why Barry got the A on the essay. 

 

Operation Preventa is underway at the Goldbergs’, but Adam thinks it sounds mean to break people up. He has no choice since Dana and Beverly are already discussing the game plan. The first step in Beverly’s plan is to start a rumor and the best way to do that is share it with someone that will tell everyone else–Johnny Atkins (Sean Marquette). Adam started a rumor that Andrew sent the field hockey team flowers and, as expected, Johnny shared it with everyone.

 

The next step is to plant evidence, which was to actually give the girls flowers so Brea would get upset with Andrew. The plan works perfectly and Brea breaks up with Andrew on the spot. This brings Adam to the final step of the plan, which is to be there to pick up the pieces. Adam goes to comfort Brea and it seems like things are going just as Beverly hoped.

 

At dinner Elana is having a wonderful time with Barry, even after their kiss goes wrong and Barry spills a drink all over her. When she gets up to go to the bathroom Erica and Geoff confront him. Geoff is excited for Barry, but Erica is angry and annoyed. Before Elana sees them, Barry insists that they leave and keep the secret to themselves. Sadly, it is too late as Geoff has already shared the news with the JTP. 

 

The next day at school the JTP has told everyone, which led to everyone congratulating Barry on dating the teacher. Elana isn’t too happy to learn that everyone knows and is worried she could lose her job.

 

Brea and Adam are at the Goldbergs’ doing school work and Beverly is spying on them. She wants Adam to ask Brea out and decides to take matters into her own hands by setting a romantic mood–with music and fruit. Adam feels rushed by Beverly and wants to ask when he’s ready. Unfortunately, he isn’t able to ask her when the opportunity arises, so Beverly sets mood lighting and lights a candle.  

 

After Elana called things off Barry confronts Erica over everything. Elana was the first person that Barry has liked since Lainey and Erica ruined it because she can’t see him as anything but her dumb brother. 

 

Dana isn’t having any luck with Andrew so she comes over to ask for Beverly’s help, but she’s too concerned with Adam’s love life to help Dana. Dana tells Beverly that she better work fast because Andrew wants to get Brea back. Beverly interferes once again by having a band show up at school and ask Brea on Adam’s behalf. Adam feels humiliated and is sure Beverly has destroyed any chance with Brea.

 

After Elana has broken things off Barry goes to talk to the head of her department Professor Lee (Tommy Lee) to make sure she doesn’t lose her job. There isn’t a rule against teachers and students dating one another, unless the teacher favors the student. Barry said he got an A on his paper and Professor Lee says that this would be against the rules. Luckily, Erica and Geoff show up to help Barry out. Erica finally realizes that Barry is actually deserving of the grade he got because he wrote a great paper and she thinks he should go after Elana. Unfortunately, Elana doesn’t think they should date, but Barry is okay with that. She made him realize that he’s ready to put himself back out there again. 

 

Beverly feels horrible for getting involved in Adam’s love life, especially since he won’t speak to her. Murray reminds her that he didn’t end up with her because she “preventa’d” his relationship with his ex, but it’s because he actually liked Beverly. And if Brea really likes Adam, things will work out. It turns out Adam was just scared that Brea would say no, but Beverly is there to tell him he should go for it on his own terms. All is well that ends well as Brea and Adam go to the Couples Skate together as well as Dana and Andrew.

 

At least the JTP had a wonderful “Pal-entine’s Day” together, which ended with ice skating and doing a magnificent routine on the ice.