Ep 4. Mannequin

After a visually appealing opening, the fourth episode of Superstore’s first season, “Mannequin,” follows the Cloud 9 employees as they prepare for a district-wide competition, where the best store will win a trophy. The employees are determined to win, especially since their store had lost last year. In this episode, the focus is mainly on the workers and how they are coping with the daily grind of working in a store.

The episode opens with Glenn, the store manager, conducting a meeting with the employees to discuss the upcoming competition, which will be judged based on sales, customer service, and overall store presentation. When he asks for volunteers to model the store’s latest summer wear, Cheyenne volunteers, while Amy appears disgusted and annoyed. The two are then shown bickering throughout the episode, constantly antagonizing each other, revealing a hint of Amy’s animosity towards Cheyenne.

Meanwhile, Garrett vs Dina is an ongoing storyline that is explored further in the episode. The two employees compete against each other by placing bets on whether Jonah, a newly appointed employee, could decipher their coded messages to each other. It is amusing to see the extent that they would go to spite one another, revealing the light-hearted humor in the series.

In the second half of the episode, Amy recruits Jonah to help her move a mannequin, and the two end up stuck in the store’s walls. While trapped, they bond and reveal more about their past lives, and the audience learns more about them as individuals. The duo shares funny stories, before confiding in each other their personal lives and work difficulties. Moments like these are the high points of the series, as you begin to invest in the characters.

As the employees prepare for the competition, they bring in new summer items and try to entice customers to buy them. Amy, however, is unimpressed at the poor quality of one of the items, and in her attempt to take it out of the display, a mannequin falls on her. The high-pitched sound of her scream is echoed throughout the store, and the employees rush to her aid. It also serves as a reminder that the employees have been working exhausting shifts for long hours and that accidents are inevitable when trying to expedite their workload.

The episode concludes with the store earning the position to take part in the district competition, and the employees celebrate their well-earned victory. The day is a success for everyone, and all the employees continue with their daily routines, hoping to maintain the momentum they’ve built.

Overall, the fourth episode of Superstore’s first season is a fun and engaging viewing experience that will make you laugh and empathize with the characters. As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that the show is finding its footing and starting to come into its own. The ensemble cast is excellent at working together and bouncing scenes off each other. Despite the regular snags that come up in store life, it leaves the viewer with a good impression and looking forward to the upcoming episodes.