Ep 17. Zephra Cares

In Superstore season 5 episode 17 titled "Zephra Cares," the employees of Cloud 9 are tasked with promoting their parent company, Zephra's, new charitable initiative. As expected, the employees struggle to get on board with the initiative as it seems insincere, and they believe that the company is only trying to improve its public image.

Amy (America Ferrera), Jonah (Ben Feldman), and Cheyenne (Nichole Sakura) are assigned to create a video to help spread awareness about the project. However, they soon realize that they may have to make some uncomfortable compromises to make a video that aligns with the company's messaging. For instance, the company insists that the video includes people of all ages, genders, and religions, leading the employees to feel like they're ticking boxes for the sake of appearing inclusive.

Meanwhile, Dina (Lauren Ash) is on a mission to find a new best friend at the store since she feels neglected by her colleagues. She's attracted to Justine's (Kelly Schumann) bold and unfiltered personality and decides to become her new best friend. Justine, however, is only interested in using Dina to get close to her crush. This sets up an interesting dynamic between the two as Dina tries to show that she's an excellent friend while also facing rejections from Justine.

Elsewhere, Mateo (Nico Santos) and Sandra (Kaliko Kauahi) take on some of the most challenging tasks of the new initiative, like assembling dog beds and connecting with customers in need. In their efforts to promote the charitable project, they realize that they share a lot in common and develop a newfound appreciation for each other's work ethics.

Throughout the episode, the employees are often conflicted about the length they'll go to in promoting Zephra's agenda and whether it's worth compromising their personal beliefs.

"Zephra Cares" is a thought-provoking episode that tackles the issue of corporate social responsibility and the influence of corporations on charity. It shows the employees of Cloud 9 challenging Zephra's motives for the initiative and questioning if it's truly about making a positive impact or simply cleaning up Zephra's tarnished reputation. The episode combines humor with depth, and it's a fantastic addition to Superstore's impressive oeuvre.