Ep 5. Jackie Likes Star Trek

It's the fifth episode of season five of the hit comedy show The Goldbergs and this time around, we're introduced to Jackie. She's Bill Lewis's cousin and is in town to stay with them for a while. Jackie is an independent thinker and doesn't always follow the norm, which is something Beverly and Murray find particularly frustrating.

In this episode named Jackie Likes Star Trek, Jackie's new-found love for Star Trek has ballooned to the point that it's all she can think and talk about. She even wears her Star Trek badge and glasses to school, much to the chagrin of the principal and the other students.

Beverly is not amused by this new obsession and insists that her family doesn't waste time on such frivolous things. Murray, on the other hand, is a little more understanding and thinks that Jackie's passion is a good thing. After all, he's always been a Trekkie himself.

Meanwhile, it's Adam's turn to write an essay for his English teacher, Mr. Crosby. He's looking for something unique and Adam thinks that an essay about Star Trek could be just the thing to impress him. His love for the show is only surpassed by the fact that he can relate it to his own life, something that doesn't go unnoticed by Mr. Crosby.

Things take an interesting turn when Adam realizes that Jackie is a bigger Star Trek fan than he is. She knows more about the show, the characters, and the plot than he does, which comes as a shock to Adam.

This serves as a wake-up call for him to start truly studying for things he loves and to stop coasting because he already has some knowledge. This also becomes a challenge for Adam, who decides to dive deeper into the Star Trek universe and start collecting and watching more episodes.

As Adam gets more and more into Star Trek, however, Beverly becomes increasingly concerned that it's taking over her son's life. Her reservations grow even more palpable when she discovers that Adam has spent all his savings on a vintage Star Trek phaser and the complete collection of Star Trek novels.

Despite her best efforts to discourage Adam from pursuing this 'silly' hobby, Beverly starts to see that it has a positive impact on him. She learns that Adam is able to connect with his peers, embrace his true passions and learn about himself as a person through his love of Star Trek.

The episode plays out with Adam presenting his Star Trek essay to Mr. Crosby, which not only impresses him but results in him getting an A. Meanwhile, Beverly and Murray come to terms with the fact that Jackie's passion for Star Trek serves as a shining example of how to love and appreciate things that might be different or seem odd to others. Overall, this episode manages to be funny, relatable and endearing all at once.