Ep 7. Welcome to the Motorcycle

The Neighborhood season 3 episode 7 is titled "Welcome to the Motorcycle" and follows the story of Calvin Butler, the head of a black family living in predominantly white Los Angeles. As usual, the episode promises to deliver an interesting and insightful story about race relations, community, and family values.

In this episode, Malcolm, the Butlers' youngest son, becomes interested in motorcycles. As a result, his father, Calvin, decides to take him on a trip to a motorcycle shop to buy him his first bike. However, when they get there, they find out that the shop is owned by a white couple who don't seem too happy to see black customers. Despite their standoffish behavior, Calvin persists in trying to make a deal and buy the bike for his son.

As the episode progresses, tensions between the Butlers and the shop owners become more apparent. The shop owners are blatant in their prejudices and Calvin becomes more and more frustrated with their behavior. However, despite the tension, Malcolm continues to be fascinated by motorcycles and begs his dad to buy him one.

Meanwhile, in another part of the story, Dave, the Butlers' white next-door neighbor, is trying to get a new fence built between their properties. However, his contractor is unreliable, and the fence is taking much longer to build than anticipated. This begins to cause strain between Dave and Calvin, as Calvin feels that Dave is trying to stiff him on the cost of the fence.

As the two stories intertwine, tensions rise in the neighborhood. The motorcycle shop owners' prejudices towards the Butlers begin to affect other residents in the area, causing a rift in the normally peaceful community. However, in the end, the Butlers and their neighbors come together to overcome these challenges and forge a stronger sense of community.

Throughout the episode, the themes of race relations and community are explored through the lens of the Butlers, their neighbors, and the motorcycle shop owners. The viewer is left with a powerful message about the importance of understanding others, even when we may not agree with them. The episode also highlights the importance of coming together as a community to overcome challenges and build a brighter future.

Overall, "Welcome to the Motorcycle" is a poignant episode of The Neighborhood that continues to deliver thoughtful and engaging stories about race, community, and family.