The Goldbergs season 5, episode 22 recap: Let’s Val Kilmer This Car

This week on The Goldbergs, Barry tries to win the senior prank war because he wants to get out of prom after Lainey rejects him. Erica finally tells Murray about her final decision to drop out of college and she isn’t prepared for her dad’s reaction.

It was 1980-something and school pranks were considered an art form. Barry immediately wants to get into the fun by winning the senior prank war. He also has his mind set on winning Lainey back after she moves home following her dropout decision. When things don’t go as Barry hoped, his decisions regarding his prank have a ripple effect through the entire school.

The episode of The Goldbergs, appropriately titled, “Let’s Val Kilmer This Car” also deals with the aftermath of Erica’s final decision to drop out. Not only does she have to reveal to her dad that she is moving back home, she has to figure out a plan to become a successful musician. She learns a valuable life lesson with the consequences of her decision.

Barry, the real genius

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Barry loves pranks and since he considers his senior year a bust, he wants to win the senior prank war. To prepare for prank week, Adam tries to show him inspiration through the Val Kilmer movie, Real Genius which show’s Kilmer’s character take apart a car and reassemble it in a small room as a prank. The movie doesn’t spark any creative ideas in Barry. Instead he uses his mother’s sewing skills and sews khaki leg pants onto Coach Mellor’s shorts. The prank falls flat so its back to the drawing board.

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Barry learns that Lainey is back in town so he tries to get her back by asking her to prom. Lainey’s dad is still a little upset that his daughter dropped out of college so seeing Barry doesn’t help matters. It’s a really complicated time for her and she rejects his offer. There is just too much chaos going on so Lainey’s dad makes Barry leave.

Starving artist

Beverly is so excited that Erica is back living at home but she knows she must butter up her husband due to the news. When he finds out that Erica is back for good, he tells her that she needs to pay rent to live there. Erica seems shocked by the reaction and feels like she should be able to live there like normal. Even more complicated is the fact that Valley Erica is also secretely staying in Erica’s room.

Erica realizes how serious her new situation is when she asks Pops for some of his cookies but Murray tells her she needs to pay for them. Out of desperation, she takes to the newspaper looking for a job. Beverly can’t witness her daughter struggle like this without intervening so she goes to the school and bribes the principal to hire Erica’s band to play at the prom. So basically Erica and the band would be paid with the money from her own mother.

Backfiring decisions

Barry refuses to go to prom without a date. He comes up with the idea that if he plays another prank, he would get out of going to the dance since the principle warned the next prankster would be banned from attending. Barry asks Adam for help and the two target the principle’s Suzuki Samurai. Unfortunatley Barry doesn’t “Val Kilmer” the car, instead he takes pieces apart and leaves it partly dimantled in the parking lot.

The principle offers Erica the paid gig and she gets a major confidence boost since the opportunity came to her without doing any work. Murray knows that Beverly set it up but they now worry that it sends the wrong idea to Erica. She now thinks life after dropping out is so easy.

Since the cops are involved Barry doesn’t take credit and the entire prom is now canceled. He goes to see Lainey and explain what happened but she it too excited that things have started turning around since news of the band’s new gig. Then Barry breaks the news that his prank resulted in the cancellation of prom. Meanwhile, Beverly tells Erica about the prom situation and the truth about the setup. Erica doesn’t seem too concerned and Beverly knows its time to put her foot down to persuade her daughter to get a job while she figures out her future.

Growing up is scary

To save prom, Barry confesses to “Val Kilmer”-ing the car. Considering the prank caused the principle in getting a new Pontiac Fiero from the insurance money, he doesn’t seem mad. The prom will go on as planned but Barry still is allowed to attend. Adam tells the girls that Barry took the fall, mainly because he wanted to fix the mess he caused for Lainey, and probably his sister.

Erica tells her parents that she has plans to get a real job and pay for rent. She also thanks them for all their love and support and they reassure her that home will always be a safe place for her. Erica and the band successfully play at prom while Beverly and Murray watch on in admiration. They agree that changes are coming and growing up can be scary no matter what age.

Lainey finds Barry outside and asks him for one dance before going back on stage. He once again tells her that he has plans to marry her. After she realizes everything that Barry has done for her, she agress to marry him. They might or might be engaged but after the pair rush into prom announcing their engagement excitement, the moment of shock quickly escapes Beverly and Murray because it’s “tomorrow’s problem.”

Next: The Goldbergs season 5, episode 21 recap: Spaceballs

And with that, season five of The Goldbergs closes out. But not before we see the successful attempt of “Val Kilmer”-ing the principle’s new car.

The series will return next fall with the premiere of season six!