The Neighborhood season 1, episode 3 recap: The spare key

Belonging to the neighborhood apparently means Dave gives Calvin a key to his house. Will Calvin reciprocate the gesture? And what does a spare key mean?

The third episode of The Neighborhood continues to ask what kind of relationship people desire from their neighbors. Dave Johnson (Max Greenfield) seeks instant friendship. On the other hand, Calvin Butler (Cedric the Entertainer) needs to trust someone before he is friends with them.

Both Dave and Calvin are looking through their windows for each other, for opposite reasons. Dave wants to give Calvin a spare key to the Johnson house. Calvin wants to pick up his morning newspaper, and avoid Calvin and his ridiculously low shorts.

Dave wins out, giving Calvin the spare key, but Calvin does not reciprocate. Can’t Dave take a hint? If you offered me your spare key, when I’m wearing a robe and picking up my newspaper in the morning, can’t I say thank you and go about my business?

Evidently, Dave is not okay with that idea. As a result, he refuses to take his son Grover (Hank Greenspan) to the park. His wife Gemma (Beth Behrs) tells him to find something in common with Calvin rather than force the issue.

He apparently rushes into things far too quickly, including proposing on their third date. Dave bemoans the fact Calvin does not have a favorite lake. I do, but I don’t know my neighbors.

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Meanwhile, Calvin and his son Malcom (Sheaun McKinney) work on their truck. Dave starts talking to them about the truck, appearing to fit in. Yet he tries too hard when he says he’s Dave from the D. Unfortunately, Grover reveals Dave googled Calvin’s truck. Fed up, Calvin finally hands Dave a key. Dave thinks it is to the Butler house, but Calvin privately tells Malcolm it is to a storage locker.

Calvin’s wife Tina (Tichina Arnold) celebrates the news of Dave receiving what she thinks is a spare key with a romantic night with her husband.

The next morning, Malcolm is the whistle-blower; it’s not the spare key! Tina therefore locks Calvin out of the house after he picked up his newspaper. The truth comes out once she calls Dave. He of course arrives with the key, only to learn it’s not a key to the Butler house.

Dave is so upset that he makes mac and cheese with chocolate milk, yuck! Gemma finally tells him he gave the spare key to Calvin because he wanted one in return, signifying their friendship. Simultaneously, Tina tells Calvin he is a good man. Although Dave is quirky, he is friendly. They both need to discuss their differences for any hope of friendship.

They talk, finally stating how they feel about people. Dave is an eternal optimist, and when he did not receive a key to the Butler house, it crushed him. Calvin generally distrusts people, so friendship does not come easy to him. Frankly, both could use a reality check.

Dave should back off. They’re both grown men. They are not in elementary school where you meet someone and become best friends in mere minutes. Forcing it will only make it more awkward.

Calvin could reciprocate some of the time. He may not have a favorite lake, but he could ask Dave questions about Detroit. Common ground is what these two lack, and neither is any good at finding any. Dave does not accept the spare key, but he and Calvin perform a trust fall. Calvin enjoys it far too much once he falls, to the chagrin of Dave’s back.

To settle this whole issue about keys, Tina hands Gemma a key to the Butler house. They both remark men can be so stupid. In the case of their husbands, yes!

Do you consider your neighbors your friends? To a certain degree, neighbors are like family. You really don’t get to pick them. Ask Calvin. The Johnsons simply moved in next door! To clear the air about keys, yes, I have a spare key to my neighbor’s house, and vise versa. How often do I spend time with them though? Not as often as on The Neighborhood.

The Neighborhood dealt with something familiar to everyone, friendship. So who are you? Dave, who makes friends fast? Or Calvin, who takes time to forge friendships? Any advice for these two?

The Neighborhood airs Mondays at 8/7c on CBS.