Lessons we learned from The Neighborhood Thanksgiving episode

Dave’s mother Paula joined the Butlers and Johnsons for Thanksgiving. With her arrival, here are three themes from season 1, episode 8 of The Neighborhood.

The Neighborhood celebrated Thanksgiving. The Johnsons and Butlers celebrated Thanksgiving together, and Dave’s mother Paula (Marilu Henner) joined them. Here are three themes we learned from season 1, episode 8. Perhaps we can use these themes in our own Thanksgiving.

Respect your elders

Dave’s mother Paula is a talkative politically incorrect woman. She regularly embarrasses Dave (Max Greenfield), such as when she mocked how Grover’s school is teaching empathy. She pointed out Grover (Hank Greenspan) doesn’t know what the state capitol of Michigan is.

She didn’t make a good first impression for the Butlers. Just when they arrived to the Johnson house for Thanksgiving dinner, she blurted out she knows how to behave around blacks.

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At various times, she unintentionally insulted Marty (Marcel) and Calvin (Cedric the Entertainer). While her intentions were good, her words were misguided.

As she and Calvin bickered, Dave lost his temper. He finally yelled for her to shut up. Frustrated, he shared with his mother his feelings about their relationship. Like mother like son, his intentions were good, but his word choice was poor.

Hurt, Paula went inside. To Dave’s surprise, Calvin chastised him for his actions. Yes, Paula said offensive things, but she was honest. To her credit, she doesn’t know any better. Calvin noted she probably won’t change, either.

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Calvin reminded Dave to be grateful to spend time with his mother. Although she sadly remarked about the distance between Kalamazoo and California, she traveled to spend Thanksgiving with her son.

Paula is Dave’s mother. Respect your elders, especially your parents. You can politely disagree with them, but remember your place in those moments. Grover learned to respect his elders while he spent the night at the Butlers. Calvin reminded Dave to respect his mother. Ultimately, Dave apologized to his mother.

Don’t rush to judge

Too often, we rush to judge people. The Neighborhood featured several judgments, nearly all incorrect.

After the Butlers arrived for Thanksgiving dinner, Paula asked Marty what he does for a living. He told her he works as an engineer, and she then assumed he worked at a rap radio station.

He corrected her, and he bragged he attended USC on a full scholarship. She immediately believed his scholarship was for athletics. Her reasoning was that all the athletes she sees on TV are black. Not only is that judgmental, that comment is highly stereotypical. He told her no, his scholarship was an academic one.

Calvin pointed out she was wrong. She then asked Malcolm (Sheaun McKinney) if he too attended college on an academic scholarship. Ironically, he attended college on a baseball scholarship.

Calvin stated Paula’s presumptions are stereotypes. She claimed stereotypes are rooted in facts. Both are right, but judging people without knowing them isn’t wise or nice.

Our presumptions about a group of people isn’t solely a race issue though. Our opinions about people are formed by where we grew up, what we learned in society, what our families taught us, and much more. Still, when you’re at dinner with people you’ve just met, don’t immediately assume things about them.

Familial love

Familial love was on full display in The Neighborhood. The Butlers agree to spend Thanksgiving with the Johnsons because Tina (Tichina Arnold) doesn’t want to cook. Calvin isn’t a fan of spending Thanksgiving with the Johnsons, but he begrudingly agrees because he loves his wife.

His sons Marty and Malcolm regale over the fact Calvin will struggle when he talks to Paula. Calvin says he loves Tina. The sibling camaraderie between those two was quite funny in this episode.

When Paula first inappropriately commented about the Butlers, Calvin remained quiet. Malcolm and Marty were shocked, but through gritted teeth, Calvin reiterated he loves their mother.

After learning about the two Butler sons, Paula commended Calvin on his truck. Although they aren’t family, Thanksgiving is a time where people spend time with their families. They both share a love of cars. Finally, someone from the Johnson family likes cars! That is appropriate for someone from Michigan.

Although they argued, Dave and his mother love each other. Dave is glad to spend Thanksgiving with his mother. Grover is overjoyed his grandma stayed for Thanksgiving. Gemma is happy that Dave and Paula patched up their differences.

Finally, the neighborhood ate Thanksgiving dinner. Calvin toasted to the newfound friendship between the two families. He also shared advice on how the two families, including Paula, can get along.

Although when she wanted to add to Calvin’s toast, everyone advised her to be quiet. They didn’t want to be rude to her, but they wanted to prevent her from saying something offensive. Only loved ones can successfully quiet someone.

A goal of The Neighborhood is to showcase the people’s differences either by race, geographic location, etc. through comedy. At times, those moments are awkward. Tension is always an uncomfortable feeling. Credit The Neighborhood for easing that tension with laughter as the characters work to resolve their differences.

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