|
"Commencement" is the fifteenth and final episode of the sixth season of Fresh Off the Boat, and the series finale. It first aired on February 21, 2020.
Synopsis[]
Jessica grapples with her vision of the future; the boys are each realizing what to label as their own goals.
Plot[]
Sometime in the future, Louis and Jessica Huang are at Harvard University where one of their sons are being commended as valedictorian. Back in the present, Eddie presents Emery and Evan with a literal food pyramid made from "all ten food groups," with frozen fish sticks serving as the base. Evan voices his disbelief that Eddie got a 1500 on his SATs while Emery adds that he can't believe he hasn't told their mother yet. Eddie explains that he's withholding his scores to use as a "get-out-of-jail free card," ideally in the event he ends up in jail. Just then, Jessica tells Eddie to clean up the mess he made in the kitchen and Eddie blurts out that he received a 1500 on his SATs.
Jessica and Louis are shocked, and Jessica not only hugs Eddie, but tells him that she would clean up the mess he made in the kitchen, causing Louis, Emery and Evan to gasp. They gasp once again when Jessica announces that she would reconnect the dishwasher. Louis then tells Eddie that he has never seen Jessica this happy before, and Jessica, returning from the kitchen after having connected the dishwasher, tells Eddie that it was time to celebrate. Eddie points out that he cannot as he has school, only for Jessica to inform him that he could skip school, causing Louis, Emery and Evan to gasp once more. As Eddie and Jessica leave the house, Evan announces that he calls first dibs on the dishwasher and runs into the kitchen, followed by Emery and Louis.
Eddie and Jessica hit the mall, where they purchase basketball jerseys before getting their hair done and having a portrait made of them. Returning home, Jessica mentions Eddie going to an Ivy League school as he is now eligible due to his 1500, and tells him that they need to update his life-chart; Jessica adds that while Evan has dibs on being president, they could pull a Kennedy and have Eddie become Evan's attorney-general.
Emery walks into his room, discovering that Evan is penning a memoir, with Evan stating that he wants to write down his life story before things get intense in high school, although Emery points out that high school would be less intense if he kept such things to himself. Evan then tells Emery that his next goal is to become Vice President of their local HOA. At Louis Huang's Cattleman's Ranch Steakhouse, Trent Masterson, Matthew Chestnut, and Eddie discuss the stuffed bear they have when Louis tells Eddie that Jessica has removed the ban on bumper stickers and wants him to place a sticker with his score on the Cattlecar. Eddie then takes Louis aside and reveals that he wants to attend culinary school as he loves food, and while Louis is supportive, the two remark that Jessica would not be. Louis then suggests to Eddie that he cook her a meal, show Jessica his skills, and then the three of them would sit down and discuss his wish to attend culinary school, and Eddie agrees.
Evan is decorating a poster board for his HOA vice presidency when Emery storms into the living room, disclosing that he read Evan's memoir where Evan talked about becoming a mall elf to help his "needy brothers." Emery is angry as he was the one who was the mall elf to help his brothers, and Evan casually states that the details don't matter and that he is just giving the readers the hero that they want. Emery retorts that Evan cannot lie if he wishes to be president as it would be un-American, although Evan responds that calling the first Asian President un-American would be racist before walking away.
Eddie prepares dinner for Jessica, who returns home wearing a sweatshirt proclaiming Eddie's SAT score. Noticing the dinner, she initially believes Eddie made her the food in order to announce that he got his girlfriend pregnant, but Eddie clarifies that he just made the dinner to thank Jessica for everything she's done for him; Jessica then replies that Eddie would make a good husband for the woman of his choosing. Eddie attempts to broach the subject of culinary school, but Jessica reveals that they have received a letter from Harvard, and opening it, screams when she reads that Harvard is sending a representative to their house to interview Eddie. As she leaves to gloat to her sister Connie and redecorate the house, Louis convinces Eddie that there would be no harm in going through with the interview and to do it for Jessica's sake, adding that if culinary school does not pan out, Harvard would not be a bad backup.
Emery and Jenny are playing cards at the Ellis household, and Marvin asks Emery why he is so quiet. Emery explains that Evan is writing a memoir and is stealing stories as well as making them up, although Marvin and Honey attempt to rationalize it by stating that it is harmless and that Evan is most likely having a tough time being in eighth grade. Emery then reveals that Honey and Marvin are in Evan's memoir as well, with Evan having written that Marvin fainted at home when Honey went into labor with Liza, and that it was Evan who appeared and delivered the baby with seconds. An incensed Honey mentions that she was in labor for seventeen hours with a rare diagonal breach and no epidural, and both she and Marvin voice their opposition to Evan's fabricated stories, although Jenny states that that is why Evan would be a good politician.
Eddie gets dressed formally in a suit as the representative from Harvard arrives, being none other than Andy Richter, the co-host of Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Andy clarifies that while he is not a Harvard alum, Conan O'Brien is, and that Conan sends him as a representative in his stead, and prepares to interview Eddie. At the HOA meeting, Evan discusses an upcoming neighborhood block party as Deidre Sanderson brings up elections for the HOA Vice President and asks for nominations. To Evan's surprise, Honey nominates Emery, who claims Evan's hobbies to be his own, telling Evan that he is just giving the people what they want.
During the interview, Andy gets along with Eddie, enjoying his ability to beat-box, but informs Jessica that Eddie is not a good fit for Harvard because of her; Harvard believes that children of 'helicopter moms', or mothers who are too invested in their children, would fizzle out. As he leaves, Louis gives him a spec script of The Simpsons that he wrote and wants Andy to pass on to Conan, who is a writer for the show. Jessica apologizes for being the reason that Eddie won't go to Harvard but attempts to move on to another Ivy League schools, only for Eddie to cut in and notify her that he wishes to attend culinary school. Stunned in silence, Jessica then states that she has now failed him as a mother before walking away.
As the HOA begin to tally the votes, Evan berates Emery for claiming his successes as his own, and Emery remarks that he was proving a point by doing to Evan what Evan did to him. Evan mentions that the HOA vice presidency is not a joke, and Emery reminds Evan how everyone reacted when he shared Evan's stories as his own, and tells Evan that he doesn't need to be anything more than what he is and that he loves him the way he is. Evan briefly smiles, but his smile falters when Deidre announces that Emery is the new HOA vice president, causing Evan to state that this is why the popular vote should be abolished.
At the neighborhood block party, Eddie is hanging out with school friends Walter Stone, Dave Selby and Brian Pew while Trent and Chestnut man the Cattleman's stand. Eddie then walks up to Louis and notices Jessica eating silently by herself, and Louis tells Eddie that he should not have pushed him to do the interview. Eddie takes the blame on his own shoulders, citing that he knew that Jessica would hate his decision to go to culinary school, but that he thought she would be mad, not sad, adding that he broke her. Jamie then announces that it is Jessica's turn to sing karaoke, and as Jessica begins to sing with no enthusiasm, Eddie overhears Deidre and Carol-Joan laughing how they heard Andy Richter had called Jessica a bad mother. Eddie then decides to defend and support his mother and jumps on stage to sing with her, with Eddie's classmates, Principal Hunter, George Bryson as well as Emery and Evan watch on.
Eddie and Jessica finish singing as Honey and Marvin make their way onto the stage for their turn. Jessica tells Eddie that he didn't have to sing with her, and he states that he did, mentioning that she had swooped in to save him in the past. Eddie mentions that Jessica has always been there for him and that she is the best mom ever, while acknowledging that she did push him a lot and that he would most likely need to speak with a professional in the future about how Jessica raised him. Eddie states that despite all of that, he is grateful she raised him the way she did as it taught him to fight for what he wants, with Jessica adding that she taught him to fight dirty if he has to. Eddie tells her that he really wants to go to culinary school, and Jessica replies that all she wants is the best for him. Eddie then claims that he would never quit on his endeavors as he is Jessica Huang's kid, and walks away as Jessica smiles.
After the block party, Jessica is in her bedroom when Louis enters, wanting to talk about Eddie's desire to go to culinary school. Jessica states that they worked hard to get Eddie to where he is now and that she doesn't want him to throw away golden opportunities, although Louis mentions that they moved from Taiwan to the United States so that their kids could pursue their dreams. Jessica and Louis then make their way to Eddie's bedroom, where he is playing a skateboarding game with Tina. Jessica asks Tina if they could speak to Eddie privately, and when Tina leaves, Jessica asks Eddie if he is truly serious about culinary school. When Eddie replies that he is, Jessica gives him his blessing, but tells him that he would have to go to the best culinary school there is. Eddie and Louis are shocked at Jessica's blessing, and Jessica explains that no one would stop her son from getting what he wants, not even her.
Eight years later in 2008, the Huang family are at Harvard University where Evan is graduating as valedictorian. Eddie now owns and runs a successful restaurant, having left Trent in charge for the day so that he could attend Evan's graduation. Emery is also in attendance, famous for starring in cellphone commercials, while Jenny is still alive, drinking throughout the ceremony as Evan gives his valedictorian speech. Listening to the speech, Louis and Jessica remark how they somehow managed to raise three successful children.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Randall Park as Louis Huang
- Constance Wu as Jessica Huang
- Hudson Yang as Eddie Huang
- Forrest Wheeler as Emery Huang
- Ian Chen as Evan Huang
- Lucille Soong as Jenny Huang (credited as Grandma Huang)
- Chelsey Crisp as Honey Ellis
- Ray Wise as Marvin Ellis
Recurring Cast[]
- Matt Oberg as Matthew Chestnut
- Rachel Cannon as Deidre Sanderson
- Alex Quijano as George Bryson (credited as Corporal Bryson)
- Trevor Larcom as Trent Masterson
- Prophet Bolden as Walter Stone
- Evan Hannemann as Dave Selby (credited as Barefoot Dave)
- Dash Williams as Brian Pew
- Isabel Oliver Marcus as Tina Masterson
- David Goldman as Principal Hunter
- Noel Gugliemi as Hector Martinez (credited as Noel G.)
- Stacey Scowley as Carol-Joan
- Zabeth Russell as Jamie
- Colleen Ryan as Amanda
- Kimberly Crandall as Lisa
Guest Cast[]
- Andy Richter as himself
- Anika Contos as Waitress (uncredited)
Trivia[]
- This episode was directed by Randall Park, who portrays Louis Huang.
Errors/Inconsistencies[]
- Louis tells Jessica that they were Eddie's age (16) when they left Taiwan and emigrated to the United States. However, as shown in "Bring the Pain", Louis was much older when he left Taiwan; additionally, Louis and Jessica are seven years apart in age.
Quotes[]
Evan: I still can't believe you got a 1500 on your SAT. Emery: I still can't believe you haven't told Mom yet. Eddie: Boys, think. I'm a high-school junior who doesn't listen well. Emery: Fair. Evan: Cautiously following. Eddie: I'll tell Mom my score when I really need a get-out-of-jail-free card, like, for example, I'm in jail. Jessica: Eddie, clean up the mess you made in the kitchen. Eddie: I got a 1500 on my SATs. Jessica: What?! Louis: Wow. Jessica: Eddie, I can't believe it! I did it. You really got a 1500 on the SAT? Eddie: Yep. A 750 on the verbal and... whatever's left in math. |
Eddie: Well, I better clean my pyramid mess. Jessica: No, no, no. You stay. You deserve to rest. I'll do the dishes. What the heck. Maybe I'll even reconnect the dishwasher. Eddie: Was that a hug? Louis: I've never seen your mother this happy. That includes our wedding day, but definitely not our wedding night. We went for it. Eddie: Gross. I don't trust this. It's like when a stranger offers you candy to get in their van. I mean, you take it – free candy – but it never ends well. Emery: Please tell me you've never gotten in a stranger's van before. Louis: Eddie, your mom doesn't get to experience pure joy often. She refuses to watch Police Academy, doesn't "get dogs", calls Weird Al a hack. Let her have this. Jessica: Eddie, forget the kitchen. We're going out to celebrate! Eddie: Cele-what? Girl, I got school. Jessica: Not today. School can wait. |
Eddie: I don't know about the Ivy League. Jessica: I do! That 1500 changed the game. We need to update your life-chart. Evan has dibs on president, but we can Kennedy this thing, and you could be his attorney general. |
Eddie: So, I've been thinking a lot about college ever since our UCLA trip. Louis: Great trip. Eddie: Great trip, but I don't think I want a regular school. I want to go to culinary school. Louis: Culinary school? Eddie: Like for cooking. Louis: I know what it means... sorta. This is big, Eddie. I know you're working at the restaurant with me, but I didn't realize you were that passionate about this. Eddie: I didn't either, until it dawned on me the thing I always get excited about is food... creating it, cooking it, eating it. I love food, Dad! Louis: I love food, too, son. I love food, too. |
Emery: You said you worked as a mall elf to "help my needy brothers"? I worked as a mall elf to help you! Evan: Uh, time out. You read my memoir? Please tell me you wore the document gloves sitting next to it. Emery: You stole my story. You lied! Evan: I'm just giving readers what they want – a hero. Who cares about the details? Emery: I do. You can't be president if you lie. It's un-American. Evan: Calling the first Asian President un-American? Pretty racist. |
Jessica: What's all this? Eddie: Oh, I made dinner for you. Jessica: Why? Oh, you put a baby in that redhead, didn't you? Louis: Jessica! Eddie: Whoa! No. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me. Jessica: Aww! You got a 1500 and you cook. You are going to make some woman I choose a great husband. |
Honey: I had a 17-hour labor with a rare diagonal breach, no epidural, and that nerd is trying to take it away from me? Emery: I warned Evan, but he didn't listen. He's stubborn. Jenny: That's why he'll be a good politician. He only cares about the votes. |
Jessica: I drive my boys to be the best. Jessica don't raise mediocre. |
Jessica: Eddie, you didn't need to do that. Eddie: Yes, I did. Think about all the times you've swooped in to save me. You've always been there for me. You're the best mom ever. Jessica: I'm not terrible? Eddie: Sure, you pushed me... a lot. Like, I'm probably gonna have to go talk it through with a professional at some point, but I'm glad you did, because it taught me to fight for what I want. Jessica: Dirty if you have to. Eddie: I know it's not what you planned, but I want to go to culinary school. Jessica: And I just want what's best for you. That's all I ever wanted. Eddie: I know, but I'm not gonna quit. I'm never gonna quit, because I'm Jessica Huang's kid. |
Louis: Look, about Eddie. I know we always wanted him to go to college, but he has his own dreams. Jessica: Louis, we worked so hard to get him here. He has a golden opportunity. I don't want him to throw it all away. Louis: Well, you know, we were his age when we left Taiwan, and isn't this why, so our kids could pursue their own dreams? |
Jessica: So, are you still into this whole cooking-school thing? Eddie: Yeah. Jessica: Okay, fine. You can go. Eddie: Really?! Louis: That's it? Jessica: No one's going to stop my son from getting what he wants, not even me. |
Gallery[]
.jpg "Louis, Jessica, Emery & Eddie (2008).jpg (4.42 MB)")
Episodes
|
|---|
| Fresh Off the Boat – Season One | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Episode 1 "Pilot" |
Episode 2 "Home Sweet Home-School" |
Episode 3 "The Shunning" |
Episode 4 "Success Perm" |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 5 "Persistent Romeo" |
Episode 6 "Fajita Man" |
Episode 7 "Showdown at the Golden Saddle" |
Episode 8 "Phillip Goldstein" |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 9 "License to Sell" |
Episode 10 "Blind Spot" |
Episode 11 "Very Superstitious" |
Episode 12 "Dribbling Tiger, Bounce Pass Dragon" |
| |||
| Episode 13 So Chineez | |||
| Fresh Off the Boat – Season Two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Episode 1 "Family Business Trip" |
Episode 2 "Boy II Man" |
Episode 3 "Shaquille O'Neal Motors" |
Episode 4 "The Fall Ball" |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 5 "Miracle on Dead Street" |
Episode 6 "Good Morning Orlando" |
Episode 7 "The Big 1-2" |
Episode 8 "Huangsgiving" |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 9 "We Done Son" |
Episode 10 "The Real Santa" |
Episode 11 "Year of the Rat" |
Episode 12 "Love and Loopholes" |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 13 "Phil's Phaves" |
Episode 14 "Michael Chang Fever" |
Episode 15 "Keep 'Em Separated" |
Epsiode 16 "Tight Two" |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 17 "Doing It Right" |
Episode 18 "Week in Review" |
Episode 19 "Jessica Place" |
Episode 20 "Hi, My Name Is..." |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 21 "Rent Day" |
Episode 22 "Gotta Be Me" |
Episode 23 "The Manchurian Dinner Date" |
Episode 24 "Bring the Pain" |
| Fresh Off the Boat – Season Three | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Episode 1 "Coming from America" |
Episode 2 "Breaking Chains" |
Episode 3 "Louisween" |
Episode 4 "Citizen Jessica" |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 5 "No Thanks-giving" |
Episode 6 "WWJD: What Would Jessica Do?" |
Episode 7 "The Taming of the Dads" |
Episode 8 "Where are the Giggles?" |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 9 "How to Be an American" |
Episode 10 "The Best of Orlando" |
Episode 11 "Clean Slate" |
Episode 12 "Sisters Without Subtext" |
|
|
|
|
| Episode 13 "Neighbors with Attitude" |
Episode 14 "The Gloves Are Off" |
Episode 15 "Living While Eddie" |
Episode 16 "Gabby Goose" |
|
 ]
|
|
|
| Episode 17 "The Flush" |
Episode 18 "Time to Get Ill" |
Episode 19 "Driving Miss Jenny" |
Episode 20 "The Masters" |
|
|
| |
| Episode 21 "Pie vs. Cake" |
Episode 22 "This Is Us" |
Episode 23 "This Isn't Us" | |
| Fresh Off the Boat – Season Four | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 "B as in Best Friends" |
Episode 2 "First Day" |
Episode 3 "Kids" |
Episode 4 "It's a Plastic Pumpkin, Louis Huang" |
| Episode 5 "Four Funerals and a Wedding" |
Episode 6 "A League of Her Own" |
Episode 7 "The Day After Thanksgiving" |
Episode 8 "The Vouch" |
| Episode 9 "Slide Effect" |
Episode 10 "Do You Hear What I Hear?" |
Episode 11 "Big Baby" |
Episode 12 "Liar Liar" |
| Episode 13 "The Car Wash" |
Episode 14 "A Man to Share the Night With" |
Episode 15 "We Need to Talk About Evan" |
Episode 16 "Ride the Tiger" |
| Episode 17 "Let Me Go, Bro" |
Episode 18 "Measure Twice, Cut Once" |
Episode 19 "King in the North" | |
| Fresh Off the Boat – Season Five | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 "Fresh Off the RV" |
Episode 2 "The Hand That Sits the Cradle" |
Episode 3 "Working the 'Ween" |
Episode 4 "Driver's Eddie" |
| Episode 5 "Mo' Chinese Mo' Problems" |
Episode 6 "Sub Standard" |
Episode 7 "Where Have All the Cattlemen Gone?" |
Episode 8 "Cousin Eddie" |
| Episode 9 "Just the Two of Us" |
Episode 10 "You've Got a Girlfriend" |
Episode 11 "Driver's Eddie 2: Orlando Drift" |
Episode 12 "Legends of the Fortieth" |
| Episode 13 "Grand-Mahjong" |
Episode 14 "Cupid's Crossbow" |
Episode 15 "Be a Man" |
Episode 16 "Trentina" |
| Episode 17 "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" |
Episode 18 "Rancho Contento" |
Episode 19 "Vice Mommy" |
Episode 20 "Nerd Watching" |
| Episode 21 "Under the Taipei Sun" |
Episode 22 "No Apology Necessary" | ||
| Fresh Off the Boat – Season Six | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 "Help Unwanted?" |
Episode 2 "College" |
Episode 3 "Grandma's Boys" |
Episode 4 "S'Mothered" |
| Episode 5 "Hal-Lou-Ween" |
Episode 6 "Chestnut Gardens" |
Episode 7 "Practicum?!" |
Episode 8 "TMI: Too Much Integrity" |
| Episode 9 "Lou Wants to Be a Millionaire" |
Episode 10 "Jessica Town" |
Episode 11 "A Seat at the Table" |
Episode 12 "The Magic Motor Inn" |
| Episode 13 "Mommy and Me" |
Episode 14 "Family Van" |
Episode 15 "Commencement" | |