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"Grandma's Boys" is the third episode of the sixth season of Fresh Off the Boat. It first aired on October 11, 2019.
Synopsis[]
After seeing Marvin enter retirement, Grandma Huang decides it's her turn to retire from something; when Louis fails to celebrate her as she wanted, it will take a visit from Hurricane Gene -- and maybe a hot tub -- to make things right.
Plot[]
The Huangs attend Marvin's retirement party
Marvin Ellis has decided to retire from dentistry and is given a retirement party at Louis Huang's Cattleman's Ranch Steakhouse, with his friend from the Navy, Clyde Roses, in attendance. Clyde owns a scrapyard and gives his business card to Eddie, who wishes to purchase a spoiler for the Cattleman's station wagon. Honey gifts Marvin with a flagpole he wanted, which prompts Jenny to state that she too is now retiring, much to the confusion of her family, with Louis wondering what she would be retiring from.
The next day at breakfast, Jenny gives Louis a list of gifts she wants for retiring, stating that any one of them would do. Louis asks if her if she wants a party, although she merely replies that all the answers he seeks are on the list. Louis then reads the list of desired gifts, including a trip to Jamaica, a drum kit, or a hot tub. Louis believes that what his mother really wants is a party, but is too proud to ask him for one and expects him to dismiss the gift list, while Jessica declares that Jenny most likely is "retiring" just because she wants a gift. Regardless, Louis decides to go ahead and throw his mother a retirement party.
Evan during his dental procedure
Eddie and Emery retreat to Emery's bedroom, where they playfully slap the other's hands for fun. Evan enters the room and notifies his brothers that, while at Marvin's retirement party, he overheard Marvin gossiping about his patients and revealing their secrets. Evan reveals that a month ago, while undergoing a dental procedure, he admitted something to Marvin and his assistant Queenie, and that while he cannot remember what it is he told them, Marvin did say he would keep his mouth shut due to Dentist-Patient confidentiality. However, with Marvin having retired, the confidentiality agreement no longer exists. Eddie attempts to dismiss Evan's worries, citing that none of Evan's secrets are major, until Evan reveals that the dental procedure happened the day after the boys had met "Reggie", prompting Eddie and Emery to become fearful.
Jenny's retirement party
At Jenny's retirement party, Eddie, Emery and Evan overhearing Marvin mentioning Carol-Joan's lip injections out loud, and they realize he really will spill their secret. Louis thanks everyone for attending his mother's retirement party, and Jessica sings "Simply the Best" while Trent Masterson plays the piano. However, Jenny asks Louis if this is all, and demands to have her gift. When Louis replies that the party was the gift, Jenny replies that he should've just bought her a hot tub. Louis responds that a hot tub is impractical, citing that it was a big responsibility and asks who would maintain it and pay its utilities bill, but Jenny, still wanting a hot tub, wheels herself away.
The boys discuss their dilemma
The Huangs return home, with Louis and Jessica retreating to their bedroom while the three boys sit around the kitchen table. The "Reggie secret" they wish to hide from their parents is that they had taken a trip across state lines without permission to visit Reginal VelJohnson, and read his memoir at the Georgia Tech Student Union. Eddie believes that since Evan was the one who informed Marvin, he should be the one who informs their parents and takes sole responsibility, with Evan countering that he would not do so since they weren't certain whether he told Marvin about the trip or not. Eddie then decides that they need to get leverage on Marvin by finding out a secret of his own, and that their best chance to do so would be by paying Clyde Roses a visit.
Jessica tells Louis about perspective
In the master bedroom, Louis is complaining about his mother's actions and how ungrateful she is for everything he does for her. Jessica notifies him that mother-son relationships can be complicated, and gives him an example: recently, Evan disappointed her by leaving brand new milk out to spoil, but just then, Eddie had come in asking if they insurance after hitting a mailbox and a tree. She tells Louis that perspective is vital; compared to perfection, Evan had messed up, but compared to Eddie, she sees Evan as a saint. As his mother also has two sons, Louis declares that his younger brother Gene is the "Eddie" and decides to invite him so that when he messes up, Jenny will realize how much better Louis is in comparison.
Gene is invited by Louis to visit
Louis invites Gene over, but finds him to be a completely different person. Gene divulges that he fell into the lion's pit at the Singapore Zoo, and as a lioness was clawing his chest, it made him realize that life, with every moment on Earth, should be treasured. Jenny then asks Gene if he brought her a gift, but when he replies that his hug is a hug of gratitude, she storms off angrily, claiming that no one knows how to give gifts anymore. Louis and Jessica explain to a confused Gene that while he is away every ten years or so, it is Louis who takes care of Jenny and puts up with her. Gene then offers his assistance, and decides to help Jenny with her tasks for the day and relieve Louis of the burden.
Gene buys a hot tub for Jenny
At Clyde's scrapyard, Eddie, Emery and Evan attempt to pry secrets out of Clyde by asking about stories. Clyde initially attempts to talk about them, but cannot bring himself to tell the stories as they involve women and he deems the boys too young to hear about it. Eventually, Clyde tells them that Marvin is like his brother and that he would not disclose his secrets. Back at the Huang house, Gene returns after running errands with Jenny, and much to Louis' surprise, Gene enjoyed doing so. Jenny then tells Louis that spending time with Gene made her appreciate all the hard work Louis does for her, which makes Louis happy. Gene then adds that he spoke to Jenny after realizing that there was tension between her and Louis and got her to value Louis. However, just then, Jenny begins to fire up the hot tub which Gene had installed in the garage. This infuriates Louis, who believes that Gene simply bought his mother off, and he storms away.
Eddie, Emery and Evan decide to pay a visit to Queenie, Marvin's assistant, to find out what Evan said under the effects of the gas. She reveals that Evan did not reveal any secrets and only said things in a funny manner, but reveals that Eddie, who had a similar dental procedure done shortly after Evan, did in fact reveal that he and his brothers took a drive to Georgia to see Reginald VelJohnson.
Jessica and Gene in the hot tub
Meanwhile, Louis fetches Trent and brings him to the garage to dismantle the hot tub, only to find out that Jessica is in there relaxing with Gene and Jenny. Louis asks how she could do so, and Jessica replies that Louis' concern with the hot tub was who would pay the utilities, but because Jenny had agreed to pay it herself, she found no issue in using the hot tub herself. Louis scoffs at the idea of his mother making payments, and Gene chimes in that if their mother could not pay for the hot tub, he would; this angers Louis, who states that Gene would be gone by then and that the one thing that would never change was Gene being a screw-up. Insulted, Gene replies that he has changed and is no longer a screw-up and refers to Louis as a martyr; as he exits the hot tub, mentions that he has emotional scars from being Louis' brother. Trent then wonders if they would be dismantling the hot tub after all, adding that he would get into the tub as well but would refrain from doing so as he was a redhead, likening the scenario to a lobster being in a boiling pot.
Jessica speaks with Louis
Jessica exits the tub to have a talk with Louis in the kitchen, where she states that Gene was right and that Louis is indeed a martyr. She explains to a befuddled Louis that Louis cannot handle change, reminding him that when Emery quit volleyball, Louis had stalked him, and that he had pressured Eddie when he was learning how to drive, and that he hit Brian Pew on his scooter as a result. Additionally, Louis' issues of Gene being problematic, Jenny not appreciating him and the financial costs of the hot tub had all been resolved, and yet Louis still had problems. Jessica, using a metaphor of Marvin's flagpole, likens Louis to being the sturdy pole that never changes while everyone else is the flag, swaying with the wind, and adds that while people salute the flag, no one does so for the pole and that he might consider being the flag for a change.
The boys implore Marvin to keep their secret
Eddie, Emery and Evan head to Marvin's house and ask him not to reveal their secret trip across state lines to Georgia, but he admits that he is a chatterbox and cannot keep secrets. This confuses Evan, who reminds him that he served in the US Navy and should be able to keep secrets, although Marvin rationalizes that Navy men can keep secrets on the ocean but not on land. Hanging their heads in defeat, the three boys prepare to leave, and Evan tells Marvin that Queenie sends her regards.
Marvin interprets this as a threat and asks them if they've spoken to Queenie about his secrets and if Queenie has told them about "Angela." The Huang boys reply that Queenie did not tell them, but interpret "Angela" as being a woman that Marvin is cheating on Honey with. Marvin then explains that Angela is the name of a boat he secretly bought that Honey disapproved of, and explains the boat he had just "bought" for his retirement was the same boat that he had simply given a wax job. The Huang boys then broker a deal with Marvin in which they'd keep each others' secrets, and Marvin agrees.
Louis and Gene make amends
Louis has the hot tub removed from the garage and installs it in his living room, inviting Gene to enter with him, citing that they had their best brother-to-brother talks in hot water, hearkening back to their time in Taiwan's hot springs with their father. There, the two brothers make peace and Gene admits that their family and "Hurricane Gene" did not make it easy on him. Louis adds that Gene's wife, Margaret, must be loving the new and improved Gene, although Gene admits that she left him two years ago, and that he was embarrassed to divulge the fact to his mother or his brother.
The Huangs perform in the hot tub
Gene adds that her leaving him is what prompted him to change his outlook on life, but clarifies that he still fell into a lion pit and was clawed up as a result. As the two brothers hug, Gene decides to ask what exactly Jenny is retiring from, and Louis replies that he has no idea. Later that night, the Huang family, minus Gene, don their bathing suits and use the hot tub, now installed in Jenny's room, to perform a silent synchronized dance while Jenny sleeps, being careful not to wake her up.
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[]
Guest Cast[]
- Keith David as Clyde Roses
- Maria Blasucci as Queenie
- Ken Jeong as Gene Huang
Quotes[]
Marvin: That's my best Navy buddy, Clyde Roses. He followed me out to the Rust Belt. We worked the line at the GM plant together. Clyde: And if anybody needs auto parts, I have a scrapyard in Pine Hills. Eddie: You got a spoiler for a station wagon? Clyde: Spoiler alert... I do. |
Jenny: I have made a list of my preferred retirement gifts. Any one will do. Louis: Just a gift? No party? Jenny: The answers you seek are on the list. Louis: Drum kit? Hot tub? Trip to Jamaica for one? Eddie: She wouldn't like Jamaica. The post-colonial poverty would bum her out. Emery: Kid gets one Bob Marley CD... |
Louis: She deserves to be celebrated. Can someone agree with me? Eddie: Sure. Emery: Yep. Evan: What a woman. Jessica: No. |
Evan: I know I seemed to be my usual fun self at breakfast, but underneath that mirth, I'm full of fear. |
Eddie: I still can't believe you told Marvin about Reggie. Evan: Hey, lay off! I didn't even want anything to do with "Reggie." It was your guys' idea, and you pressured me to go. Eddie: Really? So, you didn't want to cut piano class, drive across state lines to meet Reginald VelJohnson, AKA Carl Winslow, read his memoir at the Georgia Tech Student Union? Please! Emery: Guys, it doesn't matter who's to blame. We're all guilty. Eddie: Well, Evan ratted on us, so he should take the heat and tell Mom and Dad he did it by himself. Evan: Whoa, whoa! That's crazy! We don't even know if I told him anything. Emery: Why don't we just ask Marvin if he knows? Evan: Dummy, if he didn't know, we'd be telling him our secret by asking. Public schools are failing our children. |
Gene: What's wrong with our mother? Louis: Well, you may not realize this, because you visit once every 10 years, but our aging mother can be difficult. |
Louis: I'm pretty emotional on the inside right now, but I don't want to cry in front of you. Jessica: Don't. Bottle it up and save it for the shower. Gene: Wasn't that amazing? Louis: Um, what are you talking about? Gene: When I arrived, I sensed there was tension between you and Mom. You glowed with resentment. So I talked to her about it, and I got her to empathize with the burden you feel. Louis: You're saying you somehow got our mother to feel empathy for me? Jessica: The woman who thinks Lex Luthor is the hero of Superman? Gene: I did. Louis: Well, I don't know what to say. I appreciate you doing that. Gene: Look, I couldn't have fallen in that lion pit and changed my life if you weren't here taking care of Mom, so it was... It was the least I could do. |
Eddie: This is a secret, but I love Garth Brooks. And Shania impresses me very much. Oh, and me and my brothers drove to Georgia to meet Reginald VelJohnson. |
Jessica: Gene was right. You're a martyr. Louis: What are you talking about? Jessica: You got everything you wanted. A helpful Gene, a respectful Grandma, even a new hot tub. Yet you're still acting like it's some kind of a burden. "I'm Louis. Woe is me. Poor me. I married totally out of my league." Louis: I guess I got so used to fixing my family's problems that I didn't believe that they could change. Jessica: Well, of course not. You're terrible with change. Louis: What do you mean? Jessica: When Emery tried to quit volleyball, you stalked him. When Eddie had to learn how to drive, you pushed him so hard that he ran over a child on a scooter. When Gene arrived and your role with Grandma changed, here we are. I could go on. Louis: No, no, I get it. It's hard for me. Jessica: You see Marvin's stupid new flagpole in his yard? That's you. The steady pole in the ground. Everyone else around you is like the flag, changing direction as the wind shifts. But not you. You're keeping everything in place. But the pole gets no attention. We salute the flag but not the pole. It might help you out every once in a while if you were the flag. Louis: I think you're right. And beautiful metaphor. Jessica: Thank you. You know, I hated that stupid flagpole, but suddenly, it's useful to me. Marvin's gonna blow when Grandma tries to dry her panties on that thing. |
Marvin: I'm sorry, guys. I just don't trust myself to keep that secret. Evan: Please, Uncle Marvin? Marvin: No way, José Canseco. I've spent the last 40 years talking to patients all day long, and now I've got no outlet. And I'm a chatterbox. I mean, the minute I run into somebody, I start chattering... Like a box. Evan: But you're a Navy man. Shouldn't you be able to control yourself? Marvin: Hey, us Navy guys are in control on the ocean. But we're on land, little buddies. All bets are off. Sea legs, land lips. |
Gallery[]
.png "Emery, Evan, Louis & Jessica (6x3).png (1.95 MB)")
.png "Jenny Huang (6x3).png (1.33 MB)")
.png "Eddie, Emery & Evan (6x3).png (1.32 MB)")
.png "Evan & Jessica (6x3).png (1.52 MB)")
.png "Jenny (6x3).png (1.41 MB)")
.png "Louis (6x3).png (1.45 MB)")
.png "Eddie & Emery (Grandma's Boys).png (1.68 MB)")
.png "Jessica (6x3).png (1.3 MB)")
.png "Evan (S6E3).png (1.19 MB)")
.png "Evan (Grandma's Boys).png (1.03 MB)")
.png "Evan Huang (S6E3).png (1.1 MB)")
.png "Eddie & Emery (6x3).png (1.67 MB)")
.png "Eddie Huang (S6E3).png (1.5 MB)")
.png "Emery Huang (S6E3).png (1.02 MB)")
.png "Honey & Marvin (6x3).png (1.51 MB)")
.png "Carol-Joan (6x3).png (1.43 MB)")
.png "Emery, Eddie & Evan (S6E3).png (1.38 MB)")
.png "Trent Masterson (6x3).png (1.16 MB)")
.png "Louis & Jenny (6x3).png (1.53 MB)")
.png "Grandma Jenny (6x3).png (1.25 MB)")
.png "Jessica (S6E3).png (1.08 MB)")
.png "Trent (6x3).png (1.31 MB)")
.png "Evan (6x3).png (1.11 MB)")
.png "Eddie (6x3).png (1.14 MB)")
.png "Evan Huang (6x3).png (1.1 MB)")
.png "Emery (6x3).png (1.03 MB)")
.png "Jessica Huang (6x3).png (1.32 MB)")
.png "Jessica & Evan (6x3).png (1.4 MB)")
.png "Louis Huang (6x3).png (841 KB)")
.png "Gene Huang (6x3).png (1.77 MB)")
.png "Gene (S6E3).png (1.4 MB)")
.png "Gene Huang (S6E3).png (1.2 MB)")
.png "Gene (Grandma's Boys).png (1.09 MB)")
.jpg "Gene Huang (6x3).jpg (1.32 MB)")
.png "Evan & Eddie (6x3).png (1.54 MB)")
.png "Emery & Eddie (6x3).png (1.42 MB)")
.png "Emery Huang (6x3).png (1.09 MB)")
.png "Jessica & Louis (6x3).png (1.51 MB)")
.jpg "Louis & Jessica (6x3).jpg (1.08 MB)")
.png "Gene Huang (Grandma's Boys).png (1.21 MB)")
.jpg "Jenny Huang (6x3).jpg (1.14 MB)")
.jpg "Jenny (6x3).jpg (1.57 MB)")
.jpg "Louis (6x3).jpg (1.03 MB)")
.jpg "Jessica & Louis (6x3).jpg (1.25 MB)")
.jpg "Louis Huang (6x3).jpg (1.42 MB)")
.jpg "Grandma Huang (6x3).jpg (1.08 MB)")
.jpg "Jessica (6x3).jpg (1.15 MB)")
.png "Eddie & Evan (6x3).png (1.66 MB)")
.png "Eddie Huang (6x3).png (1.17 MB)")
.png "Emery, Eddie & Evan (6x3).png (1.71 MB)")
.png "Trent & Louis (6x3).png (1.28 MB)")
.png "Louis & Trent (6x3).png (1.26 MB)")
.png "Trent (S6E3).png (1,001 KB)")
.png "Marvin (6x3).png (1.06 MB)")
.png "Emery (Grandma's Boys).png (1.3 MB)")
.png "Louis & Gene (6x3).png (1.44 MB)")
.png "Gene & Louis (6x3).png (1.2 MB)")
.png "Emery, Louis & Eddie (6x3).png (1.02 MB)")
.png "Emery & Jessica (6x3).png (1.13 MB)")
.png "Jessica & Emery (6x3).png (1.27 MB)")
.png "Huangs (6x3).png (1.3 MB)")
Episodes
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| Fresh Off the Boat – Season One | |||
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| Episode 1 "Pilot" |
Episode 2 "Home Sweet Home-School" |
Episode 3 "The Shunning" |
Episode 4 "Success Perm" |
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| Episode 5 "Persistent Romeo" |
Episode 6 "Fajita Man" |
Episode 7 "Showdown at the Golden Saddle" |
Episode 8 "Phillip Goldstein" |
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| Episode 9 "License to Sell" |
Episode 10 "Blind Spot" |
Episode 11 "Very Superstitious" |
Episode 12 "Dribbling Tiger, Bounce Pass Dragon" |
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| Episode 13 So Chineez | |||
| Fresh Off the Boat – Season Two | |||
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| Episode 1 "Family Business Trip" |
Episode 2 "Boy II Man" |
Episode 3 "Shaquille O'Neal Motors" |
Episode 4 "The Fall Ball" |
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| Episode 5 "Miracle on Dead Street" |
Episode 6 "Good Morning Orlando" |
Episode 7 "The Big 1-2" |
Episode 8 "Huangsgiving" |
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| Episode 9 "We Done Son" |
Episode 10 "The Real Santa" |
Episode 11 "Year of the Rat" |
Episode 12 "Love and Loopholes" |
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| Episode 13 "Phil's Phaves" |
Episode 14 "Michael Chang Fever" |
Episode 15 "Keep 'Em Separated" |
Epsiode 16 "Tight Two" |
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| Episode 17 "Doing It Right" |
Episode 18 "Week in Review" |
Episode 19 "Jessica Place" |
Episode 20 "Hi, My Name Is..." |
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| 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 | |||
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| Episode 1 "Coming from America" |
Episode 2 "Breaking Chains" |
Episode 3 "Louisween" |
Episode 4 "Citizen Jessica" |
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| 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?" |
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| Episode 9 "How to Be an American" |
Episode 10 "The Best of Orlando" |
Episode 11 "Clean Slate" |
Episode 12 "Sisters Without Subtext" |
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| Episode 13 "Neighbors with Attitude" |
Episode 14 "The Gloves Are Off" |
Episode 15 "Living While Eddie" |
Episode 16 "Gabby Goose" |
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| Episode 17 "The Flush" |
Episode 18 "Time to Get Ill" |
Episode 19 "Driving Miss Jenny" |
Episode 20 "The Masters" |
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| Episode 21 "Pie vs. Cake" |
Episode 22 "This Is Us" |
Episode 23 "This Isn't Us" | |
| Fresh Off the Boat – Season Four | |||
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| 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 | |||
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| 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 | |||
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| 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" | |