The Goldbergs
The primary characters of the show include Adam, both as a child and as an adult narrating the episodes, Erica, the oldest Goldberg child, Barry, Adam’s older brother, Pops, Adam’s grandfather, and Adam’s parents Beverly and Murray.
The show’s utilization of nostalgia is particularly effective in correlation with the tapes that episodes are paired with. Both visually and narratively the Goldbergs incorporates important parts of the 1980s, drawing viewers in with the promise of references and jokes that ground the setting and pull at old memories. Adult Adam, who omnisciently narrates many of the episodes often starts out stories with a warm recollection about the 1980s such as “back then we didn’t have cell phones to keep our mom from worrying” or “before streaming and netflix, finding a movie for yourself was a trial”. This serves to both ingratiate viewers who remember the eighties through shared experience and inform the viewers what problems the cast might run into in this episode. The commiseration over the 1980s experience is especially effective since the show features characters of all ages, so regardless of who you are or how old you might have been there is someone you can relate to. The nostalgia of the situation pulls some viewers in while the relatability (or ridiculousness) of the characters themselves attracts others.
Additionally, the visuals associated with the various characters are delightful. From Beverly’s giant hair and Erica’s neon outfits to the comedic use of land line phones, the show somehow straddles showing a realistic 1980s and an overly comedic one.
The Goldbergs live just outside of Philadelphia and as such there are many references to the city itself. While not many physical locations of note are seen in the first season, likely due to logistical issues of getting to film at noteworthy areas during an initial season, the show does well to feel like a Philly suburb. From Murray’s dedication to watching the Phillies in the World Series to Barry’s near constant wearing of an Eagles jersey, the setting is always present. In fact, the show is so closely based on the real Adam Goldberg’s life the many of the location and character names used were not altered at all from his real memory. As such, it really does feel like this show is grounded in a Philadelphia suburb.