Vice Principals Recap: The Foundation of Learning

“The Foundation of Learning” gets Vice Principals back on track

Last week Vice Principals appeared to be in a storytelling rut with no real purpose or endgame in sight. “The Foundation of Learning,” finally manages to shake things up as well as flesh out Amanda Snodgrass as more than just a romantic interest. More than half way through the season, the show has finally started to change the game by throwing some interesting hurdles their way.

This week, everyone’s true intentions bubble to the surface causing a whirlwind of character growth. Georgia King’s adorable, but underused, Amanda Snodgrass becomes the MVP of the episode. Up until now, she hasn’t been asked to do much other than be the object of Gamby’s affection. With her motocross skills and recently broken heart, courtesy of charming teacher Bill Hayden, Snodgrass is ready to enter Vice Principals roster of tragic characters. “The Foundation of Learning” displays her own insecurities when it comes to relationships as well as her awkward demeanor when she attempts to play it cool.

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Oddly enough this little quirk actually make her more of a viable love interest for Gamby than the woman we’ve initially seen through his eyes. He even opens up to her about his own fears of losing his daughter to Ray now that she has lost interest in horse back riding. While Snodgrass does help him learn to go “12 o’clock” (a term for a wheelie) for the selfish reason of switching schedules to win back Bill Hayden, she ultimately realizes that she does care for Gamby.

Seeing him at his weakest, when he’s failed as well as embarrassed his daughter, Snodgrass finally sees Gamby as man she could be attracted to. Their silent hand-hold at the end of the episode definitely paves the way for a romantic attraction but in the moment it’s more about two lost people who take comfort in the support the other offers.

It ties the two together but also means that Gamby will need to step up now that Russell will be out of commission.

While the Snodgrass/Gamby pairing accounts for the emotional bulk of the episode, the most shocking reveal comes at the end with Russell’s betrayal of Dr. Brown finally coming to the forefront. After conspiring to have Brown go head to head against beloved English teacher Ms. LeBlanc, Russell thinks that he has managed to turn the school against her. His cockiness leads to a mistake when Dr. Brown walks in on him spitting in his coffee.

There’s no way for him to explain his way out of that one, and Russell’s face says it all now that he realizes he’s been caught. It’s a smart move on Vice Principals part to have Russell be caught first because it rules out the option for Gamby to be used as a scape goat early on. It ties the two together but also means that Gamby will need to step up now that Russell will be out of commission.

With only four episodes left this season, Vice Principals finally has all its pieces in place heading towards a crazy ending. Now that everyone’s true colors are finally beginning to show, it’s only a matter of time before Brown has figured out her Vice Principals’ plans. Hopefully the three can be united against a common enemy together because the chemistry between Walton Goggins, Danny McBride, and Kimberly Hebert Gregory is terrific.

Next: Charissa Thompson to be on Real Sports.

Next week’s promo shows a flirty Snodgrass as well as a disheveled Russell attempting to babysit so get ready for what’s bound to be a pretty weird time.

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