Vice Principals Recap: The Good Book-HBO Binge

Vice Principals returns this week with an homage to the Breakfast Club as they lock their teachers inside the school for a “Teachers’ Workshop”. We get the age-old story of locking kids inside of an empty school for a day, with teachers instead, and let secrets be revealed. However “The Good Book” comes across as more of a filler episode with no real development to the plot or the characters with the exception of Gamby finally getting to kiss Ms. Snodgrass. So there’s that.

After getting caught red-handed last week, Russell has made it his mission to get on Dr. Brown’s good side. Yet despite his overcompensation of niceties, Brown still chooses to punish him by assigning him a new role of babysitter. While Goggins is consistently funny, this seems like a poor use of his talents by delegating him to a subplot involving running after Dr. Brown’s misbehaving children. The writers don’t seem to know what to do with her sons and instead choose to have their only interests be petty delinquency involving marijuana and porn. While the reunion of the boys and their father is supposed to be a triumphant emotional beat for the family, Tavis (played by Brian Tyree Henry), is such a random character to have pop up it doesn’t feel genuine.

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Meanwhile Gamby, still reeling from his “breakup” with his daughter, is frustrated that he cannot take out his pain on students through punishment. While poor Ms. Swift works as a punching bag for a little bit, Gamby eventually has to open up about his emotions due to no other outlet. This leads to an important conversation where both Brown and Gamby share their first true moment on the show.

The most important scene in “The Good Book,” if not the series, is the two of them finally revealing their own insecurities to each other. It begs the question whether this war will continue on into the second season, and what will happen if it doesn’t. With both his work and family life in shambles, Gamby may finally accept that he needs stop with the pettiness in order to make peace with the people he cares about.

The most important scene in “The Good Book,” if not the series, is the two of them finally revealing their own insecurities to each other.

While he may be a bit lost, Gamby’s romantic life is on the upswing with Ms. Snodgrass finally looking at him as a love interest. Here, the typical high school story comes into play, with charming Mr. Hayden taking the place as the bad boy rival, and quirky Ms. Abbott stepping into the mean girl role. Gamby, fresh off some advice from Russell, is quick to defend Snodgrass from any insults thrown her way and in return the two begin to seriously bond over breakfast as well as her young adult medieval fantasy novel.

Their scenes continue to carry all of the romantic plots as well as a lot of the emotional ones, however Ms. Abbott’s knowledge of Gamby’s stalker folder will most likely bring their relationship to a skidding halt soon. That being said, Ms. Snodgrass’s awkward flirting has easily made her the most likeable character of the cast and it’s great that Georgia King is being utilized more. “The Good Book” could mark a real turning point in the series.

Gamby doesn’t need to destroy Brown now that he has managed to salvage some happiness in his life despite not moving up the career ladder.

“The Good Book” closes with Gamby finding out that his daughter has gotten into a motorcross accident and is calling for him. It takes him seconds to jump in his car only to get in an accident himself because of his haste. Russell offers to drive him and the two friends make it to the hospital fast enough for Gamby to hold his daughter while she cries. The real consistency to this season is the development between the two Vice Principals who began at odds and have now become close friends. This could actually derail the show in the future if it’s not handled carefully.

Gamby doesn’t need to destroy Brown now that he has managed to salvage some happiness in his life despite not moving up the career ladder, but Russell needs to take her job for his own benefit. Yet as Russell looks at Gamby holding onto his daughter it becomes apparent that one of them could lose everything while the other has nothing to lose. It will be interesting if Russell will allow his friend to gamble everything just so that he can have the satisfaction of taking down Belinda Brown.

Next: The Night Of Recap: The Call of the Wild.

Next week’s episode looks like it’s going to shelve the usual chaos from Gamby’s and Russell’s antics in favor of letting Dr. Brown have some fun. Sporting a tank top and what looks like a fake tattoo, Brown is ready to stir up some crazy while her two Vice Principals are the one who need to keep her in line.

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