Bumper is terrified of failure, which is surprising because we’ve seen the franchise. But maybe it’s because he’s finally got something to loose and that’s what terrifies him. Only in this episode what we quickly learn is that he’s sacrificing his principals in order to get ahead.
And that makes him an asshole.
The first and only person that has been on his side is Heidi, but stealing Heidi’s song makes Bumper absolute trash. Yes, I am mad at a completely fictional character. I don’t even care how that makes me look.
We pick up right where we left off, Bumper set to perform right after Gisela. He’s hiding in a dumpster, doesn’t want to sing. But in the cleanest trash can I have ever seen, Bumper gets hyped and is ready to sing. And after he gets over his moment of choking on the stage, we actually see Bumper start to shine.
And for a second you think that he’s changing. But he’s not. As a matter of fact, he’s showing that he’s selfish and doesn’t really think of others. When Pieter can’t talk his sister into working with Bumper, it’s Heidi that manages to shine.
Heidi is able to talk Thea into giving Bumper at least a day.
Lera Abova, who plays Thea, shines in her role. She’s the perfect mix of strong, vulnerable, sarcastic, and well… the IDGAF attitude. She’s just there doing her thing. What makes her help Bumper is Heidi, because Heidi is the one who stands up to her and not a lot of people do that.
The only issue is that Heidi can’t leave Bumper and Pieter alone, because those two are bound to get into trouble. Bother a blubbering idiots half the time and also feel like they have to impress everyone all the time. Bumper feels like he has to one up everyone all the time so when Gisela tried to show them up, he’s boasting with shit he doesn’t have and hasn’t done.
We all know that no matter if it’s comedy or drama, there has to be conflict. It’s what keeps people growing and moving forward. It’s what gives a middle to a story and things for people to overcome. Sometimes though, it’s one of those things that feels mindless and sometimes like whatever.
Jameela Jamil as Gisela is something that we never knew that we needed, but I needed it. I need all of the laughter that she made come out of me. Don’t like her character and I don’t like her song, but I don’t think she’s meant to be likable. She’s meant to be the woman that we all hate and want to loose.
But Heidi – she’s the person that we want to win. So as we’re watching this episode and how helpful she’s being with everyone – you can’t help but root for her. When she’s trying to teach Bumper how to write a song and even just the way he looks at her, you know that she’s someone special. Hell, I was even tearing up.
She inspired.
But what didn’t inspire was Bumper stealing her song. I get that wasn’t his intention, but that doesn’t seem to matter to me. What matters is that Heidi deserved better. The fact that he didn’t run to her immediately to tell her and confess and explain – ugh, hate him for that.
Thea loves the song that she thinks that Bumper created with her. She says that she misjudged Bumper and she’s sorry for that.
And hey, the song is good.
The song is good until you see the look on Heidi’s face and the look of betrayal. That was enough to make me hate it. Sarah Hyland has made anyone watching this root for her character.
Thankful to meet the new characters in this show.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Heidi threatening Bumper to not tell anyone that she sings was priceless.
- Thea getting her vitamin D – I feel her.
- Wanted to puke when Heidi and Thea both ate things from the ground
- Bumper made me mad this episode.
Bumper in Berlin is streaming now on Peacock.