The family becomes very suspicious when Marvin arrives to celebrate Thanksgiving with them and seems to have turned his life around, while Erica resents Geoff for staying active while she's stuck at home taking care of Muriel. Barry and Adam try to keep the family's spirits high despite these developments out of fear that Beverly, who wasn't sure whether to host Thanksgiving at all without Murray, will give up and put Linda Schwartz in charge of the meal.
- Brick Joke: Adam comes across Erica breastfeeding Muriel and wishes she wouldn't do it so openly around the house, a sentiment Barry shares. In The Tag, Barry calls in Mr. Glascott to make Erica uncomfortable enough to do it in her room.
- Crappy Holidays: Being the first Thanksgiving without Murray, Adam and Barry take it upon themselves to make sure it runs smoothly without any family drama. Unfortunately, between Erica resenting Geoff for ignoring her for the turkey trot, and Marvin wanting to tell off Pop-Pop, the dinner becomes a free-for-all. Beverly appreciates the effort, but concedes that arguing during the holidays is what they are.
- Don't Celebrate Just Yet: Adam enters the turkey trot disguised as a turkey and actually comes ahead of the other runners despite his lack of athletic ability. Unfortunately, he mistakes the first water station for the finish line and drops down exhausted, and the other runners trip over him, including Geoff, who sprains his little toe.
- Innocently Insensitive: Geoff has been busy training for the turkey trot, while Erica is left at home taking care of Muriel, resentful that her husband isn't around to ease her load. Adam tries to relay this to Geoff, but he misunderstands it as Erica wanting to run as well and gives her running shoes. An angry Erica considers joining the turkey trot just to beat Geoff.
- Lethal Chef: Downplayed with Linda. While she's nowhere near the Supreme Chef that Beverly is, it's suggested that ever her husband doesn't like her Thanksgiving cooking.
- Thanksgiving Episode: This is the eighth one across ten seasons of The Goldbergs, and focuses on celebrating with family as all of the past cases have done.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Marvin always wanted Pop-Pop to be proud of him, and now that he is gainfully employed as a bank teller and has a girlfriend, he finally gets it. Unfortunately, Marvin is miserable because he's not being himself, and is angry that Pop-Pop won't be proud unless he's living a lie.
- You're Drinking Breast Milk: Implied when Barry says they need to label the milk on the fridge so he doesn't confuse it with Erica's breast milk.
- You Were Trying Too Hard: Adam and Barry spend most of the episode trying to make Thanksgiving perfect, out of fear that Beverly would be dissuaded from ever hosting one again if it isn't. In the end, it turns out Beverly was worried that this Thanksgiving would feel too different without Murray's presence, and is genuinely relieved when the family is unable to keep up appearances and breaks down arguing at the dinner table.
