Review: Apple & Onion “4 on 1”

“Nothing but Net!”

Overview (Possible Spoilers Below)

The episode begins when Onion practices his talent of performing the perfect basketball shot which is quite impressive when you realize he’s honed this particular skill since he was a child. Later both he and Apple get invitations to join a “4 on 4” basketball tournament event by Burger & Hot Dog which at first the two are wow’ed by the prospect, but when it cuts to the actual tournament, we learn that Onion isn’t properly acclimated to loud & crowded spaces against other players and it begins to mess up his mojo at aiming accurately.  As Hot Dog & Burger talk about replacing Onion with a more skilled player named “Jumbo Dog” for almost costing them the game, but after some persuasion from Apple, they decide to have Jumbo on Stand-by incase Onion freezes up again.

We do get a comedic scene where Apple attempts to help Onion overcome his performance anxiety in a subway train, but after the two are thrown in Jail for learning the hard way why you shouldn’t play basketball in a train, their cellmate Beef Jerky (Kevin Michael Richardson) gives Onion some much advice on learning to “block the crowd” in his head so the voices have nothing to talk about. Long after leaving prison and making it to the finals, Onion screws up again and leaves, but later contemplate what he’s doing wrong during a retconned flashback into his past and realizes what must do to clear his mind. Apple conveniently enough, shows up after this important revelation and tells Onion he’s needed back when Jumbo Dog turns out to be “rubbish at basketball” and after coming back, it leads to a suspenseful scene where Onion gets his moment of truth when he applies what he remembered from his past and it helps him finally make the shot which helps them win the tournament leading to a fun & comedic montage of them celebrating their victory.

Our Take

As someone who isn’t much of a sports guy, the only thing I found most relatable was the performance anxieties & insecurities Onion was going through. Some of us often experience pressure & self-doubt when we’re put into crowded & confined situations but in Onion’s case, he simply had to look to the past for answers. It also helped that he had a loving & supportive Dad who helped him overcome this particular fear.

I hope when kids watch this episode, they can learn something profound from this and overcome their own personal doubts & fears.