Review: Duncanville “That Jing You Do”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

At the local bookstore, Jing is excited to see the local children’s musician play some family tunes, but when his community service time expires, she convinces her dad to get up there and play. Together they quickly become one of the most popular children’s party bands in the area, and are even invited to Ticklepalooza — but when they have a fight that threatens to break up the band, the two of them have to come to terms with the fact that they aren’t just bandmates, but family.

Our Take:

That Jing You Do finds Jack and his five-year-old daughter teaming up to start their own band. It’s not a rock band, much to Jack’s chagrin, but it does allow the two of them to settle into their fresh new roles as celebrity children’s entertainers. Plus, Duncan and his gang of ne’er-do-well teenagers find a great hidden gem in a mall shop that they have to work for in order to afford. It’s a very unique episode for the most part, and there’s plenty to enjoy here.

The main plot that the episode takes its name from is definitely the highlight. Jing and Jack are probably the most free-spirited members of the family, him because he’s a rock star who never grew up, and her because she’s five. Regardless of their age differences, the two of them play off each other well and it’s hilarious to see their stage personas evolving as the episode goes on. What starts out as a series of sweetly innocent children’s songs at the book store quickly turns into a lucrative business. Kimberly and Annie get small cameos along the way as the two of them help manage the meet and greets and other career expanding events, but this is really the Jing and Jack show.

Things are going great until the two of them quarrel about their Ticklepalooza set. It’s more silly than serious, though, which you really have to lean into since it is a grown adult having a band spat with a girl who’s still afraid of the dark. They put aside their differences on stage at the main event, but soon it devolves into a kind of rap battle, with Jing criticizes her dad’s hairline and plumbing skills while Jack lets her and everyone else know that the Easter Bunny is not real. They break up in front of everyone, but later on patch things up in a really heartwarming way at home, when Jing crayons their names into Jack’s rock band book.

Duncan and his friends have their own B plot, but it’s pretty ramshackle in comparison to the Jing and Jack show. Their massage couch discovery is fun, but once they get involved in the gig economy and start trying to kidnap scooters to recharge, it feels a little tired already. Still, we get some fun stuff with Mr. Mitch and the grandmother — that Steve Harvey joke killed me.

This week’s episode delivered plenty of feels and funnies. Jing and Jack’s team up led to lots of sweet father daughter moments, as well as witty stage banter that elicited some genuine laughs out of me. The side plot with Duncan and his friends didn’t feel quite so tight, but it still had some good bits like the discovery of the Ford massage couch and their run in with the stay at home dads. Overall, I’d have to say that That Jing You Do is one my favorite episodes this season, mainly because it features Jing and Jack in a way they haven’t been seen together before.