Okay, We Need To Discuss What Just Happened On The ‘Superstore’ Finale

***Warning*** Do not read without first watching the season finale of Superstore. Spoilers ahead!

Well, Superstore fans, the moment we’ve been waiting for has finally happened: Jeff has returned to work at Cloud 9!

Kidding.

After three years of playful will they/won’t they banter, Jonah and Amy finally had sex, in the Cloud 9 photo lab, no less! After their plot to blow the lid off Cloud 9’s rampant ageism went awry, the renowned workplace flirts found themselves in familiar territory as they once again held a two-person state of the union regarding their feelings for one another. I’ve previously written about the parallels between The Office’s Jim and Pam and Superstore’s Jonah and Amy. Superstore creator Justin Spitzer used to work as a writer/producer on The Office, both couples shared a pivotal kiss in a Season 2 finale, and now both pairs elevated their relationships during the show’s respective third season finales. Due to the similarities, you might have expected Superstore to end its season with some type of vocal acknowledge of romance between Jonah and Amy or perhaps even another kiss, but Superstore already covered those beats in previous episodes. One of the most important tenants of comedy is heightening. Successful TV shows understand the importance of kinetic storytelling and having characters make active choices to help advance the story. 

The final five episodes of the third season of Superstore changed the entire complexion of the series. In last week’s “Aftermath,” two important plot points are alluded to or directly expressed: Jonah has stayed at Cloud 9 because of Amy, and the pair’s romance (or lack thereof) has always been on Amy’s terms. It was Amy who kissed Jonah at the end of “Gender Reveal;” it was Amy’s marriage that was the initial roadblock that prevented the two from dating. The season finale subverted expectations by allowing the generally passive Jonah to assert himself by being the one to make an active choice. Amy suggests reverting back to the status quo, a fresh start, but for once it’s Jonah, not Amy, who makes the move and advances the plot.

A move that thanks to Garrett was broadcast to hundreds of thousands of people.

Where exactly does Superstore go from here? This most likely wasn’t the show’s Plan A. America Ferrera’s real life pregnancy almost certainly informed the storytelling, but it adds an interesting wrinkle to Season 4. Jonah and Amy embarking on a relationship while Amy and Adam raise their baby offers a lot of comedic and storytelling possibilities. Will Jonah and Amy begin dating? Will the show do a time jump? Will Jonah and Amy face repercussions for inadvertently live streaming their sexual escapades to the entire corporation? Plus, what about poor Kelly?! Actress Kelly Stables has been a wonderful addition to the cast, so I’m hoping she stays at Cloud 9 instead of following the traditional TV trend of the disappearing ex.

A time jump makes the most sense to me. Season 4 begins with Amy having already given birth and in the middle of a romantic relationship with Jonah. That works on a practical level — since Ferrera will have her baby over hiatus — and both Superstore and The Office have utilized similar time jumps in the past. The downside is that we’d lose watching the early stages of the Jonah/Amy relationship, the initial Kelly awkwardness, and Dina giving birth to Glenn and Jerusha’s baby.

The storyline future of the series may be hazy, but the present is crystal clear: Superstore has evolved into one of the most enjoyable shows on television. Season 3 was the show’s best yet. It started strong and ended with a bang.

All three seasons of Superstore are currently streaming on Hulu.

Where to stream Superstore