English Teacher - Field Trip - Review: Evan Just Wants an Invite

 

It’s Field Trip time! Evan and the other teachers are gathered with the Junior class for the annual weekend camping trip. It’s their chance to bond and have fun together, but one overshare creates a rift between Evan and Gwen. 

FOMO is real out here and Evan felt that when he was setting up tents with the rest of the teachers and found out that not only did Gwen have Markie over the other night, but Rick was there as well. Gwen tries to brush it off saying that Markie was only there to help her boyfriend dig the hole for a swimming pool and that it was nothing that Evan would even be interested in. 

He wasn’t all that upset about it at first until he was speaking with Rick and he let out that it was more than just digging a hole for a pool. In fact, he said that they were over there playing video games, eating pizza, and didn’t leave until well after 2 A.M. He can’t believe his best friend didn’t invite him. Now, Evan is being extremely petty towards Gwen. They’re rehearsing a song and he’s overly critiquing her singing and it’s so obvious. 

Brian Jordan Alvarez as Evan Marquez and Sean Patton as Markie Hillridge © FX 2024. All Rights Reserved

The next day, Evan is still acting weird towards Gwen and she calls him out on it, stating that he has no reason to be upset. She insists that Evan would have said no if she’d invited him and she knows this about him so she doesn’t get why he’s upset. Evan then starts going on a thought spiral and it’s incredible how he’s made this all about him. He’s questioning his role in his friend group now. 

Gwen has had enough of this and gives Evan a taste of his own medicine. During the performance, Gwen refused to sing and said that it sounds good as a solo. What made this funny to me is that these two were acting like the students they were meant to be chaperoning. There’s still a strong sense of animosity between them until Gwen has a medical emergency. Markie didn’t know that she had a latex allergy when he let her try his night vision binoculars and she was having a really bad allergic reaction. Evan, immediately recognizing what was happening, grabs her epipen and saves her. Nothing brings people back together than a good ol’ case of anaphylaxis. 

Sean Patton as Markie Hillridge and Stephanie Koenig as Gwen Sanders © FX 2024. All Rights Reserved. 

On the bus ride back, Gwen tells Evan that she’s having another get together and that he should come. You would’ve thought after the fuss he made he would’ve jumped at the chance, but tell me why this man says he doesn’t want to go. Gwen is screaming “I told you so” to him and he laughs it off, but it turns out all he wanted was to be invited. Evan, there was no need to be so dramatic about it - you should’ve just said you want an invite next time even though you won’t show up. 

I’m trying to figure out who that target audience is for this show. It’s funny to me - I thoroughly enjoy dead - pan comedy, but even though I enjoyed last night’s episode, I feel like the pacing of the show isn’t where it should be. Evan’s character has flaws that get glossed over way too quickly for me. I am glad he didn’t end up running back to Malcolm this time though, so that’s a win. 

What were your thoughts on last night’s episode of English Teacher? Share your thoughts below or connect with me on X/Twitter @chenfordhugs.