The Neighbors - Season 1 - Recap

The Weaver family are the outsiders in a gated New Jersey community inhabited by aliens from the planet Zabvron. It sounds like a tried and true formula that is sure to get laughs, but then it does a modern twist on human behavior.

On the outside, it is a real family-friendly sitcom,. If you can overlook the premise, you might find something to like in The Neighbors.

After a few awkward moments in the real world, Marty, Debbie, and their children, quickly became accustomed to the Bird-Kersee next door, and the fact that all the aliens are named after famous athletes and dress in matching golfing outfits everyday.

Over the course of the season, the Weavers continue to bond with each other and their odd neighbors, while the Zabvronian live vicariously through the Weavers, at times to excess.

I have always felt there was potential in the development of the teenage characters, Amber Weaver and Reggie Jackson. As the series progressed, this showed in Reggie's crush for Amber (50 Shades of Grey, Dream Weavers), Amber pining for Reggie, when he liked another human girl (Space Invaders, Camping), and Reggie realizing he still carried a torch for Amber (Sing Like Larry Bird). I am certain we will see more of this again.

The Inner geek in me was stoked to learn that George Takei and Mark Hamill were cast to appear in the season finale. They themselves will be aliens, with the Star Trek star playing Larry Bird's father. It Has Begun... airs tonight at 8:30 pm EST on ABC.

Knowing that it might likely be a cliffhanger ending, hopefully, it will show us a bigger universe than just Hidden Hills, New Jersey. One never knows what to expect with The Neighbors.