Ep 5. Teddy's Bakshal

Teddy's Bakshal is the fifth episode of the Netflix original series Prince of Peoria, which revolves around the life of a 13-year-old prince named Emil who travels to the United States to attend a regular school. The show follows the daily adventures of Emil and his host family, including his new best friend Teddy, as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence.

In Teddy's Bakshal, the focus is on Teddy, who is organizing a traditional Indian event called Bakshal as part of his school's cultural diversity celebration. Bakshal is a holiday celebrated by the Zoroastrian community, which is part of Teddy's family heritage. The holiday involves a big feast, and Teddy's family is thrilled to share their culture with their schoolmates.

The episode begins with Teddy excitedly talking about Bakshal with Emil and his sister, Sydney. Teddy's plan is to cook all the traditional food for his school's Bakshal, and he enlists the help of Emil and Sydney to gather the necessary ingredients. The three of them set out to find authentic Indian spices, which leads them to a spice shop run by an Indian family.

While the siblings are excited about the new cultural experience, Emil's lack of awareness of the American culture is evident in the episode. For example, when they call a taxi, Emil is bewildered at the variety of cars he sees on the road. He argues with Sydney and Teddy over why some of the car names cannot just be simplified.

When they reach the spice shop, Emil pays for the spices with his princely purse containing a large bill. Teddy appreciates the gesture, but Emil soon realizes that he has left the purse at the store.

In the meantime, Teddy invites Emil and Sydney to attend his family's Bakshal, and they all enthusiastically accept the invitation. However, when they arrive at the Bakshal, they are surprised to find that none of the traditional dishes are ready yet-- Teddy's grandma is still preparing the feast.

The episode takes a lighthearted and comedic look at the challenges of organizing a cultural event while highlighting the importance of multiculturalism within American society, through Teddy's efforts to bring a piece of his heritage to his school. When the guests arrive at the Bakshal, Teddy's guests from school and his grandma's guests from the Zoroastrian community, Emil, Sydney and Teddy have to follow the customs of the community, including removing their shoes and saying a prayer before eating.

The episode ends with the school's Bakshal, and the trio tries to convince their teacher and classmates to attend any future events organized by Teddy and his family. The show successfully showcases the importance of accepting diversity, being open to learning about other cultures and being respectful to people of different ethnic origins.

Overall, Teddy's Bakshal is a delightful episode of Prince of Peoria, showcasing the joys of friendship, cultural exchange, and the celebration of diversity.