Episode Commentary: The Hero
It looks like “Curb Your Enthusiasm†is finally back on track, after a silly episode that was driven by a conflict between Ricky Gervais and Larry David. Although their conversation was a bit monotonous at times, especially in the beginning, these two inspired some laughs at all the right moments.
A nice combination of Larry’s crudeness and Gervais’ trademark wit and cheek, these two are at the opposite side of the comedic spectrum. It was interesting to see them work together though. Although there were some bumps in the road at times, they ultimately were able to bring enough of their signature comedic talents to the dinner table.
Between that and the typically hilarious work of Susie Essman and Jeff Garlin, the series has finally washed away the remnants of two horribly written episodes earlier this season.
And things are about to get even better, as the preview for next week’s episode revealed the return of Leon [J.B. Smoove], who has followed Larry and the Jeff to New York. After one of his best performances on the show, Leon’s character disappeared from the series completely. With less laughs since his absence, his return will provide Curb with a much-needed boost.
As far as this episode goes, Larry was able to make the most out of every opportunity. From his exploits on the airplane, to Jeff and Susie’s party and his encounter with Gervais on the train, the show maintained a decent pace, fueled by David’s ignorance, attitude and pomposity.
All in all, it delivered the goods the way only this show can.
Simply put, it was great to see Larry on his game again. The interaction between him and Jeff throughout the episode brought back memories of their earlier antics. The same thing goes for Susie’s ability to be a foil in Larry’s plans and more than a big mouth. The addition of Gervais as a catalyst also added an extra level of hi-jinx to the episode.
Overall, while this isn’t nearly the best episode of the season, it’s a good rebound from the past few weeks. With Smoove soon back in the fold and a solid episode to gain momentum from, “Curb†may still have some tricks up its sleeves this season.
Leave a Reply