Episode Commentary: “The Whole Beefalo”
This was a finale that will eventually be remembered for how it was the start of a more equal opportunity sitcom, than for providing truly entertaining television. For the first 2.9 seasons, people the likes of Ray, Lenore and Charlie were able to assert their dominant personalities and get their way most of the time.
While it was sometimes predictable, it made for some fun television.
This episode changes that entire dichotomy. With Tanya, Sandee and Jessica’s small victories and even Mike Hunt’s wedding last week, “Hung” is moving away from the successful formula it had for most of this season. While these stories are more realistic and show that even the fragile have limits, it wasn’t nearly as sexy a conclusion as you would have expected.
Who wants to see a happy ending or even a vanilla one when your show revolves around a male whore and his feminist liberal pimp?
Aside from the scene between Lenore and Jason, there was little to drool over here.
Instead, it was more like plot building for season four.
Not exactly the best thing to do for a season finale.
The excitement essentially came from the encounter between Sandee and Lenore. You knew it was ultimately going to happen, but the execution of the scene felt rushed and weird. The bottom line is that Lenore won’t die. She means too much to the show as a sex symbol and a catalyst. Considering that, it’s sad the creative team didn’t decide to do something spicer with these characters.
The same thing goes for Charlie’s character. It was obvious he was going to give up his cows and let Tanya get the win after she showed a spine with him for the first time. While it was fun watching Jane Adams try to drag around a cow, it felt disconnected with the rest of the season.
It doesn’t tarnish it though. In spite of this gaff and the lack of conversation between Ray and Jessica after she finds out his secret, the season finale was serviceable. While it won’t entice new viewers to the show, the faithful will wait until next year, to at least see what the fate of Lenore is. That’s got to count for something.
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