For lack of a better term, this week’s episode of “Eastbound and Down†came out of left field.
After weeks of ignoring reality, Kenny Powers has gotten a hold of himself and is ready to head back home. After the former Tampa Bay Rays executive that screwed him makes amends and gets him a shot with the Texas Rangers next season, Kenny, with the newly married Stevie, have left Mexico much different men.
Even though the few scenes where Kenny is taking everything in [one has some Bob Seger playing in the background, a nice touch] do an excellent job of showing us how much things have changed, his actions do more talking than anything else.
To see Powers end his Mexican baseball days the way he did, with such civility, was shocking. However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t entertaining. For once, he showed some kind of restraint and as a result, has something to show for it. Things could have ended much different after the incident he had with his father and his wife. But focused on getting April back after Stevie told him she and Cutler didn’t get married, Kenny sees an opportunity to reclaim his love and possibly his life.
Where this journey takes this character is anyone’s guess, but it will be fun to watch.
Speaking of fun to watch, seeing Matthew McConaughey as the gay scout was absolutely hilarious. Feeling a bit like Will Farrell’s nutty appearance on the show last season, getting McConaughey to say the things that he did was the icing on the cake of what had to be the most-well-rounded episode of the show this season.
With all of the screw-ups, successes, cock-fighting, car thefts, fastballs and sex this season, Kenny may have finally learned his lesson, which should put the show on a different, yet still hilarious track. However, there’s no way the people he has screwed over from last season will be nearly as happy to see him, making the season-finale one that will be worth watching.
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