This episode is quite incredible. They've been taking a lot of risks this season, mixing genres & ideas but this episode really sets out to do everything Dave has been doing since day one and more. The horrific and suspenseful undertones make for an unsettling experience, and with this being a sitcom, it sure does more than most sitcoms when they try to cross genres. You really do feel the emotions Lil Dicky is facing after the crap hits the fan, he has to deal with an unexpected situation, left without his devices and meds, it really just feels all too real. I love that they keep bringing conversations of culture and beliefs into these episodes, because when it comes to this episode, it gets the point across in such a to-the-core emotional way that this show has only been dreaming of doing. Seems we're on the way to a season finale and I'm really interested to see where we go from here.
3 Reviews
*Almost* perfect
sendphotopls7 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Coming off "The Storm," I knew the bar was set unreasonably high for the next episode and I had to temper my expectations. However, I can honestly say this wasn't really the case - this episode was nearly as phenomenal as the last. The one thing holding it back from par is kinda still bugging me, though - the ending.
For an episode that carried the tension and horror-like sequences over from the previous episode, I was totally immersed from jump. The show is at its peak right now and it's become very evident. I say this because those aspects of the episode *still exist* despite my gripes with the ending, so credit must given given where credit is due. That being said...
The last 30 seconds showing Dave reveal he's alive totally kill all of the tension & thrilling elements within the episode. It's not a satisfying conclusion, nor is it very realistic, so I'm kinda dumbfounded they went with what they did. I'd understand if the message was about conquering unnecessary anxiety/paranoia, especially for a character as neurotic as Dave, but this is not the case here. Dave had every reason in the world to be tilting over the possible fallout from their plan if anything went wrong. Mike, too, even though he clearly wasn't worried.
I'm assuming Emma's filming of Dave in the van will come back around in the future, maybe even praying it does because that's the only way this episode itself doesn't feel like a weird shortcut to pushing the series forward. The rest of the elements introduced in this episode are rendered meaningless or concluded by the end of it - LD headphones seem like a huge plot point that seemingly goes nowhere, the creepy dude returning them felt like he was written to be creepy for tension's sake instead of fitting into the narrative as a pivotal piece to the puzzle & their money problems not being revealed episodes ago makes the entire motivation of the episode less engaging or understandable. The latter point is really such a missed opportunity. That should've been a prevalent, running issue for Dave to face this season as he clearly knew about it this entire time, it's just the audience that was excluded. Introducing and solving a maaaajor problem like $382,000 of debt from a record label threatening to sue you is really underwhelming unfortunately.
To conclude, I'd just like to present a slight alteration to the ending that, imo, could've made a world of a difference in satisfying the narrative here. LD still chooses to sit outside in public waiting for people to notice him and "take control of the narrative," an important aspect to keep because it shows growth in his ability to let go of control that's been a common theme this season since E2. However, instead of him being recognized and suddenly crowded around a ton of excited fans happy to see him asking 0 questions about his disappearance, the fans in the crowd only make up the *majority* of the people there - not everyone. A couple people at the end start ridiculing him in the back, immediately accusing him/his label of fabricating the entire death myth on purpose themselves. Just a couple though. Yep, that's all you'd need.
This idea would create an enormous amount of continuity with the rest of the themes in the episode that we otherwise lose without it. It validates the idea that a larger following = more room for ridicule. It shows character development for Dave, as he's willing to face the backlash in an effort to uphold his morals/values about fame and celebrity status from his email. It would contextualize the episode's tension, no matter how related it is to the main plot, simply because it wouldn't the magical, sudden happy ending we received. Headphones guy would feel way more important to the story this way. It would also provide endless opportunity for future episodes - deep dive into parasocial relationships, the pros and cons of cancel culture, the downsides that come with increased celebrity status, etc. And yet... they settled on the most boring possible conclusion you could have to.
Episode still jam packed with great stuff (Anne Frank scene in motel is hysterical), but the writing isn't nearly as tight or purposeful as Rosell's in The Storm, I told myself this would happen tho so I'm not holding a grudge. Guess I gotta settle for an 8/10 (it's more like an 8.5), but it kills me that this was 30 secs away from a consecutive 10/10. In the grand scheme of things, this season is still far and away the best one yet.
For an episode that carried the tension and horror-like sequences over from the previous episode, I was totally immersed from jump. The show is at its peak right now and it's become very evident. I say this because those aspects of the episode *still exist* despite my gripes with the ending, so credit must given given where credit is due. That being said...
The last 30 seconds showing Dave reveal he's alive totally kill all of the tension & thrilling elements within the episode. It's not a satisfying conclusion, nor is it very realistic, so I'm kinda dumbfounded they went with what they did. I'd understand if the message was about conquering unnecessary anxiety/paranoia, especially for a character as neurotic as Dave, but this is not the case here. Dave had every reason in the world to be tilting over the possible fallout from their plan if anything went wrong. Mike, too, even though he clearly wasn't worried.
I'm assuming Emma's filming of Dave in the van will come back around in the future, maybe even praying it does because that's the only way this episode itself doesn't feel like a weird shortcut to pushing the series forward. The rest of the elements introduced in this episode are rendered meaningless or concluded by the end of it - LD headphones seem like a huge plot point that seemingly goes nowhere, the creepy dude returning them felt like he was written to be creepy for tension's sake instead of fitting into the narrative as a pivotal piece to the puzzle & their money problems not being revealed episodes ago makes the entire motivation of the episode less engaging or understandable. The latter point is really such a missed opportunity. That should've been a prevalent, running issue for Dave to face this season as he clearly knew about it this entire time, it's just the audience that was excluded. Introducing and solving a maaaajor problem like $382,000 of debt from a record label threatening to sue you is really underwhelming unfortunately.
To conclude, I'd just like to present a slight alteration to the ending that, imo, could've made a world of a difference in satisfying the narrative here. LD still chooses to sit outside in public waiting for people to notice him and "take control of the narrative," an important aspect to keep because it shows growth in his ability to let go of control that's been a common theme this season since E2. However, instead of him being recognized and suddenly crowded around a ton of excited fans happy to see him asking 0 questions about his disappearance, the fans in the crowd only make up the *majority* of the people there - not everyone. A couple people at the end start ridiculing him in the back, immediately accusing him/his label of fabricating the entire death myth on purpose themselves. Just a couple though. Yep, that's all you'd need.
This idea would create an enormous amount of continuity with the rest of the themes in the episode that we otherwise lose without it. It validates the idea that a larger following = more room for ridicule. It shows character development for Dave, as he's willing to face the backlash in an effort to uphold his morals/values about fame and celebrity status from his email. It would contextualize the episode's tension, no matter how related it is to the main plot, simply because it wouldn't the magical, sudden happy ending we received. Headphones guy would feel way more important to the story this way. It would also provide endless opportunity for future episodes - deep dive into parasocial relationships, the pros and cons of cancel culture, the downsides that come with increased celebrity status, etc. And yet... they settled on the most boring possible conclusion you could have to.
Episode still jam packed with great stuff (Anne Frank scene in motel is hysterical), but the writing isn't nearly as tight or purposeful as Rosell's in The Storm, I told myself this would happen tho so I'm not holding a grudge. Guess I gotta settle for an 8/10 (it's more like an 8.5), but it kills me that this was 30 secs away from a consecutive 10/10. In the grand scheme of things, this season is still far and away the best one yet.
Best of the season and might be the best of the whole show
mcneilg-479764 May 2023
Dave Burd really has become one of the true GENIUSES of Television. This episode was incredibly shot, amazing script, and I believe Dave delivers his best performance of the whole show. This episode showcases the true vulnerability behind Lil Dicky and also truly dives into Dave's amazing imagination of how this show can reach new heights. This season has been an absolute treat and I can't wait to see what unfolds in the next episode. The Emmys need to recognize and honor this show because this show deserves it's flowers. Thank you Dave, for sharing to the world your genius! I'm truly gonna be bummed whenever this season is over, but still excited to see what is yet to come!
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