"Episode Two" was both better and worse than the first episode last week. The better, of course, is entirely down to Matt LeBlanc, who spent almost all of the episode being funny, intelligent and charming. It is a real credit to LeBlanc that he can work with a script that makes other people come off as horrible human beings and make his lines funny.
The 'worse', then...
"Episodes" in general seems to be a really mean spirited show. Not in the way that "Community" started with (but then grew into one of the most heart warming shows on TV right now), or even the way that "The Office" and "Extras" was, where we were all supposed to feel bad for the people. No, "Episodes" has a sort of mean spirit that expects us to unashamedly laugh along and agree with how funny it is that Merch's wife is blind, or that LeBlanc himself is an incompetent idiot. Speaking of Merch, I hate, hate, hate that guy. There's just nothing to even like in a 'I know I shouldn't but I really do' way.
And though I knew the vague premise of the show, up until the end of this episode I actually thought they might be onto something here. If LeBlanc is a nice guy who buggers up the show but with the best of intentions, then I could see a really funny scenario in which well-meaners end up clashing a lot in true sitcom style. But no, they went down the route of making LeBlanc an awful bastard just like the rest of Hollywood apparently is, completing the trio of horrible people.
Which again, would be fine if the Lincolns weren't so intolerable themselves. Not only do they show complete disgust at the notion of Matt LeBlanc being in their show, the groan and complain through every positive suggestion Matt tries to give, even after he admits to watching the show and loving it. I don't understand why the idea of adapting for a US audience is such a terrible thing to these people. If they've really been working in the TV industry for at least 4 years, how do they not know at this point that when someone promises to make your show in the US with no changes, they don't really mean it?
"Episodes" is a bad show. Though I loved LeBlanc in this one, I don't have enough faith that he alone could sustain my faded interest.
Gutted.
What did everyone else think?
I dont even want to go onto episode 2, I was hoping this review would spark my interest in it once again but no.
ReplyDeleteIt's why I'm here. :P
ReplyDeleteAgain, I completely agree. Matt is the show, for all I care they should recast the role of Beverly, she has this look on her face that everything around her is evil and painful. Personally I think that the character of Sean actually has the potential at being remotely funny. Merch should be killed off, that guy and his lines are just painful to listen to and I would not dare to call that funny, it's plain cruel.
ReplyDeleteI think I will give it one more week until I make my final decision, even though I love Matt LeBlanc, this show might be a waste of my time.
Ohh, this needs to be added to the drop down thing at the top, along with Shameless.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Gervais show AKA Golden Globes, it's even more painfully obvious that the UK & US sense of humour have diverged a lot. Here in the UK we have had a few years of Political Correctness backlash. It's a shame but I guess it goes back to that old un-resolvable riddle that "if it upsets one person then it has to stop".
ReplyDeleteThe premise of this show isn't just the laughs us Brits get from the fact that we hate you messing up our shows - it's also that you Yanks laugh at us being so precious.