Other TV 22 - 28 November
Posted by The TV Critic on 28 November 2009 | 0 Comments
Tags:
Curb Your Enthusiasm,
Dexter
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 710 - Seinfeld
This was a disappointment, for many reasons. I felt the Curb elements to the show largely failed. Larry’s detective work on who left the ring stain felt unconvincing because he had no actual evidence to work with. If we knew exactly who was standing at the table it would have helped. Ditto the whole Mocha Joe plot, he asked Larry for a completely unreasonable reciprocal favour. Larry being jealous of Jason Alexander didn’t work out too well either. There was never a hint that anything was going on and I don’t understand why he ran out of his room when Larry burst in. The “main event” of course was seeing the scenes from the Seinfeld reunion special. But for those who watched the previous episode more than once there was barely anything new. All those scenes felt annoying to me because I knew them already.
Having said that, there was some good stuff. Including the “having said that” discussion which felt pure Seinfeld and wove its way seamlessly through the plot. I loved Larry’s ultra cutting “I’ll read it with dinner” comment on Jason’s pamphlet of a book. I also liked that for once the Curb plot aided Larry when Cheryl overheard his confession of love for her through the tinted windows. The ending felt very appropriate, no happy ending for Cheryl, Larry is still Larry.
Dexter - 409 - Hungry Man
The disturbing family bond at Trinity’s house didn’t quite do it for me. On the one hand, it was interesting to watch, particularly when Dexter snapped. But on the other, his family seemed a little too comfortable airing their dirty laundry in front of him. It felt like all their disturbing secrets came tumbling out just because Dexter asked. Again I feel the problem with this fundamentally is that Trinity won’t be around next season, this is just building his inevitable death. Although it does allow for Dexter and his Dad to discuss his unstable life as seen through the mirror of Trinity.
I do enjoy the scenes with Deb and the rest of the Homicide department. I am increasingly thinking along the lines which Brando laid out (www.thecinemaphiles.com) where the final season will see them hunting Dexter down. Certainly the twist that Trinity is Christine’s Dad is an interesting one. That connects Quinn to Trinity and his simmering feud with Dexter. I am also a fan of Batista and Laguerta as they represent goodness on the show. The little plot which pushed him into saying I love you was very pleasant. A reminder of the good motives which can also bring down killers.
