Viewers strongly dislike this episode, criticizing weak writing, absurd situations, poor character development, and lack of clever plotting since Larry David's departure.
David Jelinek wrote:
Yes, I agree completely. While I was watching it, I thought, "Either I'm in a really bad mood, and/or this episode is terrible." I didn't laugh once and almost turned it off. I was lost regarding Jerry's motive of buying back the Cadillac. I also am starting to agree with people who see Elaine turning into a harsh bitch. Oh, and by the way, I normally love both Jerry's and George's parents.
-JEn
There can be no doubt about it now. Larry David's departure has hurt Seinfeld badly.
With Larry gone, we no longer have shows that have 4-plot-threads that CLEVERLY intersecting towards the end, no longer have shows about everyday situations which we can genuinely relate to, no longer have fast-paced conversation, and no longer have the characters we once loved (this all in each episode I mean - there are apsects that show up individually in episodes from time to time but not all at once anymore)
Elaine has gotten genuinely mean this season. Quite a change. I mean, look back at seasons past, the characters for all their flaws, were genuinely likable. George was an irritant, but even we could relate to some of his neuroses. But Elaine this year....mean. Kramer is plot driven, so his little ticks don't have any context to be really funny in. The writers this year said, they wanted to make the characters more darker, more eccentric. Why? What the hell for? They didn't like success? The show was NOT getting stagnant. Some of the best stuff came from last year.
although i agree that david's departure did greatly hurt the show (after all, they lost half of the creative genius), i still think that seinfeld has more than managed to hold its own this season.. unlike other shows like the simpsons. the kennyrogers-chicken and the syndication-in-japan episodes show some promise for this and the next season
While I wouldn't say that it sucked (I chortled a couple of times), I did think it was weak. The writers are taking the easy way out by throwing absurd situations against the wall and hoping that something sticks. There was very little evidence of the meticulous careful plotting and split-second timing that is "Seinfeld's" trademark.
A few specific examples: Peterman re-appearing without any apparent reason or explanation; Morty using Kramer's doorknob to exercise (why didn't he just exercise during the day if he was afraid of waking Jerry?); Morty meekly leaving when Peterman dismisses him (it would have been much funnier, and more in keeping with "Seinfeld" tradition, if Peterman had latched onto Morty as an eccentric genius and dressed down Elaine for not recognizing the man's innate talent and intuition for the retail clothing industry...and then gave Elaine's stock options to Morty to be a consultant); and the Costanzas moving to Florida and then, arbitrarily, deciding immediately to move back to Queens (such behavior is not charmingly idiosyncratic, it is certifiably psychotic).
Any comments?
It may not have been the worst episode ever, but it was in the bottom of the barrel. The only amusing moment, and the one that was most in keeping with Seinfeld's tradition of sharp dialogue, was the conversation at Monk's between George and Elaine, where George was continually frustrated that Elaine kept turning the discussion away from his problems and back to hers. Otherwise it failed on every level. -JMC
Lee Salem wrote: (snip, snip...am I supposed to write that when I cut part of it out?)
The joke with the Costanzas moving back was kind of a cop-out, but the point was that they moved back because Frank saw Jerry. So it's indirectly Jerry's fault that George loses his buffer zone again.
The show was pretty bad, but no "Seinfeld" was ever as bad as the Friars Club episode.
the one where elains nipple was showing in the christmas card. it was so grose!
Jerry's parents selling their condo and moving into a mobile home was ridiculous!! I think the writers are trying way too hard to wring every last drop of comedy out of of a non-comedic situation. "Seinfeld" now seems tired and unfunny. I hope we see some improvement in the upcoming episodes. Bring back the golden age!
--Shabier
bad. STOP YOU WHINING!! this could be the last season, a true seinfeld fan would never knock one of the greatest shows ever. The saving grace of this episode was Jack Clampis and the pen.
[email] wrote:
Shutup. If he wants to criticize, then let him. Seinfeld did not get to the #1 comedy in television by putting out crap like that. If they are renewed for another season (and it continues to stay like this), it will be a sad way for Seinfeld to bow out.
IF YOU DON'T ENJOY SEINFELD ANYMORE - WHY ARE YOU IN THIS NEWSGROUP??