Jerry took a book out in 1971, and Bookman believes he never returned it. With "The Library," legendary character actor Philip Baker Hall delivers what may be the show's best monologue as stern library detective Lt. Season 3: Episode 5, "The Library" Over the years, Seinfeld always managed to showcase gifted performers in ancillary roles. When his relative passes away the next day, Jerry is tasked with a making a tough decision: does he attend this woman's funeral (a woman he may or may not have killed with his pony remark), or does he play in his championship softball game? It's an episode that beautifully blends the existential and the comical. Much to his surprise, an elderly relative of his responds, "I had a pony! When I was a little girl in Poland, we all had ponies!" Written by Seinfeld and Larry Charles, it's the first episode that takes a bit to the extreme. "I hate anyone who had a pony growing up," Seinfeld claims. Season 2: Episode 2, "The Pony Remark" At a 50th anniversary dinner, Jerry and Elaine make a crack about spoiled children who owned ponies. There's a minor dip in quality come the eighth season, if only because Larry David left the show after Season 7. Jerry learns how to act a little bit Kramer grows more outrageous, and brilliant George becomes more self-involved and Elaine, steadily advancing her career in publishing, somehow manages to remain friends with this gaggle of buffoons. The four main players find their groove, and they operate seamlessly within it. Every narrative strand here feels like it should be either five minutes shorter or longer.įrom about Season 3 onward, Seinfeld is consistently dynamite. Elaine's subplot, involving poppy seeds, blood tests, and opium, is also haphazardly constructed. While everyone in Jerry's apartment complex suffers from a weak showerhead, George convinces his parents to move to Florida. Season 7: Episode 15, "The Shower Head" In a season full of brilliant episodes, writers Marjorie Gross and Peter Mehlman's minor misfire stands out. There's not a whole bunch to laugh at here. Same goes for Elaine and Kramer's storylines. Bania's request becomes more taxing when, at the dinner table, he only orders a bowl of soup, claiming "soup's not dinner!" George's plot is slim, and unfunny. In exchange for an Armani suit, Bania asks that Jerry take him out for a nice dinner. In this episode there's simply too much of Bania. The character is an obnoxious, horrific standup who makes jokes about Ovaltine un-ironically. Season 6: Episode 7, "The Soup" Much to Jerry's chagrin, Kenny Bania (Steve Hytner) surfaces throughout the series. Thankfully, this peculiar episode prompted Alexander to walk up to Larry David and tell him he'd quit if he was ever written out of the storyline again. When half of the parts are MIA, it's going to be hard to find rhythm. The quality of any ensemble comedy is predicated on, well, the ensemble. Season 3: Episode 3, "The Pen" There are two big reasons this episode is quite possibly the worst Seinfeld has to offer: the absence of George and Kramer. Jumping into any episode during any season is kosher. Most importantly, this is a show about characters, not plot. That said, you're not going to experience an un-amusing episode of Seinfeld. Characters haven't been properly molded (Kramer is especially peculiar in the first six episodes). Like any new show, everyone involved is trying to find their footing. Unless you're a completist, the first season and a half of Seinfeld is not essential viewing.
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