Grid Effect

Damn, so how do I convey something that was twisted, heinous, inappropriate and hilarious without sounding like I need to be committed myself? I know, I’ll go on a preamble about how I do not agree with any of the actions of the characters, but am highly amused by their callous indifference to those around them.

There, now that I can write with impunity, how about the gang celebrating the death of one of their parents? Huh? Was that fucking hilarious or what? Nothing like following up tripping on acid and treating an infant found in a dumpster as a commodity, with kidnapping two college students and figuring out how to screw over your awful, deceased mother/ex-wife. This show, obviously, is merciless.

The first episode, bluntly titled, “Dennis and Dee’s Mom Is Dead” really emphasizes how these are people you’d rather watch than encounter. They’re so self-absorbed, the woman’s death only inspires Frank and Dee to enact revenge against their ex-wife/mother by hoping to coerce Dee’s biological father out of the fortune she left him. To which he turns the tables and ends up marrying the two of them while they’re trying to prove they’re a real couple, and confiscates the video of Frank on Dennis’ estate, left to him by his mother under the bylines that he never let her ex-husband on the property.

The physical acting is kind of what carries this episode. The mannerisms and reactions of Dennis, Charlie and Mac while searching for new friends to live on their “legacy” really accentuate the awkwardness I’m sure their unsuspecting victims were feeling. It would have been nice to see Dee in on this scheme, but who has time for that when pining to dig up your mother for the jewelery she was buried with?

The second episode was actually tame in comparison. In “The Gang Gets Held Hostage”, the McPoyle’s, supposedly exacting their own revenge for the debilitation of their cousin last week at Eagles camp, burst into the bar (the two main ones and the sister with the uni-brow). This episode just revolved around how self-involved each of the characters are. They each, at one point or another, sold each other out to save their own ass.

Speaking of which, there were a number of parodies in this episode. Most notably with Die Hard when one of the McPoyle’s fell off the roof. Also, Dee running around the bar forming “alliances” with Charlie and Dennis in a satirical reference to Survivor (appropriate since the reality show’s 15th season premiered last night); and a psuedo-parody of the movie Hostage with Charlie and Frank climbing through the vents (or at least that is what it reminded me of, seems a tad obscure compared to the other two references).

This episode is also nominated for the most horrifying scene in television history, when Dennis attempts (and succeeds) at seducing the deaf-mute sister of the two brothers. Her only response to anything in this episode is to stick her tongue in a lizard-like fashion, and she does so here. Then with the McPoyle busting into the room and asking what’s going on, and Dennis saying “nothing”, then the McPoyle replying, “It doesn’t look like nothing, but for the record I’m into it”. Ugh. I almost died from laughter or disgust.

In addition to most horrifying scene, the arguably the funniest scene in this series’ history was in this episode. And it was nothing more than Charlie and Mac talking in the bathroom while the deaf-mute looked on. From Charlie’s dismissal, to determining whether or not the deaf-mute can read lips, to arguing over the Frank’s will, I was in stitches.

Anyhow, it ends when they find out there were no cops haggling on the phone, then discover the guns in question were rubber and the entire thing was a practical joke. It is actually satisfying to see a group of scumbags duped by an inbred family, restoring some justice in the world.

Note: With so much quality television on Thursday nights (IASIP, Survivor, Mad Men and The Office), we’re moving the links up to Wednesday or Tuesday. Sorry for the late notice, enjoy the weekend.