February 24, 2012

Analytical Episode Guide-Seinfeld (Season 3, Part 4)

An Analytical Episode Guide to :
 

Season  3, Part 4


Today we conclude our look at Season 3 with six episodes. There was a certain style to the episodes of the first three seasons, and here we see the last of that style as the show finally takes the form it will be become famous for. Of course much later it would change again, this time into a parody of itself, but I am getting way ahead of things. Here are the final six episodes of season 3 :

Episode 17, Season 3
The Fix-Up
 
Plot Summary- Jerry and Elaine decide to fix George up with Elaine’s friend Cynthia, figuring that they would probably get along pretty well. The date goes so-so, but a wrinkle is thrown in when it turns out a condom Kramer gave to George was defective, and Cynthia misses her period.
Best Quote-“My boys can swim!”….George
Nitpick of the episode-I guess the easy question from this episode is simply, why did they believe fixing George up with anyone would actually work out?
Seinfeldism of the episode-We learn George likes his women to have a “pinkish hue”
Deleted Scenes-George explaining how he can’t approach women outside of bars, Elaine and Jerry discuss cruises.
Episode Fun Fact-The episode is based on a similar incident which happened to writer Larry Charles, who wrote an Emmy for writing for this episode.
Final Thoughts-Pretty good episode, but the whole pregnancy scare feels very much like they had five minutes to kill and needed to do something. Why else is it dropped so fast? However, aside from that it is a pretty funny episode. It’s too bad Elaine’s friend never appeared again, she fit in very well. Kramer’s role is strictly to move the plot along, as he appears with condoms which end up being defective. He also has two great moments when he breaks up Jerry and George, and later Jerry and Elaine, arguing.
Grade=A-, not half-bad

Episode 18, Season 3
The Limo
 
Plot Summary-George’s car dies on his way to pick up Jerry at the airport. When Jerry arrives they see a limo driver waiting for a passenger who Jerry knows is not coming. They decide to take the limo meant for the other passenger, and things spiral down after that. It turns out the limo was meant for the head of the Arian Union on his way to neo-Nazi rally. After they pick up Elaine and Kramer they gang ends up with guns pointed at them.
Best Quote-“She’s a Nazi George, a Nazi!”….Jerry
Nitpick of the episode-We learn that leader of Arian nation was not allowed on the plane, that is how Jerry and George knew they could sneak on the limo. Here is my question, why would the guy wait so long to call someone? The flight from Chicago to New York is at least two hours; assume it was another half hour or so before the call finally comes in at the end. What did the guy do, get some dinner first? Also, if this guy’s arrival was causing such a mob scene and media frenzy outside Madison Square Garden and it was known he was flying in (which the reporter clearly says), then why was there not one reporter or protestor at the airport waiting for this guy?
Seinfeldism of the episode-When the jig is up, Jerry points out it was a bad jig to begin with
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.
Episode Fun Fact-As you can guess, this was not an easy story to write.
Final Thoughts-This episode starts out great but ends up farfetched. I mean really farfetched! I give the writers credit for trying to make this work, and it is a funny episode if you can buy the situation they are in. Unfortunately, I really can’t. It just doesn’t work for me. However, if I suspend all disbelief for the half hour and ignore the plot holes and odd coincidences I do find this to be a funny show. It’s also pretty clear Elaine and Kramer were just stuck into the script since they basically have no reason to be here. One of the dumbest Elaine moments happens at the end, when the gang is exiting the limo with guns pointed at them she stops to wave to a friend. Dumb!
Grade=C-, for a totally implausible episode it’s kind of an enjoyable one.

Episode 19, Season 3
The Good Samaritan
 
Plot Summary-Jerry witnesses a hit and run outside his building, but when he confronts the driver he ends up dating her. Elaine stirs up a married woman with a hot story, and after George causes a fight by saying god bless you to the wife he winds up having an affair with her. Kramer has mysterious seizures. When Jerry discovers who the owner of the car that was hit was, he tries to hit on her.
Best Quote-“How do you know it’s not John Tesh?”…..Kramer
Nitpick of the episode-Sorry, but the lengths Jerry goes through for the girl who hit and ran is just ridiculous. Even after the woman basically threatens him, he not only covers for her but pays the bill out of his own pocket. Really Jerry? There is nothing attractive about her (I hate her every time I see this episode).
Seinfeldism of the episode-saying “You’re so good looking” after someone sneezes rather than “god bless you”.
Deleted Scenes-George obsessing about seeing a married woman.
Episode Fun Fact-Kramer’s story about getting seizures after hearing Mary Hart’s voice was based on a real news story. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss is clearly pregnant in this episode.
Final Thoughts-This episode leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The only time Jason Alexander directed, and boy can we see why. This episode is oddly paced and just isn’t funny. I mean, at all. Even the catchphrase is silly, does telling someone they are so good looking after they have sneezed really seem like a good idea? Not funny. Kramer having seizures? Not funny. George having sex with a married woman? Not funny. Jerry and George being threatened with physical violence? Not funny. The worst part is none of these stories gets resolved.
Grade=D+, I think I pointed out this episode isn’t funny.

Episode 20, Season 3
The Letter
 
Plot Summary-Jerry is dating a woman named Nina who is a painter. She paints a portrait of Kramer, is jealous of Elaine, and sells George an ugly painting. When she and Jerry brake up she writes him letter, which it turns out was plagiarized right out of Neil Simon’s Chapter Two.  At a baseball game, Elaine is thrown out for wearing an Orioles cap while Kramer gets hit in the head by a foul ball.
Best Quote-“I always thought there was something funny about this letter!”….Jerry
Nitpick of the episode-The big argument in this episode is, should Elaine have been told to take a Baseball cap off at a Baseball game? Problem is she was in the Yankee owner’s box and her hat had an Orioles logo on it. This is a case of Elaine making her own trouble. I hate to admit it but I agree with Nina, who may be a rotten person, but Elaine didn’t pay for the ticket and as an invited guest then she should have just taken the cap off. Sometimes she picks the wrong battles to fight, and we’ll get even better examples as we dive into the next season.
Seinfeldism of the episode-It’s not really a “seinfeldism”, but the scene where Jerry, George, and Elaine are sitting on the couch flipping around the TV is a prime example of what Seinfeld does best. Little moments in life that other programs never show.
Deleted Scenes-The speech by the elderly couple about the painting, and Jerry and Nina’s fight, was originally longer. We also saw the couple buy the painting, and Nina confesses to copying the letter. Jerry dumps her by quoting “Plaza Suite”.
Episode Fun Fact-The painting seen in the episode was scanned and copies had been sold in stores for years. The incident with Elaine at the ballgame was based on a real incident involving Larry David.
Final Thoughts-I am amazed this was a season 3 episode; it sure doesn’t feel like it. However while it may feel like a season 4 episode, it certainly isn’t a great episode. I am surprised Jerry puts up with Nina as long as he does. Kramer’s story also has no real payoff, after getting hit in the head he messes up George and Elaine’s names but that’s all that comes of it. As for Elaine’s story, I already commented on that. She also worried that her boss will realize she missed his son’s briss to go the game, but there is no resolution to that either. The only cute moment is the couple who buy the Kramer painting; it makes for a cute scene.
Grade=B, parts of this feel like classic Seinfeld but Jerry’s girlfriend is totally unlikable (though not nearly as bad as the horrible girl in the previous episode).

Episode 21, Season 3
The Parking Space
 
Plot Summary-Jerry is preparing to have some people over to watch a fight on TV. Kramer is mad at George and Elaine for going to a flea market without inviting him. Elaine causes George to damage Jerry’s car, and then when George tries to back into a parking space, another man tries pulling in to the same space. The two fight over the spot for the remainder of the episode while others debate the issue.
Best Quote-“Because I’m like ice buddy. When I don’t like you, you’ve got problems”…..Kramer
Nitpick of the episode- Kramer getting upset at George and Elaine for not inviting him to go with them to the flea market seems kind of strained. I agree with George on this one, what’s he supposed to do ask everyone he knows if they want to do whatever he’s doing every time he leaves his apt? We see the gang doing lots without Kramer, especially prior to this episode. What’s so special about this time?
 Seinfeldism of the episode-Jerry is called a phony by Kramer’s friend Mike
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.
Episode Fun Fact-This was a hard episode to film since it was mostly outdoors. Bleachers were set up for the studio audience, which didn’t work very well. It took all day to shoot, in fact at one point the shot changes and it goes from day to night in between the shots.
Final Thoughts-This is the last episode to have that “early episode” feel. But let’s discuss this episode specifically. I may not live in a big city but I can understand how relatable this situation must be, people fighting over parking spaces. This episode starts out pretty good, but as the second half starts to unfold the story kind of gets boring. You can almost feel the writers trying to stretch it long enough for it to be long enough and the gag of the gang saying inappropriate things is kind obvious filler. Elaine’s fake account of what happened to Jerry’s car is the highlight of the episode.
Grade=B-, starts out strong but just kind of fades toward the end (and there is no resolution which always bugged me).

Episode 22, Season 3
The Keys
 
Plot Summary-When Kramer abuses his key privileges at Jerry’s; he proceeds to take the keys away. Hurt and upset, Kramer runs to Los Angeles to try to make it into acting. George is invited to go but he turns Kramer down. Jerry then locks himself out of his apartment and needs George to get Elaine’s copy of his keys. Meanwhile, Elaine is taking a hand at writing a script for Murphy Brown…on which Kramer ends up as the secretary of the week.
Best Quote-“What you call wasting I call living, I’m living my life,”…..George
Nitpick of the episode-Jerry has to run to George and Elaine when he is locked out of his apartment. Doesn’t Jerry’s building have a super? Actually, in a later episode Kramer is locked out of his apartment so I guess the answer is no.
Seinfeldism of the episode-Jerry hears Elaine say “something” when she uses obscenities about him under her breath.
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.
Episode Fun Fact-The episode ends with a scene which is remarkable even for today. We see Kramer has become part of the running secretary gag on Murphy Brown, in a scene set on that set! Murphy Brown was a completely different studio, production company, and network so the fact they were able to do this is amazing. It’s also a real great scene.
Final Thoughts-This episode is……not completely horrible? It’s hard to put into words, but the whole thing about Jerry and Kramer having a fight is kind of a stretch. Is Kramer really over Jerry’s apartment more than he used to be? Then we get the contrivance of Jerry forgetting his keys while Kramer makes his way to California. The idea that Jerry would forget his keys is too much of a coincidence. This episode is clearly meant to set up the next one, which is OK but by itself it doesn’t stand out. The only good thing is the great Murphy Brown scene at the end, the brilliance of making Kramer part of that show’s secretary gag was sheer genius and I am raising the grade for the episode just based on that.
 Grade=B+, weak episode with a great finish!

With the ending of season 3 it was clear the show had truly found its identity. It’s no wonder the next season would be, in my opinion, the best of the entire run with classic, well written episodes that would be remembered for years. We will begin out look at Season 4 next week.

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