An Analytical Episode Guide to:
Season 5, Part 1
After the amazing success of season 4, expectations were
high for season 5. Especially since they were finally airing in the coveted
9:00 at Thursday time slot formerly held by Cheers. Were those expectations
met? Let’s check it out.
Episode 1, Season 5
The Mango
Plot Summary-Jerry is stunned when Elaine reveals that she never
had one orgasm while they were dating. Kramer gets banned from Joe’s fruit
stand and needs George to secretly buy his fruit, which include mango. George
is afraid his girlfriend may be faking. He worries so much about performing, he
is unable to do anything at all. Until he tries the mango at least.
Best Quote-“It’s like a magic trick. Sometimes I think it
would be easier to bend a spoon mentally than to make that transformation”…..George
Nitpick of the episode- While I could understand Jerry being
annoyed at Elaine’s revelation, I do think he overreacted a bit. They broke up
and aren’t together anymore, so who cares? If they were in a relationship it
would make sense.
Seinfeldism of the episode-Jerry is upset that Elaine faked,
George worries his girlfriend is faking.
Deleted Scenes-George’s conversation with his girlfriend
about how she enjoys their sex life was longer
Episode Fun Fact-Unlike “The Contest”, the fact we are
discussing orgasms is made plain and clear.
Final Thoughts-This is a good season opener. After the whole
story arc from the year before, it’s nice to see the show doing its regular stories
again. I never liked Jerry being so mad at Elaine, it made him darker than
usual. I would say that it ruined the episode except for the payoff when Elaine
tells him they have to have sex to save the friendship. Great moment. Kramer’s
story is ok but it’s George who really gets the laughs in this episode with
some great lines.
Grade=B+, decent enough start to the season
Episode 2, Season 5
The Glasses
Plot Summary-George loses his glasses when someone walks off
with them in the health club. While helping him get a new pair, Elaine gets bit
by a strange dog and thinks she has rabies. Kramer gets Jerry a new air
conditioner because his girlfriend is hot, and George is convinced he saw her making
out with Jerry’s cousin. Unfortunately he has no glasses so there is no real
proof.
Best Quote-“May I have one of those madam?”…Kramer mocking
George’s new glasses.
Nitpick of the episode-Jerry has no one else to blame for
believing George, he should have known better.
Seinfeldism of the episode-Kramer promises a discount if
George mentions his name to his friend
Deleted Scenes-Elaine and Jerry talking about the air
conditioner, an alternate ending where we see George was right about Jerry’s
girlfriend after all.
Episode Fun Fact-The first script Jerry and Larry David had almost
no hand in, and the first script to make the comedy broader. When the series
started Jerry and Larry had wanted to be as realistic as possible. By this
point they had realized how restricting that was.
Final Thoughts-I always loved this episode. It’s one where
all the characters are clicking. This is one of the first times Uncle Leo
finally started to become a recurring character with his appearance here.
George’s story about losing his glasses is good. Elaine’s story is kind of farfetched,
just who is that doctor she goes to see? The dog story is tacked on and the one
thing the script didn’t need. However Julia Louis-Dreyfuss did her best with
the whole rabies scare. The scene where
George bites an onion after spotting a dime is hilarious and Kramer’s scene
with the guy in the eyeglass store is one of his best of the series.
Grade=B+, the air conditioner hurting the dog and Jerry
having to pay the vet bill was too much
Episode 3, Season 5
The Puffy Shirt
Plot Summary-George is forced to move back in with his
parents. While at dinner with them he runs into a woman who decides he would
make a good hand model. Jerry and Elaine go out with Kramer and his girlfriend
but Jerry unknowingly agrees to wear her new shift design on Today. The design
is a puffy shift which looks totally ridiculous, but Jerry has no choice but to
wear it.
Best Quote-“But I don’t want to be a pirate!”…..Jerry,
always loved the way he said that line
Nitpick of the episode-This is one episode you almost feel
sorry for George, the last thing he needs is to move back with his parents (I
know that’s not a nit, couldn’t come up with a real one)
Seinfeldism of the episode-Kramer’s girlfriend is a low
talker
Deleted Scenes-We find that George’s mother is crazier than
Jerry’s in an extended opening scene
Episode Fun Fact-The first real appearance of Jerry Stiller
as Frank Costanza. Originally Frank was supposed to be quiet and reserved, but
that didn’t last long. Jerry and Estelle
had amazing chemistry, I can’t help but wonder if Frank and Marie in Everybody
Loves Raymond were in some way inspired by Frank and Estelle.
Final Thoughts-This episode is simply a classic, which is
amazing considering how uneven it is. Kramer barely has anything to do and
Elaine has even less to do. However, none of that matters because not only is
the sight gag of Jerry in the puffy shirt hilarious, but having him have to
wear it on The Today Show is just brilliant. George also gets a strong story as
he discovers hand modeling, only to lose it because of the puffy shirt. We finally
meet George’s parents as they officially become regular characters. We also
learn that George is the one who won “The Contest”, at least that’s what we are
led to believe until the series finale.
Grade=A, Jerry and George are at their best in this episode.
First classic of the season.
Episode 4, Season 5
The Sniffing
Accountant
Plot Summary-Jerry becomes suspicious of his accountant when
he is sniffing for no apparent reason. Kramer does some investigating work to
find out if the man is on drugs. Elaine’s new relationship is hurt by
punctuation, or lack thereof. George is handed a new job as a bra salesman, but
blows it by feeling the material on the jacket of a woman who promptly throws
him out before he has even started.
Best Quote-“Tuesday has no feel. Monday has a feel, Friday has
a feel”…..Newman’s memorable line is followed up by Kramer saying “I feel
Tuesday and Wednesday”, before they are shut up by Jerry. Great little moment.
Nitpick of the episode-I know it’s hard to believe, but I
see Elaine’s point. If her boyfriend can’t even pretend to be excited about a
friend having a baby then what future do they have? For once Elaine’s craziness
seems reasonable.
Seinfeldism of the episode-George got the job “barring some unforeseen
incident”, which of occurs happens two minutes later
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.
Episode Fun Fact-The main plotline was based on actual
events, Jerry’s real accountant stole his money to buy drugs
Final Thoughts-This
episode is…..ok. Kramer really steals the show with his antics in the bar when
he smokes and drinks at the same time. That moment earned Michael Richards an
Emmy. However, despite that the show isn’t that strong. The best part may be
more Frank and Estelle in the scene with George. Newman is also involved in the
plot; I always liked it when Newman goes in on the story. He always felt like
the missing member of the cast. George is classic, getting a job and losing it in
the span of five minutes. Elaine’s rant on exclamation points is one of her
better ones. The ending leaves a lot of questions. What happened to the letter Newman
dropped anyway? They reveal the sweater caused the sniffing, why did they have
to take it back at the very end? Did Elaine and her boyfriend reconcile? Too many
questions.
Grade=B-, decent
episode is ruined by a flimsy ending.
Episode 5, Season 5
The Bris
Plot Summary-Jerry and Elaine are asked to be the godparents
for a mutual friend’s baby. Jerry dreads the circumcision at the briss, while
Elaine is in charge of hiring a moil. Kramer discovers the hospital is breeding
a race of pig men and seeks to liberate the pig man (god that sounds stupid!).
George marvels at an amazing parking space, until a mental patient does a nose
dive right on to his car. The Mohel Elaine hires is, a bit unorthodox.
Best Quote-“He couldn't move over two feet! Land on the
sidewalk, it's city property!”….George
Nitpick of the episode-Alright, there is only one obvious nitpick
for this episode (aside from the stupid pig man story). Why is George so excited
about his parking space? I mean, who cares?? Talk about getting excited about
something stupid (I have been nice to him this week, so I can give him a hard
time in this episode).
Seinfeldism of the episode-Jerry is chosen to be godfather
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.
Episode Fun Fact-Jason Alexander wasn’t very pleased with the
Mohel’s portrayal in this episode. This was also the final episode where the audience
applauds Kramer’s entrance. Larry David stopped it because it disrupted the
shows pace.
Final Thoughts-I gotta say, when I first saw this episode I
hated it. It was just so weird, and that stuff with the pig man may be the
dumbest thing the series ever came up with (at this point in the series
anyway). Since then I have seen it a few times and realized….yeah, it’s a
pretty bad episode. The moil is way over the top, I am not Jewish but I don’t
see how that character isn’t considered offensive, and the whole story with the
pig man is totally absurd. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe how much I
hated that. On top of that, George is at his most obnoxious. It’s pretty bad
when George is so irritating that it makes it into the script.
Grade=D, nothing redeeming in this one
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