An Analytical Episode Guide to :
Season 7, Part 2
Episode 7, Season 7
The Secret Code
Plot Summary-George refuses to reveal his secret code.
Elaine is attracted to a man because he can’t remember her. George gets stuck
with Peterman after Elaine cancels plans and Jerry bails. Jerry becomes the
spokesman for an appliance store while Kramer tries to give firefighters better
directions.
Best Quote-“I l reached down, there was nothing there!”…George
commenting on the fact he couldn’t come up with a lie on the spot.
Nitpick of the episode-This is an obvious one, but how much
easier would things have been for George in this episode if he had just told Susan
what his damn code is?
Seinfeldism of the episode-George’s secret code? Here’s a
hint, it’s a chocolate syrup
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode
Episode Fun Fact-This episode is a great example of how big
the show had become, as we see the scenes at the fire station which were shot
on location at an actual fire house.
Final Thoughts-This episode is really good. It has one of
the best endings; after refusing to reveal the code all episode, we finally see
George forced to reveal the code…and then the credits. It’s a brilliant curtain
call, one of the series best. I loved the idea of George being in a lying
slump, and wish they had explored that a little more. Jerry and Kramer both
have good stories, Jerry accidentally offending leaping Larry wasn’t too bad and
Kramer riding the fire truck is a classic moment. Another great scene is the
when Kramer tries to guess George’s code. The only downside, as usual, is
Elaine whose story is pointless and goes nowhere.
Grade=B+, starting to think I never liked Elaine after all
Episode 8, Season 7
The Pool Guy
Plot Summary- George is upset when Jerry suggests that
Elaine and Susan spend time together. Jerry runs into an annoying pool guy.
Kramer gets a new number which happens to be similar to movie phones.
Best Quote-“If relationship George walks through this door
he will kill independent George. A George divided against himself cannot stand!”….George
(duh)
Nitpick of the episode-Jerry has grown since the second episode;
he has no problem finally telling Ramon to go away. I don’t blame him, he was
one annoying character. He actually returned in the finale but his scene was
cut. Also, if Newman and Jerry didn’t want to give Ramon mouth to mouth they
could have at least yelled for help rather than just sitting there. No wonder
Jerry and Newman were banned from the health club.
Seinfeldism of the episode-When worlds collide…..
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode
Episode Fun Fact-The end of the episode features a brilliant
cameo by the real voice of movie phone that Kramer spends the episode
imitating. Also, the character of Ramon was supposed to be played by another
actor, but that’s a long story.
Final Thoughts-I love how Seinfeld took a principal you
usually see in science fiction and turned it into a life rule. What happens
when worlds collide? It explodes! In the context of the episode the “worlds”
are George’s role as boyfriend and his role as Jerry’s friend, which would seem
to be in conflict. Brilliant, and the episode does a fantastic job explaining
it. The character of Ramon seems like a recycled version of Hornick from the
second episode. The scene between Newman and Jerry about giving Ramon mouth to
mouth is classic Seinfeld. George doesn’t have much to do here except complain
about the situation, but he has such a great speech in the episode I can
forgive that. It is funny to watch Susan take his place in the group. Kramer is
funny even if the story isolates him; he basically spends the last half the
episode sitting on his couch. Elaine is good here and has a great line when
Jerry explains how he refused to give mouth to mouth, she goes to buy three movie
tickets by asking for “two adults, one child”…..nice dig.
Grade=B, pretty solid effort
Episode 9, Season 7
The Sponge
Plot Summary-Elaine is upset to discover her favorite kind
of birth control is off the market. George is forced to try the condom again.
Jerry gets the name of woman off an AIDS walk list, and Kramer signs up for the walk.
Best Quote-“You know what this means don’t you? You’re cut off;
you’re out of the loop!”…Jerry
Nitpick of the episode-Elaine goes nuts about the sponge in
this episode, but back in “The Virgin” she was using a diaphragm for birth
control. Soooo, why is it so important that Kramer wear the ribbon?
Seinfeldism of the episode-Spongeworthy
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.
Episode Fun Fact-The sponge has actually returned to the market
Final Thoughts-The scene where Elaine interviews her boyfriend
to see if he is sponge worthy as if he were interviewing for a job is
fantastic. Kramer’s story is kind of silly, we see him not preparing for the
walk and obviously the writers knew they needed something else to happen to him
which is why we get a pointless return of Cedric and Bob. The scene at the end
where Kramer passes out, beaten up and bruised isn’t funny. It might have been
if Jerry had just been right and staying up all night caught up with him, but
knowing he was attacked and beaten by people hurts the moment rather than helps
it. We get some good examples of what it’s like to be a couple in this episode,
first the discussion about revealing secrets and then the whole discussion
about the condom. Sometimes in these episodes it’s hard to connect the stories,
and one of the worst tie ins happens in this episode when Jerry is forced to
tell George how he got took the number off the AIDS walk list (because George brings
up unlisted number in a way which is unconvincing). It’s just a forced moment.
Grade=B-
Episode 10, Season 7
The Gum
Plot Summary-Kramer invests in an old movie house and helps
Lloyd Braun get back on his feet. Elaine tries to avoid Lloyd’s advances. Jerry
gets stuck wearing glasses he doesn’t need. An old family friend thinks George
should be committed.
Best Quote-“This is what the holidays are all about, three
buddies sitting around chewing gum”…Kramer
Nitpick of the episode-George’s neighbor Deena has a lot of
nerve. Because her father had to be committed she’s now an expert? She only
spent five minutes with George! And I love when she refuses to take
responsibility for what happened to George’s car. It was her father’s fault!
Rather than convince her he is not crazy George should just have nothing to do
with her.
Seinfeldism of the episode-“Am I crazy….”
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.
Episode Fun Fact-Lloyd Braun is played by a different actor
than in his first appearance and we finally learn the name of the cashier at
Monk’s, Ruthie Cohen.
Final Thoughts-I don’t know what to think about this
episode. It seems like all the characters are played oddly. Jerry wears glasses
for no reason, Elaine turns into a slut, and George’s usual amusing neurotic
whining aren’t funny when they are seen through the eyes of Deena. The only one
who makes out is Kramer, who does a really good job in this one. We also see
the end of the car read by Jon Voigt. Unfortunately we get more rehash as
George believes he was short changed, just liked he did many episodes earlier
in “The Stranded”.
Grade=C+, only ok
Episode 11, Season 7
The Rye
Plot Summary-A marble rye comes between George’s parents and
Susan’s. George gets Jerry’s help to replace the rye, which forced Jerry to
steal from an old lady. Kramer watches a handsome cab for a friend while Elaine
dates a musician who is a bit inhibited.
Best Quote-“You know one of these days something terrible is
going to happen to you. It has to!”….Elaine to Jerry
Nitpick of the episode-Jerry had all day to get that marble
rye, why in the world did he wait until the last minute? I can understand why Frank
was upset they didn’t serve the bread, but taking it back was 100% wrong.
Seinfeldism of the episode-Elaine’s boyfriend doesn’t do “everything”
Deleted Scenes-Kramer being introduced to Rusty and the
handsome cab
Episode Fun Fact-This episode was filmed outdoors with fake
snow on the street, which prompted a snowball fight late into the shooting.
Final Thoughts-This episode is simply a classic. First we get that
great scene where George’s parents meet Susan’s. Then the whole thing with the
rye bread leads to one of George’s craziest schemes. Add to that the story with
Kramer and the handsome cab. He feeds the horse beefarino which causes bad
things to happen. What other show can make a flatulent horse funny? Elaine’s
story is kind of boring, but it is sharply written and does have a funny pay
off. What Jerry does stealing that rye is despicable, but we forgive it because
not only do we know Jerry didn’t really want to do that but as we will see he
will end up paying for that action by the end of the season. It’s because of
that we laugh at his action rather than be appalled, something to remember as we get
to the season finale. The episode ends with the scene of George holding the rye
bread at the end of a fishing hook, and what great gag that was!
Grade=A, a classic with good reason
Episode 12, Season 7
The Caddy
Plot Summary-Elaine buys a bra as a gift for a friend, who
wears it as a top. Jerry and Kramer get into an accident because of her and sue
her. They also wreck George’s car, and when they return it to the stadium it
leads to the belief he has been killed.
Best Quote-“She’s your Lex Luthor!”….Jerry
Nitpick of the episode-It’s annoying this late in the run to
introduce characters like Sue Ellen Mischke. If she is really someone so hated
by Elaine shouldn’t she have come up by now? Ok it is stated she had just moved
there a year earlier, but still. I also love how Jerry brings George’s broken
car back to the parking lot and tells no one, even George. Did he really think
no one would notice?
Seinfeldism of the episode-“Stan the Caddy”
Deleted Scenes-The scene with Steinbrenner and the Costanza’s
was longer
Episode Fun Fact- The answering machine message Frank leaves
is one of Jerry’s favorite moments in the series.
Final Thoughts-This is a weak episode, but it does have one
of the biggest laughs at the end. The joke about the glove was sheer
brilliance, and it still makes me laugh. If you don’t know, it’s a callback to
events in the OJ Simpson trial and is really funny. The rest of the episode is
only ok. Elaine, Jerry, and Kramer’s story kind of blend into one big story.
Worst than that, George hardly has anything to do even though he does become
directly involved. The scene where Steinbrenner visits the Costanza’s to tell
them about George is funny, but also kind of out of place. Sometime after this
episode I had the urge to try an Oh Henry! candy bar. It was only ok.
Grade=B-, There is some real good stuff in here but some of
it is really dumb too
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