Analytical Episode Guide-Seinfeld (Season 9, Part 2)

An Analytical Episode Guide to:

 

Season 9, Part 2

Episode 7, Season 9

The Slicer

 

Plot Summary-Elaine’s neighbor leaves his alarm clock on. Kramer discovers new uses for his meat slicer. George realizes he had a run in with his new boss years ago. Jerry dates a dermatologist.

Best Quote-“Sadly that knowledge could have helped me”….Jerry

Nitpick of the episode-Kramer exceeds his own thoughtlessness in this episode by using benzene on Jerry’s hand towel to wipe his slicer down. When Jerry tosses him the canister Kramer yells out that its toxic. Gee, funny how you knew that in that moment but couldn’t figure it out when you were using Jerry’s hand towel to clean the thing! I know Kramer is kind of a mooch but I would still expect him to be a little more considerate than that.

Seinfeldism of the episode-Jerry tries the revenge date

Deleted Scenes-None for this episode

Episode Fun Fact-George’s appearance in the flashback in this episode doesn’t quite match how he really looked back in 1989

Final Thoughts-Last week I noted that George gets real annoying in this season, yelling and screaming like a loon. However, there wasn’t too much of that in the episodes I discussed last week. Well, that changes in a big way with this episode. Before we get to that let’s talk about the rest of the episode. First of all, I love Elaine’s dream in the beginning. If you’ve only seen this in syndication and don’t know what I am talking about, check out the DVD. Not only is it a cute moment, but as a dream it’s so symbolic and accurate. Clever. Elaine’s story is pretty relatable but when the neighbor also a cat it starts to feel forced. If the neighbor leaves for days or weeks at a time why not board the cat or something? Kramer’s story is a pretty subdued one, but it still works out. Always fun to see Dr Van Nostrand again. It’s funny to see Jerry so sure that he has the means to get revenge on his date only to have it backfire. This is classic Jerry here. I didn’t like the aloe joke, there are dozens of acne and skin medicines out there. George’s story really isn’t bad. He’s actually pretty good inthis episode but we can see the seeds of where his character is going in the next few episodes. There are lots of callbacks in this episode including one to “The Revenge” which is really good. I am not sure airbrushing works quite the way it is portrayed in this episode, but that’s ok. And if you look closely at the end of the episode you can see George is still in the photo. I love his new boss, Mr. Kruger Is so daffy and quirky.

Grade=B+, decent episode especially for the 9^th season

Grade=C+, the gimmick, while very good, is all this episode has to offer except for the tag which is hilarious

Final Thoughts- The gimmick in this episode is really fun. They did a great job with the whole backward thing with little gags like Kramer’s lollipop.  However, if you look past that you realize this episode is missing something very important. Humor. Truth is if you take away the gimmick of having the episode start at the end and work backward, the show is really a dud. The worst part is Kramer’s story, what the heck was that about? I mean just because someone wishes you to drop dead doesn’t guarantee you will. That would be like having Newman wishing for a model on a birthday cake and inexplicably getting her….wait, they did that to! This episode is so dumb! Elaine’s story is ok, except since when did she drink like that? There was something unsettling about this unnecessary new character trait. I like the Schnapps’ reference it brought memories of Hennigans from way back. We get Sue Ellen Mischke one last time which is cool. Jerry and George actually have a good story, I really can’t complain about it except one thing, more overacting from George. His exasperated way of saying his lines is wearing very thin but at least it’s only for a small part of this one. The best part of this episode is the tag, where we go back two years and see Susan one last time. It was a nice surprise to see her. Then we go even further back, and see Jerry moving into his apartment. Jerry tells Kramer that they should share things since they are neighbors, and this little moment is just a brilliant one.

Episode Fun Fact-This episode is an allusion to Harold Pinter’s play Betrayal, and the character Pinter is obviously named after him

Deleted Scenes-George and Nina’a date, George trying to avoid going to the bathroom. Ever notice the balloons in the final (first?) coffee shop scene? There was a reason for that involving Kramer and a kids birthday party but it got cut

Seinfeldism of the episode-Elaine’s vault is useless because too many people know the combination (schnapps), Elaine calls Sue Ellen’s invitation an “unvitation”

Nitpick of the episode-Nina’s reason for going to India is one of flimsiest, weakest things I have ever heard in a sitcom or anything else. It was as if the writers just didn’t care. A free trip to India, that’s why she went? That doesn’t even make sense!! Oh, and why does George worry about going to the bathroom in India when it was Elaine who was advised against it by Pinter’s parents?

Best Quote-“You can stuff your sorries in a sack mister!”….George, and we learn he got that from Susan

Plot Summary-Elaine goes to a wedding in India to spite the bride. Jerry sets up George with an old acquaintance named Nina, and then has sex with her. Kramer tries to keep a friend’s wish from coming true.

 

The Betrayal

Episode 8, Season 9

(oh, you knew I was going to reverse that, didn’t you?)

Episode 9, Season 9

The Apology

 

Plot Summary-George demands an apology from an old friend who is a recovering alcoholic. Jerry dates a woman who does not wear clothes. Kramer tries to cut down his shower time. Elaine’s co-worker fears germs.

Best Quote-“The female body is a work of art. The male body is utilitarian, it’s for getting around. It’s like a jeep”…..Elaine

Nitpick of the episode-I get being a germophobe, but Peggy crosses the line into being a bitch. She can’t drink the water Elaine briefly touched, but can drink an almost empty bottle that the fellow next to her had just been drinking? Right. By the way, I am not one who worries about germs. I really don’t care for the most part. But if someone told me the food I had been eating was in the shower with them, I think I would also find that a little gross.

Seinfeldism of the episode-Good naked vs. bad naked, and yes there is such a thing

Deleted Scenes-None for this episode

Episode Fun Fact-Of course Jerry’s girlfriend, or the actress, was covered when filming

Final Thoughts-This is actually a pretty good episode, except for George and is ranting. During the course of the episode George is brought to rage-a-holics, which makes sense in the context of the episode but where has this behavior been the last eight years? I can buy the story about him wanting an apology, but why does he have to be filled with rage? It almost felt like Jason Alexander forgot how to play the character or something. Jerry’s story isn’t bad, but it also doesn’t really amount to anything, It’s hard to have a whole story based on what is essentially a one joke gag. I am not sure how to feel about Kramer and the shower thing. I mean, for almost half the episode he is stuck in the shower, it gets kind of boring to be honest with you. Finally, I am totally on Elaine’s side in this one, if I were her I would have done far worst to Peggy. By the way, this is one episode I really like Puddy in.

Grade=B-, George dumbs the episode down

Episode 10, Season 9

The Strike

 

Plot Summary-Kramer goes back to work. George invents his own charity. Elaine gives out a fake phone number. Jerry dates a “two-faced”.

Best Quote-“She’s like a 3-D baseball card that changes depending on the angle”….Jerry

Nitpick of the episode-I can’t help but feel that everything Elaine does in this episode is just a huge waste of time

Seinfeldism of the episode-Festivus for the rest of us, Jerry’s girl is two-faced

Deleted Scenes-Jerry and Kruger discussing the charity money

Episode Fun Fact-The amazing thing is that Fesitvus has really taken off, it is literally celebrated and there are even companies which sell poles you can buy. Ben & Jerry’s also created and ice cream flavor called Festivus, which I sadly never tried

Final Thoughts-This is one of my favorite holiday episodes, I watch it every Christmas. Ever notice how there are four separate stories plus the Festivus story? Actually that kind of hurts the episode. There is a lot going on. Elaine’s story is the worst. Chasing a fake number just so she can get a lousy free sub? Dumb. Jerry’s story is kind of lame to, why does the woman’s face keep changing like that? If there was a reason for it than I may let it go, but as it is its just mean. George giving out fake Christmas gifts is funny. I wish I could say he was totally rage free in this episode but we still get a scene of him raging as he runs out of the room. Seems like every episode this season has to have at least one. Kramer is the star of the episode. Sure, the idea he has been on strike for ten years is a little hard to buy but watching him try to make bagels makes it worth it. As I noted the amazing thing is that the fake holiday in this episode is literally celebrated by people every December 23^rd. That’s just a little scary.

Grade=A-­­, Elaine’s story is really lame but otherwise this is a classic

Episode 11, Season 9

The Dealership

 

Plot Summary-Jerry decides to buy a new car from Puddy. A starving George accuses a mechanic of stealing his candy bar. Elaine gets tired of Puddy’s new habit. Kramer takes a car out for a very long test drive.

Best Quote-“You must thing I’m pretty stupid?”….George

Nitpick of the episode-As Elaine points out, what was the point of George and that candy line up? It doesn’t make sense; even if the manager had recognized the Twix how does that prove anything? It makes so little sense it has be to be mentioned in the script! Where did he get the candy, the vending machine was out of them! Of course the real question is, if George had the money to buy the candy for the lineup then why didn’t he just buy the extra Twix in the first place! I know George can be cheap, but what he does in this episode is ridiculous and only topped off by his excessive rage.

Seinfeldism of the episode-Puddy and his high fives

Deleted Scenes-Kramer loading hay into the car

Episode Fun Fact-Jerry’s apartment once again does not appear in this episode

Final Thoughts-Well, this is where George finally hits bottom with his rage. But let’s hold that discussion off for a second. Elaine really doesn’t have much to do in this episode but break up with Puddy and then get back together with him because of Jerry. The scene where Elaine and Puddy discuss the terms of their getting back together like they were buying a new car is cute. Kramer gets a very odd story. For once he spends almost the entire episode away from the others, as he test drives a car with the salesman for hours it seems. I’m just not sure what to think of this one, it is funny I guess but not sure what the point of it is (aside from getting the salesman fired maybe). I did always wonder why Jerry never wondered at any point what became of his friend. At the end the three are leaving in a cab, did they forget that Kramer was with them when they arrived? Jerry’s story here is that he’s buying a car. That’s pretty much as it as he feeds George and Elaine’s story. Jerry and Elaine do a little overacting but nothing compared to what we get from George. Speaking of George, let’s talk about it. To be fair his story is relatable. Who hasn’t had their candy get stuck in the vending machine, or the classic crinkled dollar bill which the machine stubbornly refuses to accept? The problem is the story just spirals down and gets nutty, until it reaches the point that I am on the side of the people in the dealership not George! At least in “The Merv Griffin Show” the problem was a horrible story George was stuck in, and in “The Apology” his rage was part of the script. Here the story is pretty good; it’s George (or more accurately the way he is played) that makes it hard to watch. I know he’s hungry, got it, but does he need to act like a raving loon culminating in that scene where he just screams into the air like a mental patient? If George behaved like this the majority of the series I don’t we think we would have stuck around for nine years! It’s a shame to; he spoils an otherwise decent episode.

Grade=C+, George flat out ruins this one

Episode 12, Season 9

The Reverse Peephole

 

Plot Summary-Kramer and Newman reverse their peepholes, and Newman is almost evicted. Elaine is bothered by Puddy’s new jacket. Jerry abandons his wallet which George refuses to do despite its enormous size.

Best Quote-“Cheapness is not a sense”….Jerry in response to George saying he has a sixth sense

Nitpick of the episode-That Joe Mayo is incredibly annoying, why anyone would want to go to his party is beyond me, Elaine says he never dated Puddy in winter but she dated him during hockey season in “The Face Painter” which, I believe, is winter

Seinfeldism of the episode-Jerry goes on a successful pocket diet by ditching his wallet

Deleted Scenes-A longer ending about Puddy’s new jacket which includes Newman

Episode Fun Fact-Original title for this was “The Man Fur”,  this was the first episode to air after the announcement that this would in fact be the final season of Seinfeld

Final Thoughts-This is getting redundant. This episode is pretty good, except for George once again! Forgetting the fact we have seen George take out his wallet many times and it was never been overstuffed like that, once again we are treated to more manic behavior. True it’s not nearly as bad in this episode, but it’s still here. Aside from that we have Kramer reversing his peephole, which makes no sense but since its Kramer we accept it. The whole story of Newman dating the landlord’s wife is ok. This is another stand out Kramer episode, notice how he gets involved in all the stories? It is kind of funny watching Elaine comment on Puddy’s odd jacket, and who wears fur like that? Jerry’s story really isn’t a story he just gets involved in parts of the other story. I think the idea was to have him act like a woman by the end with the fur and the handbag, but it doesn’t quite land. As for George, his whole story is the wallet. He spends a large portion of the episode on the vibrating chair, that’s how important he is to this episode.  I love how everyone assumes Kramer will pitch in on the gift; even though Kramer has no reason to since he has never even heard of Joe Mayo. It’s a great example of how they were so used to functioning as a group it doesn’t occur to them that one is not involved in the situation for once.

Grade=B, solid, if goofy, episode