by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
I’m a big fan of the old ESPN show Highly Questionable. The combination of Dan Le Batard and his father, along with the litany of hosts that have come and gone, made the show fun and unpredictable. In addition, he usually had a segment where he interviewed someone, and they’d talk about a variety of topics. Some of the interviews were painfully awkward, like when Le Batard interviewed Mike Tyson or Nelly, who made fun of Floyd Mayweather. Some helped expand the scope of what I consume, and gave me a new show or musician to try. That’s how I felt when I first saw the interview that featured Lil Dicky (Dave Burd). Shortly after that, I watched a YouTube video where Lil Dicky tries to make a music video where he wants to make an epic rap video, but for as little money as possible.
The world seems to have opened up for a performer like Lil Dicky. So when FXX gave him a show, Dave, I was ecstatic to check it out.
In a lot of ways, Dave fits in with a lot of FX’s best shows. They exhibit talented performers who have great things to say but have been hustling for an opportunity to showcase their art. What makes Dave different, though, is that he represents so many variable contrasts, so he can show several perspectives that haven’t been seen together. Burd is a Jewish, white rapper, who also has comedic chops, Also, it’s hard not to compare Dave to FX’s other show in the hip-hop realm, Atlanta. They’re very different shows, but still have great things to say.
Season Three of Dave follows a successful performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, after which Lil Dicky goes on tour all around the United States. Season Two is a little frustrating because Dave is a tough character to root for. At times, he, and by extension Lil Dicky, doesn’t treat his friends and team well, nor does he appreciate the opportunity he’s been given. Contrastingly though, you have to admire Lil Dicky for his commitment to his art and confidence in his abilities, even if it comes off as extreme arrogance at times. Season Three helps to quell some of these worries, and puts Dave in hilarious and new situations outside of Philadelphia.
While on tour, Dave is seen performing all over the United States. The tour is challenging for him, because he sometimes doesn’t have a good grasp on regional cultures. Some of these situations work, like when Dave is in the South and struggles with strong conservative and religious beliefs, or when he goes to the Met Gala (more on that soon). Others don’t work, like when he goes to Texas, or even when he goes back to Philadelphia. This is the risk a show can take when a performer goes on tour.
Luckily, Dave doesn’t just focus on spending time in a new city and showing how different that city is from Dave’s perspective. The central story of Season Three is Dave’s quest for love. Seasons One and Two see the ups and downs of Dave’s love life, but in Season Three, he’s committed to finding the love of his life. He’s unique in his view of his fans, as he doesn’t have the desire to embrace hookup culture, or to put himself in a situation where his behavior could be viewed as predatory or wrong. It’s an admirable position. However, he isn’t perfect in his resolve. There is one love interest this season that features moments where I was rooting for Dave and her to go the distance.
On a tour stop in Wisconsin, Dave meets a photographer named Robyn (Chloe Bennet). Their first interactions don’t go well, but we eventually see the sparks between them. Bennet is a breath of fresh air to Dave. As a performer, she can go toe-to-toe with Burd’s hijinks. She’s grounded in ways that Burd isn’t, and she accepts and cares about Dave, warts and all. This isn’t to say that love interests haven’t done this in past seasons, but there’s something about Robyn that feels different. Assuming that the show continues past Season Three, I’ll be curious to see where their relationship goes from here.
I also like that Season Three addresses mental health. At one point during the season, Dave struggles to go on tour and contemplates the next steps. This episode has a hysterical twist, which then sets up a decision he makes that will weigh on him for the rest of the season. I wish this episode had done more to address Dave’s mental health, but it’s still exceedingly funny. I wish there was more balance where we see Dave do more about his mental health, since it resolves rather hastily.
For the most part, I enjoyed the tour of Season Three, but it kicks into gear during the Met Gala episode. Unfortunately, since it’s Episode Eight, the storyline doesn’t get as much time as it deserves. At the Met Gala, Dave struggles with wanting to fit in as a celebrity, while also wanting to say something about a topic that is important to him. In a show where guest stars have already been plentiful, this episode takes everything up a notch with the sheer number of guests. One of them in particular has an arc throughout the final few episodes of the season. I won’t spoil who it is, but it’s an amazing get for the show, and an outstanding callback to a joke that occurs throughout the series.
This storyline reaches its conclusion in the final episode of the season, which is the best episode Dave has ever aired. The Season Three finale manages to bag another outstanding guest star, which becomes one of the best television guest spots ever. That’s saying something, considering how amazing I thought the guest star from the Met Gala was. Aside from the guest stars, the story in the episode is incredibly tense, as Dave is dealing with a fan who considers herself to be just as talented as Lil Dicky. This leads to some of the most awkwardly hilarious moments of the entire series, with a shocking conclusion that had me rolling on the floor. This episode will go down as one of my favorites for 2023.
Dave took a calculated risk for Season Three by going on tour. Instead of just showing us how ridiculous the United States is, Lil Ducky also manages to show some personal growth as a performer and person. The guest stars are second to none, and the supporting cast is still outstanding. It does irk me a little that the storyline I enjoyed the most doesn’t start until episode eight, but since each episode is only half an hour, it becomes slightly more forgivable. Season Three of Dave sticks the landing, with top marks for tension and comedy. I do not know how Dave can be topped in another season, but if it gets one, I’ll be there to see him try.
Score: 8/10
Dave is currently streaming on Hulu
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