by Jason Mack, Contributing Writer
Much like the pitch for a show about nothing, the idea of a season-long redemption arc to right the wrongs of the Seinfeld series finale was a tough sell on the surface. But much like that show about nothing, the end result vastly exceeds the premises, as Curb Your Enthusiasm delivers a satisfying conclusion.
It was never going to be easy to close out a 24-year, 12-season run. Do you go big? Do you stick to the smaller, petty vibe of the show and just do another season and close it? Somehow Larry David and Co. managed to accomplish both.
Seinfeld‘s finale failed for multiple reasons, but the biggest two are lack of believability and feeling like a clip show. The idea of the openly narcissistic characters reaping what they sowed from countless people they wronged throughout the series is fun on the surface, but the execution is lacking. It keeps the characters from being able to do much more than sit and react. There are amusing moments, and it is fun to relive some of the classics, but you expect more from a finale. It only gets worse as the years go on, since most fans have binged the episodes so many times they don’t need any clips for reminders of who each bit character is or what messed up thing happened to them.
The other finale flaw is believability with the Good Samaritan Law. While the show pulls from reality, it is again the execution that is lacking. No law is going to reasonably expect bystanders to get involved in an armed robbery. A more plausible scenario could have helped hook people in for the premise. Instead, it is easy to write it off as something any lawyer could get immediately dismissed.
So how did Curb Your Enthusiasm write these wrongs and manage to avoid ending with a whimper? The best answer is, length. The show has 10 episodes to dip in and out of that plot point, while still having Larry get tangled up in all kinds of craziness, both the relatable and the obtuse. That also allows for the peppering in of self-referential pokes at the Seinfeld finale, the best being the multiple times people pointed out Larry was absent for much of the latter run, but returned for the finale.
Believability is also enhanced in the Curb Your Enthusiasm finale. It pulls from a real Georgia law about not being able to provide food or water to people in line to vote. The idea Larry would give a friend water is totally believable, as is the idea that Georgia officials would arrest and prosecute him for it. The show also does well to never get too preachy about it. It never feels like a political stunt to make a statement. It just uses a crazy law to launch a funny premise.
My biggest critique of the season also relates to believability. The Irma Kostroski (Tracey Ullman) storyline drags on for too long. In Season 11 it is easy to believe Larry would date a repulsive politician to get a law changed for his benefit. However, once said politician fell off the wagon on a bender inspired by Larry and lost her job, that reasonably should have been the end for them. The Larry I know would never put up with the obnoxiousness of Irma, because her sponsor said a breakup within the first six months of recovery could wreck her. He would say that’s up to her, that she’s not worth relapsing over, and she’ll be fine. He has no believable motivation for keeping up the charade. There should have been an established motivation, like her knowing too much about bad things he had done, making him afraid she will expose his web of lies if she relapses. Irma is fun in small doses, and Ullman is a legend. But she is a legend who was kept around for too long.
Aside from Irma, the guest stars are mostly a hit this season. As always, celebrities playing themselves are the highlight. The best is Larry hitting Coda’s Troy Kotsur with both a golf ball and a bagel. Sienna Miller wanting to date Larry is fun and appropriately brief. Lori Loughlin playing up her scandal and being a massive cheater in every way possible is hilarious. And of course, bringing back Jerry Seinfeld works beautifully. Seeing him and Larry immediately go off on a tangent about whether or not they could date the bearded woman, all while they should be discussing more serious matters, is a breath of fresh air.
While less frequent, there are also fun examples of celebrities playing characters. Vince Vaughn really hits his stride as Freddy Funkhouser this season. In previous seasons, his character was inconsistent and sometimes felt too aloof or a little goofy, but he nails every appearance in Season 12. I would be on board for more Freddy and Larry stories. Sean Hayes is great as Larry’s lawyer with issues naming his child, and Matt Berry is always delightful, even if his part as a hack director is meant to be annoying.
The most disappointing appearance is Conan O’Brien. He is a legend, but the show fails with the storyline it gives him. He is underutilized and only has a couple funny moments. Conan is capable of a much better rate than that.
It would have been easy for the final season to get lazy, rely too much on callbacks, and feel played out. But it continued to feel fresh throughout. Even most of the political commentary lands, although the return of the “it was a perfect call” bit continues to be too on the nose.
The Jeff (Jeff Garlin), Susie (Susie Essman), and Larry triangle continues to be a highlight of the series, long after it should have felt played out. The chemistry between the three actors is too great to falter. This season even feels different, with Jeff being more refreshingly open about siding with Larry than ever before. Leon (J.B. Smoove) is also as fun as ever, with the dynamic between him and Larry being another that can never get old.
Speaking of core characters, it is heartwarming to see how happy Richard Lewis is there at the end, especially knowing he passed shortly before the final episodes aired.
I’m glad the show doesn’t go overboard in developing some big storyline of Larry trying to win Cheryl back from Ted Danson, or any other potential grandiose ideas. It is also good to see it quickly drop the Young Larry storyline early in the season.
Curb Your Enthusiasm was never an easy show to watch, as it lived in a constant state of uncomfortable and confrontational that surpassed even the most cringe-inducing moments of both versions of The Office. But it was always a delight to embrace the cringe, and watch Larry go off. Sometimes he was saying what you wish you could say, and other times he was as far from relatability as possible. That feeling continued throughout the final season, concluding a legendary 12-season run.
Rating: Liked It
Curb Your Enthusiasm is currently streaming on Max
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