Season 2, Episode 8
With an audience dwindling by the gig, Jemaine and Bret are encouraged to try hair gel by Murray. The effect is instant coolness, brilliantly played up by the duo, whose “Whatevers” are perfectly delivered. But while it’s a good joke, it doesn’t develop or expand. The other half of the episode deals with the New Zealand prime minister trying to open “New Zealand Town” in New York (between Little Italy and Chinatown). Lucy Lawless shows up as the prime minister’s assistant and the bureaucratic nature of the relationships between her, the prime minister, and Murray were more frustrating than funny . . .
Mel having a key to Bret and Jemaine’s apartment was an interesting development and Dave pretending to be from New Zealand was a great short scene. The homage to Chinatown was fine, but felt a little tacked on and the one song (“Fashion is Danger”) was the most disappointing of the season. But this has been an excellent season to date and the worst Conchords episode is still better than almost anything else on television. B
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Flight of the Conchords - NewZealandTown
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2 comments:
Agree with your review. The 'coolness' bit was great, and I rewatched the 'whatever' scene about 4 times - Bret's distant look and playing with his hair is great. The show seemed half-done, and the Prime Minister is not funny anymore. The Chinatown reference was tacked on, but still great - no other show would do that. The other best part of the show was the meeting when murray convinces them to use the gel and the photos of murray perfecting his look, then Jemain dissing it "moss colored", then Murray saying this part is for work, this part is for fun. Great.
I was close to writing the PM has outworn his welcome.
Last week's episode came together so well (Elton John Deja vu) that this ending seemed like an afterthought. Having watched the Garfunkel episode again, I'll have to retract a little bit and recognize its greatness. I think I was too hasty last week (a Monday review instead of the usual Tuesday) - some of these episodes are so unusual that they require 3 viewings to sink in.
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