Episodes: The Season 2 Premiere

Episodes may not be the most exciting show on Showtime, but perhaps it’s the funniest. Episodes is a refreshing member of the network’s canon and also very unique. The humor is simple, the characters realistic, and its satire on the Hollywood scene more honest than glamorous.

Matt LeBlanc’s portrayal of none other than Matt LeBlanc…is much less exaggerated than his family members like Hank Moody (David Duchovny of Californication) and Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy of Shameless). He’s still a mess, sure, but you can’t help but thinking as you watch the show, “I know this guy.” Ha! What an idiot!

Seeing someone make fun of themselves is always quite delicious and in this case it’s not only actor on actor but also industry on industry. Season two promises there will be plenty of episodes and shit-shows for the cast to deal with.

Season two kicks off four months after the season one finale and Sean Lincoln (Stephen Mangan) and  his wife Beverly (Tamsin Greig) are split up. They haven’t officially been separated, but they still haven’t overcome Beverly’s affair with Matt last season. It’s tickling to watch Beverly navigate the strange territory that is now their relationship. “Does he still like me? She constantly questions herself and can’t even hand him a birthday present face to face.

Sean and Beverly’s new show “Pucks!,” which received horrifying reviews, seems to be doing better rating-wise than expected. Maybe they’ll be stuck in the U.S. a while longer after all. Merc Lapidus (John Pankow) is back to his manipulative ways and sees big things in the future for “Puck.” Pankow’s work continues to amuse, a sort of Nathan Lane if he were straight and more sleazy.

The cast of young high school hockey players also guarantees some interesting side plots. One of the kids, sporting that Bieber side swept bang twiddles on his iPhone as he mentions his new wife. Sean gawks, “You’re married?!” With a side swish of his hair, he flippantly replies, “I’m 27…hey, the entire cast of Glee is in their 50s.” It’s one of many inside-the-industry jokes that consistently produce a chuckle. It’s witty moments like these that keep Episodes on its toes.

The day-in-the-life feel of the show has found a comfortable rhythm. Half-hour shows tend to vacillate between too drama packed or too dull to captivate an audience. The characters do deliver drama, never too extreme or unrealistic, but just enough to keep us entranced. And although we can laugh at their mishaps, we also feel for them.

Matt attempts to approach Beverly and yet again she shoots him down saying, “Stop wearing that cologne.” We smile, but are pulled into the heart of the situation as the camera lingers on Matt…the poor guy truly wants to mend their relationship. That’s what LeBlanc has done so well over the years: grounded his ridiculous characters in real, true emotion.

That’s not to say that the show doesn’t have a limited audience. If you’re not in the industry or know someone that is, the jokes may fly by. Usual Showtime audience members may be disappointed as well. Episodes delivers nowhere near the excitement of Dexter or Weeds. And although Friends devotees may tune in to see their beloved LeBlanc, he’s a lot less silly and a lot more subtle.

 As long as Episodes can build on the already intriguing, hilarious characters it has created, all it should worry about is who to poke fun at next.