Note: Full spoilers for the episode follow.
I love that Louie can do episodes like this. In the early days of this series, an episode like “Daddy’s Girlfriend Part 2” may have felt out of place, but now Louie has established there is no “out of place.” There are just the fascinating stories Louis C.K. chooses to tell week to week.
“DGP2” was about one very unique and odd date Louie went on, with bookstore clerk Tape Recorder… Oh, sorry, it’s Liz. While in theory a continuation of last week’s episode, it didn’t really have to be – last week could have been an independent story of Louie trying to ask a woman out while this week was the story of an odd and memorable date Louie had. But look, I’ll never argue with more Parker Posey.
As it turned out, Liz was out there. Maybe even a bit crazy. And what was so interesting was watching Louie’s reactions through the night, which truly took him (and us) through a gamut of emotions. This was a woman who managed, in one night, to tell Louie about her horrific childhood illness and how her mom became unhinged because of it; to introduce him to the best food he’s ever eaten; and to turn him leaving some food for a homeless man (Casey Siemaszko! Man, I watched Three O’Clock High a lot on cable as a kid...) into a much larger bit of interaction and kindness for the man.
Louis C.K. got an Emmy nomination for best actor in a comedy last week, which was a bit surprising – he’s not usually singled out as a performer as much as he is an overall creative genius with this show. But I must say, I was especially impressed with his performance in this week’s episode. Much of it was silent, as we just saw his expressions watching Liz and C.K. expertly conveyed a guy who was at times thrilled, exhilarated, deeply concerned and truly happy, all in one night. C.K. was very believable here, showing how Louie would be both wary of and drawn to this woman all at once. And Posey was perfect actress to play such a character, showing how Liz was so charismatic and yet so... worrisome.
I especially loved the scene where Liz had Louie try on the dress. It was the antitheses of being a stupid, “Look at that guy in a dress” wacky scenario. The way Liz got so close to Louie while he changed, and the bizarreness of what she was having him do, made the whole thing weird and uncomfortable and yet intimate.
The final scene on the roof was incredibly poignant as Louie was so concerned for Liz’s safety, only to break into a broad smile when she said she was having too good a time to jump/fall… and yet her expression a moment later hinted at someone deeply sad.
This is not the kind of show that would try to then offer a trite/quick solution or wrap up for Liz’s troubles, but it certainly offered us a compelling journey alongside her for an evening.
Lastly, anyone else get flashbacks to Posey’s amazing performance as Darla in Dazed and Confused, when she screamed at Louie, “Do it! Do it! Get up now! I mean it!”? I kept hoping she’d yell, “Air Raid! Now get up you lazy little bitches! Get up!”
Source : feeds.]ign.com
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