TV Review: CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, 8.1 - "The Divorce"

rating: 4

It's been almost two years since Larry David murdered a swan, offended Christian Slater, and reunited the cast of Seinfeld (and brought a whole new level to what we know as metafiction). Now, HBO's greatest sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm returns to our screens with the first episode of the eight season,"The Divorce". Last season was one of the show's strongest: the hilarious overarching story brought us some of Curb's finest episodes, and David managed to escape the pressures of putting together a reunion show for one of TV's best loved gems by incorporating that very reunion into his own show. An episode about making the Seinfeld reunion show actually doubling as the Seinfeld reunion show? Very clever. "The Divorce", the first of ten new episodes, opens with a recap of prior events (new to Curb): at the end of last season, it was quietly assumed that Larry had won back the heart of his wife, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines), despite the fact he couldn't put aside his petty ways even at the most crucial of moments. Well, those who assumed were wrong: Cheryl is leaving Larry for good, and, surprisingly, they both seem pretty good about it. "The Divorce" begins in the office of Larry's new lawyer, who's handling the affairs, one year after the events witnessed during the season 7 finale. Based on the strength of the last season, it would be a shame for David to begin a creative downfall now, but Curb fans needn't worry. "The Divorce" is Curb Your Enthusiasm on fine form, blending the bizarre with the downright ridiculous. The best news is that Larry hasn't changed at all, and is perhaps worse than ever - within the first five minutes, he's practising a nervous twitch during a conversation with his ex-wife and her lawyer. He plans on using it on upcoming dates to weigh their tolerance levels. Is there any doubt as to why Cheryl left this man? As Larry and Cheryl partake in the last days of their romance on seemingly civil terms, Larry finds he's the envy of his friends. Marty Funkhouser (Bob Einstein), in fact, is inspired to end things with his own wife, whereas Jeff Green (Jeff Garlin), forever trapped with Susie (Susie Essman) ("You mention the 'd' word once in your fucking life and you'll rue the day you ever met me!"), has no choice but to shut up and like it. Larry also clashes with his lawyer, who he's convinced is hiding a few secrets, and alienates the owner of the Dodgers (Gary Cole). The big talking point of this episode, however, is sure to go down as one of the show's most hilarious, awkward and simply outrageous moments. It's not to be spoiled, but let's just say it involves a 13-year-old girl scout and a box of tampons. No girl, no matter how terrible a person she might be (and this girl seems perfectly nice), deserves to go through such an important right-of-passage with Larry David. Somehow, though, beneath such horrific circumstances, Larry manages to make the experience relatively endearing. It's nice to see him genuinely enjoying understanding something, even if it is an instructional manual. As Larry's list of those offended by his presence alone continues to rise, it's plain to see there's a rather hefty number of intertwining stories at work here. That's not unusual for this show, but some aren't dealt with as brilliantly as they often can be. Some of the plot-lines seem to die without resolution (to be dealt with in future episodes?), and others aren't realised to their full potential. The episode's ending, too, doesn't meet the same satisfying conclusion that the show's earliest seasons managed: conclusions that left a smile on your face, nodding like an idiot, semi-awed at the intricacies. Some punchlines, too, prove to be a little obvious for David's standard. But there isn't much to complain about here. Curb is back, it's as strong as ever, with one scene in particular guaranteed to go down as an absolute classic. It's also well-known that this season is going to take place in New York, and as Larry moves out of his Los Angles mansion, there's one thing that simply can't be ignored. Something that will please every dedicated Curb fan. Something fantastic. Leon is sticking around. Curb Your Enthusiasm airs every Sunday on HBO in the US for a ten episode run, and in the UK on Sky Atlantic later this year.