TV Review: Eastbound & Down 3.7, ‘Chapter 20’
Eastbound was back on form this week in its penultimate episode ever with some much needed ridiculousness and laugh out loud moments.
rating: 4
Eastbound was back on form this week in its penultimate episode ever with some much needed ridiculousness and laugh out loud moments, which is partly down to the return of producer Will Ferrell and guest star Craig Robinson, as well as beginning to tie-up some loose ends in the show. Robinson returns as one-eyed Black Biker Reg Macworthy, immediately stealing the show with his opening line, Tight dick, playa whilst he stands urinating next to an intimidated man. The Black Bikers, along with Ferrells Ashley Schaeffer, descend on Myrtle Beach to take revenge on Kenny after he cost Schaeffer the Kia partnership. Ferrell is on top form when improvising, making us both laugh and cringe when confronting Kenny, Scott, pull your penis out and out put it inside this infant. Macworthy is out for revenge too, but to avenge his missing eye. A highlight during the smack talk between the three is the semantics behind how long a week is. Kenny returns to the Mermen after a sudden hiatus, fondly showing off Toby who he assures he is now proud of. The rivalry with Dochenko continues, who now has the same smugness that Kenny has that hell make it to the majors. Kennys plan to return as team leader is squashed as he is told hell either be put on the bench or fired during the next game. Elsewhere Stevie continues to lament his break-up with Maria by scrapbooking his memories with her. True to his character, instead of photos or ticket stubs, he glues a condom to some card with First fornication written on top. Both tragic and funny. Kenny ponders that Maria has regressed to her natural state when hearing she is now selling fruit by the roadside, then encourages Stevie to talk to her after getting some new eyebrows and hair. This doesnt pan out well, leading to Stevie getting into a fight and laughed at once his wig is pulled off, causing him to howl and scream Im a monster like Buster Bluth. Not to mention Toby getting kidnapped. Kenny reacts as any parent would upon hearing the news, punching Stevie to the ground. It turns out Macworthy was behind it to lure Kenny into a fight. Panic over, at least for Tobys sake, kidnapping infants is dark, even for a comedy like this. Kenny and Stevie then get pumped up by deciding to be badass and take them on. Great to see that Stevies idea of this is wearing a Freddy Krueger glove. Ferrells improvisation continues to be funny during another round of smack talk, including the description of a model great white shark, Fuck Bob Duato! Kenny sucks with nunchucks, and nearly gets his arm broken if it wasnt for Ashley Schaeffers Old South racism, which makes the Black Bikers turn on him. It was pretty unrealistic for Macworthy to have a very sudden change of heart towards Kenny for no apparent reason. After a reconciliation, Macworthy decides to help Kenny, along with the help of the Grim Creepers, to escort him to the game. Kenny foolishly promises Macworthy that hell somehow be let on the team to play as his catcher. This obviously doesnt happen, but because of Dochenkos poor performance, Kenny is brought on to pitch. Referencing an earlier episode, Stevie holds up Toby again like Simba, this combined with Dochenkos failure gives Kenny (in his head) the power to strike out the batter, before winning the game for the Mermen. Maria and Stevie then inevitably reconcile. The episode ends with the return of April, who took a break at her sisters. Kenny does his best to act like he doesnt give a shit that shes returned to take Toby away. But when she leaves hes left lamenting whilst staring at the Dinosaur/Dildo toy that Kenny constructed for Toby. Only one episode to go, itll be sad saying goodbye to such a well-written and directed comedy, which has essentially been like a trilogy of movies, but best that its ending on their own terms before it inevitably becomes tiresome. Now the baseball side has pretty much been wrapped up, and Stevie and Maria reunited, its all down to what Kenny decides to do with Toby and April. Eastbound & Down returns next Sunday on HBO with the show finale Chapter 21.