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Last night’s season and possibly series finale of Eastbound and Down, the Best Fucking Show on Television, was probably the least “funny” episode of the entire show, for two reasons. On the one hand, the first three quarters of the episode in which Kenny thinks that he’s going back to the major leagues, stand in direct confrontation with the New York Times critic’s suggestion that the show would fall short without a redemptive arc. Just the opposite. This show would fall short because of a redemptive arc. The reward of a renewed career in baseball feels like an overly pat and traditional Hollywood conclusion, and feels disappointing and weak in the face of Eastbound’s relentlessly dark reality. Of course, that’s not how the show ends. Kenny Powers is not going back to baseball. And this is the second reason that the show wasn’t as “funny” last night, although it was just as perfect as always: this is some darkness right here. After the recruiter calls Kenny to tell him that the deal is off, Kenny looks at his family and the woman he stole away, and obviously can’t tell them the truth, he’s Kenny Fucking Powers, the Bullet-Proof Tiger. His brother says, “You better get going, it’s gonna get dark soon,” and Kenny says “Yeah, it is gonna get dark,” and five minutes later he’s ditching April at a gas station. Yikes.

This show needs a second fucking season, you guys.

I’m all for short-run perfection. There’s no reason to drive a TV show into the ground with unnecessary episodes. But this show can’t possibly be done. We need just one more season, and then we can put this in the museum with the other art. And I’m not just saying that because the season finale ended so inconclusively. I think when this show does end for good, there will be plenty of loose ends that will never be resolved. But if this season ran out the unreality of redemption, going all the way up and through the tragically failed victorious battlefield speech*:

then what is on the other side? If people don’t change, and if losers can’t win, then let’s see what that looks like. I bet it looks super sad and fucking hilarious.

*Not to mention last week’s incredible parody of the winning home-run stadium lights blow out at Schaeffer BMW.

Still of Danny McBride in Eastbound & Down
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Comments (21)
  1. you are all my chinks!!!

  2. I’m fucking in………..to April’s big tits! Oh man, somebody please post a screencap of those.

  3. I saw all but this episode. Wish I could’ve seen it. Is it online anywhere?

  4. I too found Danny McBride’s delivery of the “Yeah, it is going to get dark” line impressively poignant. It kind of brought full circle the fact that of course the getting called back to the majors was too good to be true, and only hugely highlighted just how screwed he is after buying that Escala..Denali…buying that watch for April and giving that send off speech at the school…with all that on the table and pulled in an instant, it definitely got dark in a hurry.

    It’s interesting how easy it is to laugh and appreciate this show for what it is on one level, but it’s especially fitting that where as something like Entourage has constantly pulled the redemptive arc, this show subverts the entire idea of celebrity into something a lot more cruel and realistic.

    While I can’t believe I’m still going on this long about what amounts to a great 30 minutes of entertainment each week, good on everyone who brought this to the masses and if it does or doesn’t return (I’m actually leaning towards leaving it right where it ended), I’m glad I’ve watched.

  5. Kenny I will always be your chink! I’ll be your biggest chink. And don’t you ever forget, brothers before whores! I know, she has great jugs, but you will never lack for friendship as long as you’ve got me. You should come over, I’m going to watch Hunt for Red October on my DVR. Oh! And I heard that if you drink some Theraflu in the middle of the day, you can get a rockin buzz.

  6. stevie  |   Posted on Mar 23rd, 2009

    you’re welcome

    • You’re salt of the earth, Stevie. Thank you very much but I’ve got one more request if you’re making these gifs. The part at Benihanas when Kenny told the chef to hit him with another shrimp and it hit him in the cheek. Please see what you can do.

  7. Cheerwine!

  8. Saida  |   Posted on Mar 23rd, 2009

    Least funny? The one-liners were golden.
    “Listen here you beautiful bitch. I am about to fuck you up with some truth.?
    ?I did not mean to kiss on her pussy, your fiancé.?
    ?Remember that class where I taught y?all how to make it rain? That?s what I?m going to be doing. Every. Single. Night. Dollar dollar bills, ya’ll?
    “You know how you all think there are two kinds of lesbians. There’s the kind on Cinemax that get it on and are really hot. Then there’s the mean kind. Ms. Carol is neither of those”
    “Alright you stoic little bastard. In the computer room, little second drawer where I keep my weed. Underneath the handgun there’s a stash of porn that?ll put calluses on those little hands of yours.”

  9. Tucker  |   Posted on Mar 23rd, 2009

    “A Gold Card will get you Jonas Brothers tickets. A Black Card will have all three of them sucking your cock within the hour.”

    Best line of the season.

  10. John   |   Posted on Mar 23rd, 2009

    That shrimp scene was the best.

  11. From the Kenny Powers Twitter (official? who knows):

    “So that was it, bitches. We’ve had a great run but don’t you think for a shit’s second you’ve seen the fucking last of me.”

    Another season? I would almost rather they give the same team more money and let them keep making short-form series. Although admittedly I felt more strongly earlier in the season. I like this show too much to see it go.

  12. Patick  |   Posted on Mar 23rd, 2009

    As much as I hate to say this, the show ended and will(and should) never see a second season. Coming back to the hometown would be too depressing and just too hard to find comedic affect(or is it effect? I always get the two confused). The ending for the season seems right on par with the ending for Foot Fist Way, since both had non-Hollywood endings and both will never see a continuation of their storylines. Why is that a bad thing anyway?

  13. Patrick  |   Posted on Mar 23rd, 2009

    Danny McBride is the key, not the show. Get rid of him there is no show, but he’ll find somewhere else to do his artistic experiments and we will all be here waiting for the new batch of Danny McBride artwork.

  14. Jeff  |   Posted on Mar 23rd, 2009

    You know that those aren’t really April’s tits. I wanted to see them as much as anybody, but that’s a body double for sure. Whenever they cut to tits sans face, it’s a double.

  15. if they don’t do a second season,i will murder true blood,entourage,big love AND real sex.

    the balls in your court,HBO.

  16. jerrylee  |   Posted on Mar 26th, 2009

    this is what is wrong with american entertainment. what we just experienced with this show was a fine, fine miniseries that isn’t designed for a long season or a second one at that. it is PERFECT how it ended. there’s no point for another season. it would take away from the first one. go back to slobbering over 30 rock.

  17. Guys. I just saw two kids raping a 6th grader.

    I love you, you’re a great girl, but you’ve got clothes like a fucking dickhead.

    xo http://www.indierocksucks.com

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