By Joe Shuron
By the end of the first episode “Atlanta”, Larry David let the audience know he was not afraid of ending “Curb Your Enthusiasm” like his co-created hit sitcom “Seinfeld”, with the main character ending up jail.
The finale titled “No Lessons Learned” has almost the exact same plotline as the poorly received “Seinfeld” finale the lead or leads commit a misdemeanor crime and retuning characters testify against the main character or characters integrity. My personal favorite in Larry David’s case is the grown-up little girl from the season two episode “The Doll”.
Around this point in the finale a familiar face shows up, Jerry Seinfeld to support Larry in the courtroom. Jerry has an exchange with Larry in the Atlanta hotel where they effectively are the same person. Throughout all of “Curb” for Jerry to be the only person to keep up with Larry is beyond fitting.
Despite all the courtroom antics, David pulls the jury finds him guilty. The show begins to fade out on David in his cell just like the “Seinfeld” finale 26 years before. Until none other than Jerry Seinfeld interrupts, he got Larry out of jail because he saw a juror break sequester at restaurant the night before.
A free Larry joins his familiar crew of Leon, Suzie, Jeff, Ted Danson, and Cheryl on a plane back to California as they bicker over whether Suzie should open the plane window. In the end, none of the characters changed and they all stayed the same. David stuck to his rules “no hugging” and “no learning”.
As an aside, one of the best sub-plots of the finale is Leon Black (J.B Smoove) watches “Seinfeld” for the first time and remarks to Larry his thoughts on the acclaimed sitcom throughout the episode.
The “Curb” finale links the two shows because the former reconciles the lackluster ending of a beloved show. It brings everything full circle for devoted fans.
The reason Larry is in court in the first place is because Larry gives a bottle of water to Leon’s Auntie Rae while she is waiting in line to vote, breaking the Georgia law that third-parties are prohibited to provide food and drink to voters(Actual Law). Leading to David’s arrest and a Georgia mugshot that resembles one taken earlier this year of the former president. . Poking at the Georgia Voting Law drew a sarcastic letter from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to the fictional Larry David.
David returned to make a twelfth season in part for his life-long friend Richard Lewis who missed the eleventh season due to illness. Lewis’ comedic dynamic with Larry is put on full display in episode eight “The Colostomy Bag”. In which the duo berede and attempt to bargain with Steve Buscemi over the price of his classic car and whether or not it passes the “smell test”. The conflict between Larry and Richard while wanting the same goal (to get a lower price on the car) demonstrates their abilities as actors to play off one another much like the core cast of ‘Curb” does unlike any other show.
Unfortunately, Richard Lewis died at 76 this February marking the unofficial end of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Lewis is sharp like always throughout season 12 and in someway his performances are a perfect sendoff to his illustrious comedic career. For those unfamiliar with Lewis here’s a link to a compilation of Lewis on the “Late Show with David Letterman.”
Episode three “Disgruntled” features a special guest appearance from MSCBC and NBC Sunday Morning host Wille Geist who holds on with Larry. Geist originally wants to do a profile about Larry after his heroic act of giving Auntie Rae water while in line to vote but the more interesting story of the anonymous “Disgruntled” note posted in the golf course draws Geist’s attention. Everyone assumes Larry posted the list of grievances (as it turns out it was Jeff Garlin) but Larry learns the gift of man spreading in shorts from Leon to get him out of the confrontation with the golf club owner.
The other standout guest performance comes in episode 9 “Ken/Kendra” where Larry David gives none other than Bruce Springsteen COVID-19. Making light of “The Boss” recent health issues and tour cancellations. Bruce’s fans are outraged and he quickly bashes David for “giving him COVID-19”.
Larry educates on how to live and insuring basic human dignity in daily interactions over the course of the entire show. “Curb” is a quintessential sitcom, and the last season is one of the best. Thank you, Larry, for all the laughs and life lessons along the way.
Reviewer Score:
Pretty…Pretty…Pretty Good.
