Eastbound and Down S02E07: Old Flames, New Beginnings

 

Yesterday’s season finale of Eastbound and Down was permeated with a sense of nostalgia, a feeling facilitated by the show’s structure over the past two seasons. For anyone who lamented the move to Mexico, last night was a sweet sigh of relief. But the relocation down south was a necessary move for Kenny’s character development. And because Kenny is the ringleader of the circus that is Eastbound and Down, the viewers faithfully tagged along.

I’ll admit I got a little restless about halfway through the season; the show just wasn’t the same without the trashy charm of the South. Ultimately, though, I think the Mexican interlude was a fantastic plot device. By depriving us of any updates on certain residents of Shelby, North Carolina, the writers gave us no more information than Kenny had. We were truly along for the ride. Keeping the viewers in the dark had the twofold effect of strengthening our identification with Kenny and producing the same nostalgia for Kenny’s hometown as Kenny has himself. La Flama Blanca’s home, and it’s good to be back.

Done and Fucking Done: Eastbound and Down S02E06

First of all, apologies for missing last week’s episode, which I’m confident you all  both saw. It was a great episode, although nothing so far this season compares to yesterday’s episode, the penultimate of the second season.

Last week, the writers finally answered that lingering question: How much longer is Kenny going to stay in Mexico? Like I’ve said, I never objected to the show’s move down south because I think it came from an impulse to depict Kenny’s journey no matter where it takes him, as opposed to a misguided attempt to keep the show fresh. Episode five confirmed Kenny’s relocation to the States, with Stevie caving and telling Kenny that April didn’t actually marry Cutler. Episode six threw something new into the mix.

Eastbound and Down S02E04: Kenny’s Odyssey

This week’s episode is a prime example of what makes Eastbound and Down such a unique show. Your typical comedy is episodic, focusing on a group of recurring characters week by week as they live their lives. Eastbound and Down, on the other hand, has grander designs than that.

The episode begins with Kenny looking out over the hills of Mexico: his new kingdom. With his new persona and a replacement for April, he’s finally hit his stride. But anyone who watches a healthy amount of TV knows that means he’s got nowhere to go but down. Roger takes him aside and warns him about his attitude. He tells Kenny to  “stop prancing around out there” and “get serious.”