A Televisual Feast

This episode features a number of the best lines in the series (so far), particularly, “Oh, God, what kind of world is it where a man can’t love his fake wife’s mother’s best friend?” Or something to that effect.

It also–with two women credited as writers–features the most humanizing portrayal of Ned. It isn’t just his romance with guest star Joanna Cassidy, it’s his enthusiasms for botany and Renaissance fairs. The show’s finally giving Ned a different side, a much stranger one than ever before suggested (but also a very likable one).

Unfortunately, Stacey has very little to do. She gets to hang out with Amanda, which leads to some funny lines from Amanda, but not much else. Messing has a real problem with the comedy again, sort of staring into space at times when she really shouldn’t be. When she’s finally got to be nice to Ned, she’s good and sweet, but early, when she’s trying to be serious, it’s a failure. The show’s not set up for too much reality in human relationships.

Rico’s got a nice little moment at the end and the closer is absolutely fantastic.

Also, the episode’s very poorly directed (by non-regular Paul Lazarus) and it might have something to do with Messing’s acting deficiencies.

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