A Televisual Feast

A superior episode. Most of it takes place at a Halloween party, or on the way to one, where Ned and Stacey eventually kiss. That big plot development isn’t the best part of the episode by far, though it’s handled very well (their public argument over the ramifications, since they liked it, is fantastic). The party’s excellent, from Amanda’s constant dislike of the hors d’œuvres to Rico’s flight from an amorous male doctor (Rico being dressed as a nurse).

The best part of the episode is, shockingly, Stacey. She’s finally presented here as a sitcom protagonist, the unfriendly malcontent (the role usually reserved for men). It’s Halloween and she’s mean to little kids. It’s wonderful and Messing really handles it. She can give this performance.

The episode opens with a funny enough pre-title joke, then it’s straight to the Halloween party preparations, which are excellent. It’s only the last scene where the episode falters, as it again veers–as it too often does in inappropriate situations–away from the comedy. It doesn’t end on a laugh.

3.5