"Bored To Death"? Not Anymore
“Bored to Death” opens with Jonathan sliding down a fire escape while a man screams at him from above. He runs away while being chased and makes a phone call. He says, "Your husband is definitely cheating on you with someone in DUMBO. I'll call you back; your husband is a fast runner."
In the first season, Jonathan was a self-proclaimed failed writer and sometimes journalist for Ted Danson’s character, George. Jonathan had previously discussed with his friend Ray that teaching was “disgusting.” Jonathan now teaches writing to night students.
George, a magazine editor whose company is at risk of going under, always had the best lines in the show. It’s no different this time around when after talking about all the things that didn’t work out for them in life he says, “A little failure is good for you. It'll give your face some texture."
Jonathan’s best and seemingly only friend Ray (Zach Galifianakis) gets broken up with by his longtime girlfriend who suddenly has an epiphany “Eat Pray Love” style and says she rushed into a relationship with him after her divorce and hasn’t been single since she was 20.
There’s more to the episode and it’s all really good stuff.
The premiere introduced many subplots; George’s need to save his magazine, Jonathan’s feeling of being unsuccessful and Ray’s sudden breakup.
Even though these are ridiculous characters caught in ridiculous situations, you can’t help but like them in all their dysfunctional predicaments.
The comedy, the dialogue and chemistry between Schwartzman, Galifianakis and Danson all lead to the conclusion that HBO has yet another winner in its already long list of excellent shows.
To reach editor Roselle Chen, click here, follow her on Twitter @roselleUSC.