All's Well that Ends Well Isn't Necessarily the Case. Review: Season Finale of Episodes - "Episode 209"

Episodes’ season finale–S2, E9 – “Episode 209”

Air Date: Sunday, August 26, 2012, 10:30 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

Matt’s (Matt LeBlanc, playing himself) lawyer, Sanford Shamiro (Nigel Planer) tells him his ex-wife Diane (Fiona Glascott) is filing papers to have his visitation rights revoked. The network’s “Man of the Year” awards ceremony, where Merc (John Pankow) is to receive the Vivaldi Award, starts off well enough, but things don’t go exactly as planned. “Episode 209” forces the characters (and us) to take a deep, introspective look at their lives, and gives us a fun, entertaining way of wrapping up the second season of this brilliant comedy.

Thoughts and Observations:

All's Well that Ends Well Isn't Necessarily the Case. Review: Season Finale of Episodes - "Episode 209" 1

After chasing Beverly all over the hiking trail, Carol finally pins her down.

Finally, Carol (Kathleen Rose Perkins) realizes Merc will never leave Jamie (Genevieve O’Reilly) because, in her words, “she’s a fucking saint.” Too bad Beverly (Tamsin Greig) lets out a small “hmm” following that statement. Carol turns ferocious, acting like a dog with a bone, not willing to give up until she finds out what Beverly is keeping from her. The manner in which Carol finally elicits this information from Beverly is hysterical, and the first of many excellent comedic scenes to follow.

I don’t know how Matt is going to deal with Diane because after he relates what happened with Labia (Sophie Rundle) to Sanford, Sanford removes his lawyer hat and says, “I’m talking to you like a friend. You’re gonna need a much better lawyer ‘cause the one you got? I don’t know how the fuck he’s gonna get you out of this.” Wow, not exactly the words one wants to hear from their lawyer! But what did Matt expect? He’s really screwed things up this time.

May I just say, Carol looks amazingly hot in the LDB (little black dress) she dons for Merc’s award dinner. True to form for most women in the same situation, Carol tells Merc about Jamie’s affair with Matt. In a total state of disbelief (who wouldn’t be?), Merc realizes he can’t stay with Jamie, much to Carol’s delight. I wonder if Carol has ever heard the phrase, “Be careful what you wish for,” or “Once a cheater, always a cheater.” She may have bitten off more than she can chew. I’m not really sure, though, that Merc will leave Jamie.

Andrew (Oliver Kieran-Jones), Beverly and Sean’s (Stephen Mangan) former assistant, not only takes delight in telling Sean and Morning (Mircea Monroe) why he’s at Merc’s award presentation (incredibly stupid idea, by the way!), he seems to derive a great amount of pleasure in directing Sean’s attention to Beverly, who has just walked in with Rob (James Purefoy) on her arm. Kieran-Jones does a great job with his character, making him so slimy it’s easy to despise him. But poor Sean! He practically has apoplexy when he sees Beverly and Rob together. I wondered how the writers were going to deal with bringing the two couples together and I’m happy to say they handled the awkward scene just right with a perfectly timed interruption. “Champagne?” asks the poor waitress, who almost drops her tray of glasses as the two couples simultaneously converge on her.

All's Well that Ends Well Isn't Necessarily the Case. Review: Season Finale of Episodes - "Episode 209" 2

Matt gives Sean some advice on what to do now that he’s so obviously jealous of Beverly and Rob together.

Matt gives Sean the best advice about Beverly: “You love her. Get over yourself.” I couldn’t agree more! Normally, I’m the first one to say, “Don’t take the bastard/bitch back; he/she cheated on you!” but in this case, I can see how much Sean loves and misses Beverly. It kills him to think of her being with another man. Especially when he sees Rob in person; he’s absolutely gorgeous! But, Beverly made a mistake—it’s that simple—so let her off the hook already, Sean!

All's Well that Ends Well Isn't Necessarily the Case. Review: Season Finale of Episodes - "Episode 209" 3

Not knowing that Merc knows about his affair with Jamie, Matt gives him a big hug after introducing Merc to the audience.

Matt delivers a beautiful, heartfelt speech to introduce Merc at the ceremony and when Merc takes the stage, I sat there holding my breath. I was so afraid Merc was going to call out Matt and Jamie right there, but Merc’s a true professional. As he gives his acceptance speech, saying things like “We’re more than just an industry; we’re family,” and “I may be your Man of the Year but right now, I feel like the luckiest man alive,” we see workers busily cleaning out his office. How sad. Seems head honcho Elliot Salad (Michael Brandon) has instructed Carol to fire Merc that night! What a hypocrite Salad is! I wanted to punch him in the face when he told Merc, “the weekend’s all about you.”

All's Well that Ends Well Isn't Necessarily the Case. Review: Season Finale of Episodes - "Episode 209" 4

Beverly and Sean, prior to the fight that takes place during Merc’s award ceremony.

There is no way to adequately describe the melee that follows Merc peeing on Matt—yes, you read that correctly—other than to say I couldn’t stop laughing. Kudos to the director because from the smartly written dialogue with the crescendo of the music playing in the background, to the physicality of the fight, including Merc hitting Beverly in the face, this was a perfectly executed scene. A scene that is immediately followed by another perfectly executed and hysterical scene that involves Sean trying to fix Matt’s dislocated shoulder. Can you say “Pop it?” I’m not going to say anything else because I don’t want to ruin it for you if you haven’t seen “Episode 209” yet.

Favorite lines:

Carol, about Matt: “Jesus, a stalker and his boss’ blind wife? That guy will stick it anywhere!”

***

Sean, as Merc swings a gift bag full of network swag during the fight: “What’re you gonna do? Hit us with a spa certificate?”

***

Happily, the second season of Episodes was as good, if not better, than the first. Each installment was, for me, a slice of heaven. The comedy is intelligent and understated, and if you don’t pay attention, you might miss some absolutely brilliant dialogue. Everyone on the show helps to perfectly mold their particular style of acting together, giving us comedic gold. I love shows that keep my attention glued to the screen, whether it’s drama or comedy, and Episodes does just that.

Now, with secrets revealed and relationships addressed, everything is seemingly tied up with a nice big bow. But we all know this isn’t the last we’ve heard of Merc Lapidus, right? Will Jamie and Merc stay together, or will she opt to be with Matt? If that happens, will Carol take Merc back? Will Matt lose his visitation rights? Will there be a huge courtroom battle? Do Beverly and Sean really get their happy ending? I can’t wait to see where the show goes next season.

Check out the show’s homepage at http://www.sho.com/sho/episodes/home. Like Episodes on Facebook, and follow the show on Twitter using hashtag #Episodes. Tweet star Stephen Mangan @StephenMangan.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!