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Review: #WilfredFX , Season 1, Ep. 8 “Anger” (Dead Rats, Possessed Dogs, and 20 yr old lies)

Air Date: Thursday, August 11, 2011 10PM E/P

Rating: ★★★★★

“Anger as soon as fed is dead – ‘tis starving makes it fat.” ~ Emily Dickinson

If you don’t understand the quote – it basically means addressing the issue immediately quells the anger. But anger that has festered a bit makes it more venomous.  And Ryan (Elijah Wood) needs to get angry.  He’s got to take a stance against his annoyingly bitchy sister Kristen (Dorian Brown). It doesn’t matter that she loaned him $5,000, he shouldn’t have to take what she’s been dishing out all these years. I think Wilfred (Jason Gann) sums up my sentiments nicely, “Ryan, remember when I told you a few weeks ago that you are a total pussy? Well, I just want to apologize for not emphasizing that enough.”

Nestor Carbonell guest stars as Kristen's boss Dr. Arturo Ramos

I know Ryan doesn’t like confrontation but I’m ready to smack the shit out of Kristen, which is quite a testament to Brown’s acting. She’s doing a superb job of being a complete and total condescending cunt (pardon my French.) I just want to reach inside the TV and slap some sense into her.

Kristen preps for her brown-nosing dinner party she’s throwing for her boss, Dr. Arturo Ramos (guest star Nestor Carbonell).  He received a “grant to open a clinic in India” and needs an “associate to oversee the project.” All the while, Wilfred vies for Kristen’s attention because Ryan says she hates him. Wilfred thinks it’s poppycock – “everyone loves Wilfred,” right? I wonder if Kristen hears Wilfred barking while Ryan hears him speaking when Wilfred tries to gift Kristen with a dead rat. Or does she hear anything at all? I’m still wondering if Wilfred is a figment of Ryan’s imagination or if Ryan might be a schizophrenic like Russell Crow’s character in A Beautiful Mind.  Either way, Kristen isn’t nice to either of them.

Ryan: “She didn’t treat you that well either. Which was surprising because I thought everyone loves Wilfred.”

Wilfred: “Everyone does except for her because she’s not human – cold, black heart; dead eyes; nice tits.”

Nothing says "I adore you" like a dead rat! Way to go Wilfred (Jason Gann)

Throughout the episode, Ryan’s been having recurring dreams about his childhood dog – a Jack Russell Terrier named Sneakers. He thinks he accidentally killed Sneakers by leaving the gate to their backyard pool open. But Ryan hasn’t told Wilfred who Sneakers is, which causes some jealousy.

Wilfred: “Sneakers is no one huh? Do you usually buy priceless jewelry for no one? (holding a dog collar) Imitation colored glass, plastic painted to look like metal – this isn’t some cheap ‘Made in China’ knock-off; this is made in Taiwan! You bastard! Keeping another dog on the side, are ya?” (LOL!)

So Wilfred has a little “paranormal experience” after putting on the dog collar. He becomes a conduit for the spirit of Sneakers. After Wilfred/Sneakers cause some mayhem at the party, the truth finally comes out about Sneakers death. Just as I suspected, it was Kristen who left the gate open after grabbing her swim goggles for practice. She breaks down after Ryan FINALLY gets angry and tells her to “Shut the hell up!” Ooh! I got goose bumps! How rotten of her to let Ryan think he’s a dog killer for the last 20 years. I don’t know if I can digest anything else Kristen serves up. She’s going to have to do much better than nix any further loan repayments to make up for this.

Ryan finally got angry and confronts Kristen about his old dog Sneakers

I love the little morality lessons that are peppered into each episode of Wilfred. Sure, the darkly sarcastic comedy approach may be a bit thick to muddle through in areas, but in the end, it seems Ryan learns a little more about himself and his capabilities each week. “Anger” teaches him to stand up for himself and sometimes you just have to get angry to do that.

 

Tune in to Wilfred, Thursdays at 10PM E/P only on FX.
For more on the show go to http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/wilfred/.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.