JT's comments below originally ran as part of Place to Be Nation's "Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch" project.
Best Character
I liked Kramer the most here. The mail story was the best of the bunch and he had some strong delivery in multiple spots throughout the episode, including one of my favorite all time moments when he pops in the apartment and says that he called about the van. The dummy bucket stuff was funny too as was his showdown with the Postmaster General.
Best Storyline
The van had its moments but Kramer's battle with the post office stands out here. It had the funniest lines and overall concept and I really liked he payoff the end with Newman being marched into far the Postmaster General. George's cousin plot was creepy and The Wiz stuff was weak.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Is being starved for attention reason enough to bang your cousin? Probably not if your cousin is Rhisa. I will let you sort out the rest.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Frankie Merman wants all of Jerry's babies. The love AND lust in his eyes shone through anytime they were together. He got Jerry that van because he pictured them taking family trips to the country together every Sunday. Just tell him how you feel, Summer George! Relationship Grade: Van's a Rockin'/Don't Come Knockin'
What Worked:
Whitey Fisk; "Jackbooted thugs" makes me laugh; What's Jerry going to do with the old looking phone?; PUDDY~!; George scripting his calls to his parents is great; Jerry asking Elaine if the man she met was Whitey Fisk; What was Kramer's original idea regarding the choke point?; I always enjoy how George reverts to the third person when he gets angry, such a fun callback for the rest of the series; Kramer's brick line; Newman telling Violet to take her three hour break and his sweaty conversation with Kramer; Kramer walking in and saying "yeah I called about the van" is one off my all time favorite moments; Puddy trolling Elaine over The Wiz; The Bucket stuff is a funny running joke; Frank bringing back "hoochie mama"
What Didn't Work
Frankie Merman always looks like he just ran a marathon; I didn't need the mental imagery of the Costanzas having intercourse; the immediate leap George makes to date his cousin feels a step too far for both him and the show; the coincidence that Jerry stumbled into the Wiz commercial just as they were talking about Jack was a bit too much; Why did George have to drive deep into the woods to execute his scheme; Jack doing that fucking Wiz dance, go get fucked
Key Character Debuts
- Frankie Merman
- Rhisa
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- "He was not the summer you. Besides, you had a summer me. Whitey Fisk, the guy who snuck you into Last Tango in Paris." - Jerry "I made him up." - George "So you never saw Last Tango in Paris?" - Jerry "No." - George "Too bad. It was erotic." - Jerry
- "Well... I've had it with these jackbooted thugs!" - Kramer "'Pottery Barn'?" - Jerry
- "After dark? Please. At their age, that's like swallowing stun grenades." - George
- "So, this is beautiful. You, and Puddy, and this new guy, in a big pot of love stew." - Jerry
- "Will you look at this? More catalogs! 'Omaha Steaks', 'Mac Warehouse', 'Newsweek'?! I can't stop all these
companies, so, I'm gonna attack this problem at the choke point." - Kramer "Stop the mail?" - Jerry "That's... even better!" - Kramer
- "Where'd you get the bricks?" - Jerry "Jerry, the whole building is brick." - Kramer
- "Oh, that's it. They have gone too far. They keep pushing me, and pushing me. Now I got no choice but to go down there... and talk to them." - Kramer
- "Ah, shut up, Jerry. My parents think they can ignore me. Heh heh. Well, they better think again." - George "Oh, no. George, please. What are you going to do?" - Jerry "You remember my cousin Rhisa? I'm gonna date her." - George
- "That's pretty pathetic." - George "I know. They're not even related." - Jerry
- "Oh, it's fantastic. We were out in front of the post office today, and not one person went in." - Kramer "It's Sunday." - Jerry
Oddities & Fun Facts
- Legendary actor Wilford Brimley portrays the Postmaster General
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
This is another weak episode here in season nine. I really liked the mail saga and there was plenty of laughs but the other three stories never quite clicked. Frankie was a weirdo, George was a creep and Elaine was an idiot. I don't mind that they are getting a bit over the top here in their final season but some of this stuff is way too much and just not believable after a certain point. The Kramer mail stuff is a bit nutty but in line with the character's motivations. A man digging holes in Central Park when his feelings are hurt and George wanting to bang his cousin to get his parents' attention just don't resonate at all. They still seem to be figuring out what they want this season to be and hopefully it all clicks together soon. Final Grade: 5/10
Best Character
I liked Kramer the most here. The mail story was the best of the bunch and he had some strong delivery in multiple spots throughout the episode, including one of my favorite all time moments when he pops in the apartment and says that he called about the van. The dummy bucket stuff was funny too as was his showdown with the Postmaster General.
Best Storyline
The van had its moments but Kramer's battle with the post office stands out here. It had the funniest lines and overall concept and I really liked he payoff the end with Newman being marched into far the Postmaster General. George's cousin plot was creepy and The Wiz stuff was weak.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Is being starved for attention reason enough to bang your cousin? Probably not if your cousin is Rhisa. I will let you sort out the rest.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Frankie Merman wants all of Jerry's babies. The love AND lust in his eyes shone through anytime they were together. He got Jerry that van because he pictured them taking family trips to the country together every Sunday. Just tell him how you feel, Summer George! Relationship Grade: Van's a Rockin'/Don't Come Knockin'
What Worked:
Whitey Fisk; "Jackbooted thugs" makes me laugh; What's Jerry going to do with the old looking phone?; PUDDY~!; George scripting his calls to his parents is great; Jerry asking Elaine if the man she met was Whitey Fisk; What was Kramer's original idea regarding the choke point?; I always enjoy how George reverts to the third person when he gets angry, such a fun callback for the rest of the series; Kramer's brick line; Newman telling Violet to take her three hour break and his sweaty conversation with Kramer; Kramer walking in and saying "yeah I called about the van" is one off my all time favorite moments; Puddy trolling Elaine over The Wiz; The Bucket stuff is a funny running joke; Frank bringing back "hoochie mama"
What Didn't Work
Frankie Merman always looks like he just ran a marathon; I didn't need the mental imagery of the Costanzas having intercourse; the immediate leap George makes to date his cousin feels a step too far for both him and the show; the coincidence that Jerry stumbled into the Wiz commercial just as they were talking about Jack was a bit too much; Why did George have to drive deep into the woods to execute his scheme; Jack doing that fucking Wiz dance, go get fucked
Key Character Debuts
- Frankie Merman
- Rhisa
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- "He was not the summer you. Besides, you had a summer me. Whitey Fisk, the guy who snuck you into Last Tango in Paris." - Jerry "I made him up." - George "So you never saw Last Tango in Paris?" - Jerry "No." - George "Too bad. It was erotic." - Jerry
- "Well... I've had it with these jackbooted thugs!" - Kramer "'Pottery Barn'?" - Jerry
- "After dark? Please. At their age, that's like swallowing stun grenades." - George
- "So, this is beautiful. You, and Puddy, and this new guy, in a big pot of love stew." - Jerry
- "Will you look at this? More catalogs! 'Omaha Steaks', 'Mac Warehouse', 'Newsweek'?! I can't stop all these
companies, so, I'm gonna attack this problem at the choke point." - Kramer "Stop the mail?" - Jerry "That's... even better!" - Kramer
- "Where'd you get the bricks?" - Jerry "Jerry, the whole building is brick." - Kramer
- "Oh, that's it. They have gone too far. They keep pushing me, and pushing me. Now I got no choice but to go down there... and talk to them." - Kramer
- "Ah, shut up, Jerry. My parents think they can ignore me. Heh heh. Well, they better think again." - George "Oh, no. George, please. What are you going to do?" - Jerry "You remember my cousin Rhisa? I'm gonna date her." - George
- "That's pretty pathetic." - George "I know. They're not even related." - Jerry
- "Oh, it's fantastic. We were out in front of the post office today, and not one person went in." - Kramer "It's Sunday." - Jerry
Oddities & Fun Facts
- Legendary actor Wilford Brimley portrays the Postmaster General
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
This is another weak episode here in season nine. I really liked the mail saga and there was plenty of laughs but the other three stories never quite clicked. Frankie was a weirdo, George was a creep and Elaine was an idiot. I don't mind that they are getting a bit over the top here in their final season but some of this stuff is way too much and just not believable after a certain point. The Kramer mail stuff is a bit nutty but in line with the character's motivations. A man digging holes in Central Park when his feelings are hurt and George wanting to bang his cousin to get his parents' attention just don't resonate at all. They still seem to be figuring out what they want this season to be and hopefully it all clicks together soon. Final Grade: 5/10
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