JT's comments below originally ran as part of Place to Be Nation's "Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch" project.
Best Character
Jerry was sharp and totally on point in this episode. His digs at Newman, the Risk game, Kramer, Whatley and George were all top notch and watching him navigate through all the deceit only to get the tickets back while ending up at the game with Newman was a fantastic payoff.
Best Storyline
Risk all the way. I was an avid Risk player right around this time so it was a perfect storyline that I could easily relate to. I loved Newman trying to break into the apartment, Jerry's digs at the whole scenario, Kramer's threats about what could happen if Newman won and of course the final scene with the Ukrainian madman smashing the board. Also, I used "I'm taking the Congo as a penalty!" many times in my day.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Once George suggested the menage-a-tois is he officially committed to taking part in the action? Yes. Can't back out once you get the buy-in from all the involved parties. Let your mind be free Georgie Boy. Lay down on that towel and let the Super Bowl be the background to your sexual enlightenment.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Bonnie is a catch and George should have shut his mouth and rode that velvet gravy train into Nirvana. Again, his paranoia ruins a good thing. Whatley and Elaine need to bang already. Relationship Grade: Velvet/10
What Worked:
Tim Whatley returns and I love his snub of George; I also love Tim offering Jerry a dinner at Mendy's; The Label Baby, Junior; RISK!; Big Daddy!; The revelation that Whatley regifted the Label Baby is great; Jerry's line about Elaine getting Whatley a birthday gift and him being a large; Scott the creepy roommate; Newman planning a sneak attack in a game of Risk is amazing; Arthur Jobanian is a funny name; "Oh, it's Risk, it's a game of world domination being played by two guys who can barely run their own lives." is an all time line and "You're not a little anything, Newman" isn't bad either; Elaine wanting to go to Tim's apartment just to find the Label Maker is funny, especially with the payoff when Jerry and George explain that is why she got the invite; Also, Elaine's dance is cute; "Mae West" and the Super Bowl sex romp, Jerry is on fire; Elaine just ripping poor Whatley's heart out in the cab; Jerry collapsing George's world after Scott moves out; Kramer's weird popping noise when rolling the dice; I always love when Newman plans revenge via mail tampering; Kramer and Newman scampering down the street with the Risk board chasing the tow truck is epic; The Risk game on the Subway and the Ukraine stuff is so great; Elaine going back to get the Label Maker was funny as was Tim having no clue how to respond and then turning the blame around; Jerry and Newman being stuck at the Super Bowl, George using the threesome trick and it backfiring and Newman ending up with Scott's boxes were allgreat payoffs
What Didn't Work
The Drake is still a douchebag, scheduling his wedding on Super Bowl Sunday; What does Newman do at the post office that he seemingly goes to work in the middle of the day? Or were they playing overnight?; The Drake is also an idiot for just realizing the wedding coincided with the Super Bowl; Tim Whatley has no other friends to invite?; Why are Jerry's windows wide open in the middle of winter?
Key Character Debuts
- N/A
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- "I asked. Elaine laughed at me, Kramer's only interested in Canadian football." - Jerry
- "Ah, just a couple of gals out on the town, shopping and gabbing." - Jerry
- "Yes, yes. You're like Switzerland." - Kramer "I don't wanna be Switzerland." - Jerry "Jerry, Newman and I are engaged in a epic struggle for world domination. It's winner take all. People cannot be trusted." - Kramer "Don't look at me." - Newman "Oh, I'm looking right at you, big daddy." - Kramer "Alright, soldier boys, let's fall out." - Jerry
- "Oh, well, if you repeat the name of the gift, you can't possibly like it." - Jerry
- "Are you a velvet fan?" - Bonnie "A fan? I would drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable." - George
- "Are you even vaguely familiar with the concept of giving? There's no grace period." - Jerry
- "Oh, it's Risk, it's a game of world domination being played by two guys who can barely run their own lives." - Jerry
- "What are you gonna do about the roommate?" - Jerry "I gotta try and find a way to switch places with him. It's like a Sigfried and Roy trick." - George "Well, the pickle breath is a good start." - Jerry
- "Jerry? I'm a little insulted." - Newman "You're not a little anything, Newman. So just pack it up and move it out of here." - Jerry
- "How does Tim Whatley even know Newman?" - George "Newman's his mailman." - Jerry "Who goes to the Super Bowl with their mailman?!" - George "Who goes *anywhere* with Newman?!" - Jerry "Well, he's merry." - George "He is merry, I'll give him that." - Jerry
- "You go out with a guy one time, you ask him to go upstairs like you're Mae West? Of course he's gonna try and get you alone for the weekend." - Jerry "You mean just because I asked him to go upstairs, he thinks he's going downtown?" - Elaine
- "Yeah, well I don't trust this guy. I think he regifted, he degifted, and now he's using an upstairs invite as a springboard to a Super Bowl sex romp." - Jerry
- "I'm taking the Congo as a penalty!" - Kramer
- "You wanted to be ensconced in velvet, you're buried." - Jerry
- "Ha ha, the Ukraine. Do you know what the Ukraine is? It's a sitting duck. A road apple, Newman. The Ukraine is weak. It's feeble. I think it's time to put the hurt on the Ukraine." - Kramer
Oddities & Fun Facts
- The Drake getting married is a callback to The Handicap Spot (S4, E20)
- Kramer is a fan of Canadian football
- Tim referencing a dinner at Mendy's is a callback to Kenny Bania's dates with Jerry earlier this season
- George referencing the menage-a-tois was a callback to The Switch (S6, E11)
- This episode aired on January 19, 1995. The Super Bowl occurred on January 29, 1995 and was contested between the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers.
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
Oh how I love this episode. It cranks along from start to finish and the Risk stuff is really some of my favorite random, nonsensical story telling in the entire run of the show. The dedication they show to the game is tremendous and the subway fiasco is a brilliant capper. The gifting stuff was funny too despite how big of an asshole Whatley is. I also liked George's dilemma and really enjoyed all the various callbacks woven throughout this one. Scott is a creepy looking dude. Final Grade: 9/10
Best Character
Jerry was sharp and totally on point in this episode. His digs at Newman, the Risk game, Kramer, Whatley and George were all top notch and watching him navigate through all the deceit only to get the tickets back while ending up at the game with Newman was a fantastic payoff.
Best Storyline
Risk all the way. I was an avid Risk player right around this time so it was a perfect storyline that I could easily relate to. I loved Newman trying to break into the apartment, Jerry's digs at the whole scenario, Kramer's threats about what could happen if Newman won and of course the final scene with the Ukrainian madman smashing the board. Also, I used "I'm taking the Congo as a penalty!" many times in my day.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Once George suggested the menage-a-tois is he officially committed to taking part in the action? Yes. Can't back out once you get the buy-in from all the involved parties. Let your mind be free Georgie Boy. Lay down on that towel and let the Super Bowl be the background to your sexual enlightenment.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Bonnie is a catch and George should have shut his mouth and rode that velvet gravy train into Nirvana. Again, his paranoia ruins a good thing. Whatley and Elaine need to bang already. Relationship Grade: Velvet/10
What Worked:
Tim Whatley returns and I love his snub of George; I also love Tim offering Jerry a dinner at Mendy's; The Label Baby, Junior; RISK!; Big Daddy!; The revelation that Whatley regifted the Label Baby is great; Jerry's line about Elaine getting Whatley a birthday gift and him being a large; Scott the creepy roommate; Newman planning a sneak attack in a game of Risk is amazing; Arthur Jobanian is a funny name; "Oh, it's Risk, it's a game of world domination being played by two guys who can barely run their own lives." is an all time line and "You're not a little anything, Newman" isn't bad either; Elaine wanting to go to Tim's apartment just to find the Label Maker is funny, especially with the payoff when Jerry and George explain that is why she got the invite; Also, Elaine's dance is cute; "Mae West" and the Super Bowl sex romp, Jerry is on fire; Elaine just ripping poor Whatley's heart out in the cab; Jerry collapsing George's world after Scott moves out; Kramer's weird popping noise when rolling the dice; I always love when Newman plans revenge via mail tampering; Kramer and Newman scampering down the street with the Risk board chasing the tow truck is epic; The Risk game on the Subway and the Ukraine stuff is so great; Elaine going back to get the Label Maker was funny as was Tim having no clue how to respond and then turning the blame around; Jerry and Newman being stuck at the Super Bowl, George using the threesome trick and it backfiring and Newman ending up with Scott's boxes were allgreat payoffs
What Didn't Work
The Drake is still a douchebag, scheduling his wedding on Super Bowl Sunday; What does Newman do at the post office that he seemingly goes to work in the middle of the day? Or were they playing overnight?; The Drake is also an idiot for just realizing the wedding coincided with the Super Bowl; Tim Whatley has no other friends to invite?; Why are Jerry's windows wide open in the middle of winter?
Key Character Debuts
- N/A
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- "I asked. Elaine laughed at me, Kramer's only interested in Canadian football." - Jerry
- "Ah, just a couple of gals out on the town, shopping and gabbing." - Jerry
- "Yes, yes. You're like Switzerland." - Kramer "I don't wanna be Switzerland." - Jerry "Jerry, Newman and I are engaged in a epic struggle for world domination. It's winner take all. People cannot be trusted." - Kramer "Don't look at me." - Newman "Oh, I'm looking right at you, big daddy." - Kramer "Alright, soldier boys, let's fall out." - Jerry
- "Oh, well, if you repeat the name of the gift, you can't possibly like it." - Jerry
- "Are you a velvet fan?" - Bonnie "A fan? I would drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable." - George
- "Are you even vaguely familiar with the concept of giving? There's no grace period." - Jerry
- "Oh, it's Risk, it's a game of world domination being played by two guys who can barely run their own lives." - Jerry
- "What are you gonna do about the roommate?" - Jerry "I gotta try and find a way to switch places with him. It's like a Sigfried and Roy trick." - George "Well, the pickle breath is a good start." - Jerry
- "Jerry? I'm a little insulted." - Newman "You're not a little anything, Newman. So just pack it up and move it out of here." - Jerry
- "How does Tim Whatley even know Newman?" - George "Newman's his mailman." - Jerry "Who goes to the Super Bowl with their mailman?!" - George "Who goes *anywhere* with Newman?!" - Jerry "Well, he's merry." - George "He is merry, I'll give him that." - Jerry
- "You go out with a guy one time, you ask him to go upstairs like you're Mae West? Of course he's gonna try and get you alone for the weekend." - Jerry "You mean just because I asked him to go upstairs, he thinks he's going downtown?" - Elaine
- "Yeah, well I don't trust this guy. I think he regifted, he degifted, and now he's using an upstairs invite as a springboard to a Super Bowl sex romp." - Jerry
- "I'm taking the Congo as a penalty!" - Kramer
- "You wanted to be ensconced in velvet, you're buried." - Jerry
- "Ha ha, the Ukraine. Do you know what the Ukraine is? It's a sitting duck. A road apple, Newman. The Ukraine is weak. It's feeble. I think it's time to put the hurt on the Ukraine." - Kramer
Oddities & Fun Facts
- The Drake getting married is a callback to The Handicap Spot (S4, E20)
- Kramer is a fan of Canadian football
- Tim referencing a dinner at Mendy's is a callback to Kenny Bania's dates with Jerry earlier this season
- George referencing the menage-a-tois was a callback to The Switch (S6, E11)
- This episode aired on January 19, 1995. The Super Bowl occurred on January 29, 1995 and was contested between the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers.
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
Oh how I love this episode. It cranks along from start to finish and the Risk stuff is really some of my favorite random, nonsensical story telling in the entire run of the show. The dedication they show to the game is tremendous and the subway fiasco is a brilliant capper. The gifting stuff was funny too despite how big of an asshole Whatley is. I also liked George's dilemma and really enjoyed all the various callbacks woven throughout this one. Scott is a creepy looking dude. Final Grade: 9/10
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