Seinfeld: The Series Rewatch - "The Parking Garage" (S3, E6)

JT's comments below originally ran as part of Place to Be Nation's "Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch" project.

Best Character

I really hate to cheap out again here, but no way this episode works with any of the Core Four missing. It was the perfect example of an ensemble performance across the board. The dialogue, the exposition, the chemistry, the desperation it was all there and sprayed across the cast equally. I kept debating who to choose, but they were all equally awesome. I loved Elaine devolving into madness, George fretting over time, Jerry alternating between bitching and whipping out zingers and Kramer caring but not really quite caring. The chemistry between all four has developed to an amazing point already and it is on full display here.

Best Storyline

Obviously, it is the search for Kramer's car that takes the cake here. They played it all perfectly, with each having a separate issue going on within the main story. Plus they had the torture of what to do: stay together or split up? Of course, they split-up and the payoff of them finding the car without Kramer, who forgot the location of the air conditioner was perfect.

Ethical Dilemma of the Week

Should you spit or degrade a car that takes up two spaces? Yes, of course. People who park crooked are the laziest, most ignorant, intolerable pieces of garbage in society. There is literally zero reason to do it other than just being a deplorable douchebag. I once had someone defend this action by saying the person "may get in trouble if they are even a minute late for work" and thus parked crooked because they are rushing. Horseshit. A) Don't be late. B) By parking like a dick, you are making the next guy late because you ate up a parking spot, which can be precious and few and far between for many. Screw you, crooked parkers!

Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)

Elaine and her goldfish quickly bonded but that love story was destined for a sad outcome as soon as she walked out of the store with that bag. There is no way somebody like Elaine, who is always out and about and busy with friends or work, is going to put the work in to feed that fish on time. So, as awful as it seems that the poor guy didn't make it out of the garage, it was going to be an inevitable finish anyway. Relationship Grade: 1/10

What Worked

Seeing all the 80s cars in the garage was quite the treat; The premise is super relatable and has happened to everyone; The individual battles within the car search with Kramer carrying the box, Elaine trying to keep her goldfish alive and Jerry's pee problem; Lots of great observational humor about social interaction blended into this one, including the bit about parents never forgetting a slip-up; I love the little kid trash talking George after George defended him; George's gallop jog is a thing of beauty; Kramer finally exposing Jerry for being too cautious was good to hear; Jerry's evolving trail of lies to the cop and the cop acting completely non-plussed was entertaining; George using the car search as an opening to speak to Hot Michelle was quite slick, but of course it backfired; The closing scene is as perfect as it gets.

What Didn't Work

I never understood how the cop caught George so quickly after he was just sitting around with Jerry, unless there was some hidden camera around that we didn't see; Not their fault, but the L. Ron Hubbard debate being a reason for Michelle to boot the group out of her is dated; Again, not their fault but this is yet another episode that couldn't have existed in the cell phone age.

Key Character Debuts

N/A

Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes

- "You think we'll hit traffic?" - George "Of course we'll hit traffic. It's rush hour." - Jerry "Isn't it going the other way?" - Elaine "There is no other way in New York. Everybody goes every way all the time." - Jerry "But it's Saturday." - Elaine "You got the picnic and burger traffic." - Jerry "There's picnic traffic?" - Elaine "Well, as my grandfather used to say, sometimes even a picnic's no picnic" - Jerry
- Jerry, are you aware that adult diapers are a $600 million a year industry?" - Kramer
- "There is too much urinary freedom in this society. I am proud to be holding it, it builds character!" - Jerry
- "It's purple 23...remember that." - Kramer
- "I can't carry a pen...I'm afraid it will puncture my scrotum" - George
- "Didn't they consult with a urologist when they build these places?" - Jerry
- "Because I could get uromysitisis poisoning and die...that's why!" - Jerry
- "You know, I've been issued a public urination pass by the city for my condition! Unfortunately, my little brother ran out of the house with it this morning. Him and his friends are probably peeing all over the place." - Jerry
- Kramer notes that the jacket he is wearing was left at his mother's house by some guy
"And the guy had  afar fetish. Spector never dated a woman under 250 pounds."  - Kramer "Really?" - George "What did he do with all the fat? Did he jump up and down on it? Did he gouge it like Killer Kowalski?" - Kramer "Who's Killer Kowalski?" - George "Oh, he was a wrestler...he would get down on his knees and squeeze someone's stomach until they gave" - Kramer

Oddities & Fun Facts

- Kramer is wearing John D'Amato's sneakers
- The crew debates what it would take for George's parents to buy a car phone
- The car stalling at the end of the episode wasn't scripted

Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)

Brilliant storytelling again in this one, with the entire episode taking place in a parking garage but things never felt unrealistic or boring. As I mentioned above, the improved chemistry was on full display here and the dialogue came fast and was delivered crisply. Everything intertwined and felt legitimate for each character. Of course Jerry had to pee but was too afraid to go in public. And George fretting over his parents being pissed because he is late? Perfect sense too. Kramer nonchalantly loping around talking about old wrestlers and talking Jerry and George into peeing on the floor? Vintage K-Man. And poor Elaine, who finally found true love, forced to suffer thanks to her guy pals. I don't rank this one as highly as The Pen or The Library because it didn't have those laugh out loud iconic moments but it was still a tremendous piece of business from start to end. Final Grade: 7/10