JT's comments below originally ran as part of Place to Be Nation's "Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch" project.
Best Character
Morty Seinfeld. All day and all night. And twice on Sunday. He dominated this episode and stole every scene he was in. From his aloof responses early on to his rampage at the doctor's office, he was the easy choice this time around. Helen was good too, as was George, natch.
Best Storyline
Oh man, so much good stuff going on here, but I will go with Morty's foibles, from his paperwork issues to his missing wallet to his sleuthing over the watch. Anything he touched instantly turned to gold here and he is filled with so much distrust and anger that the smallest things set him off into a tremendous blinding rage. He is a true icon.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Should Morty still pay for the visit? Should he have stormed out without at least viewing the results? Should he have called the cops if he suspected theft or foul play? No. No. Yes! For someone so bitter and angry, Morty doesn't seem to do much to force the issue as he just leaves the office and grumbles about it instead of getting the authorities involved. Also, he should have looked at the results to at least help diagnose the issue.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Elaine and the Chinese Woman. Clearly it was a leftover subconscious haunting from her long wait at the Chinese restaurant back in the day. Perhaps one day her dream will be realized and they can live happily ever after, feating on Chinese food with no wait, for ever and ever. Relationship Grade: Someday/10
What Worked
Morty & Helen slay it immediately out of the gate; George not liking Susan's father's gift because he has to write a thank you note; Kramer asking Jerry for the time and then grilling him on the broken watch was great; The calamine lotion line always makes me laugh; Morty being a cranky asshole at the doctor's office was perfect delivery; Elaine's return was well done and a good moment, including Kramer assuming it was a burglar, it was great to have her back; Jerry analyzing the facial dating tell was good stuff and a bit that didn't feel forced in; Elaine being stuck in a relationship because her psychiatrist knows her deeply was a good hook; I love the stolen wallet stuff, especially Morty's anger; Elaine's scene with Dr. Reston at his office was really funny; Bobo!; Uncle Leo's argument with Morty was high class entertainment piled onto Leo finding the watch and taking it to Jimmy Sherman, who returned it the next day
What Didn't Work
I really can't find anything bad here without nitpicking.
Key Character Debuts
N/A
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- George continues to compare himself to Ted Danson
- Jerry's parents ask about the watch he threw away in the previous episode
- "So what's the matter with this Davola guy?" - Helen "He's got like a chemical imbalance. He needs to be on medication." - Jerry "Oh, yeah. He's after Jerry now." - Kramer "Kramer!!" - Jerry "He's what?!" - Helen "He's joking." - Jerry "He's after you?" - Helen "Nooo." - Jerry "Why is he after you?" - Helen "He's not after me." - Jerry "Morty, did you hear this? Some crazy guy is after Jerry." - Helen "I'll make a few phone calls." - Morty "Who are you going to call?" - Jerry "What are you worried about?" - Morty "I want to know what you did to this guy that he's after you." - Helen "I didn't do anything." - Jerry "Well you must have done something." - Helen "No, he just doesn't like me." - Jerry "Doesn't like you? How can anyone not like you?" - Helen "You know, it seems impossible." - Jerry "Doesn't like you? How can that be?" - Helen "Ma, I know this may be hard for you to understand but I am sure there are many people who do not like me." - Jerry "Huh, Jerry, don't say that." - Helen "It's true." - Jerry "No, it's not true. You're a wonderful, wonderful boy. Everybody likes you. It's impossible not to like you. Impossible. Morty?" - Helen "Maybe some people don't like him. I could see that." - Morty "Kramer?" - Helen "Yeah, I like him." - Kramer
- "What was that about?" - Helen "Oh, oh, uh, he's got my Calamine lotion and uh, I told him not to return it. If he needs it he should keep it. He's got uh, he's got a thing on his ankle." - Jerry "How could anyone not like him?" - Helen
- Morty blames his bad back on sleeping on the pullout sofa in Florida
- "Well, it's not the sofa." - Helen "You stick up for that sofa like I'm criticizing a person." - Morty
- "Jerry, my young friend, you are so naive. You are so so naive. You know about a few things. You know about comedy, a little bit about relationships, some baseball, but you are so far out of your element here, you are embarrassing yourself. Now listen to me. I am negotiating. Negotiation, this is what you do in business." - George
- "Ah! It's Velcro. I can't stand Velcro. It's that t-e-a-r-I-n-g sound. I used to be in raincoats. I refused to put that in any of my lines." - Morty
- George gives Kramer the box of Cuban cigars
- "Oh, it's my parents. My father came up to see a back specialist." - Jerry "Oh, golly, it's probably from sleeping on that sofa." - Elaine
- "What are you eating my peanut butter out of the jar with your disgusting index fingers? This is a sickening display." - Jerry "I'm not eating bread now. I'm off bread." - George "You're off bread..." - Jerry
- "He has this power over me, okay. He has this way of manipulating every little word I say. He's like a Svenjolly." - Elaine "Svengali." - George "What did I say?" - Elaine "Svenjolly." - Jerry "Svenjolly? I did not say Svenjolly." - Elaine "George?" - Jerry "Svenjolly." - George "I don't see how I could have said Svenjolly." - Elaine "So maybe he's got like a cheerful mental hold on you." - Jerry
- "What kind of clip joint are you running here?" - Morty
- "Excuse me. Yes, Oh yes, Bobo. No it's just east of Madison. Around 4:00 will be fine. All right Bobo. I'm sorry where were we?" - Dr. Reston
- "Elaine, do you remember your dream where you have a sexual encounter with a Chinese woman?" - Dr. Reston
Oddities & Fun Facts
- The receptionist at the doctor's office is portrayed by Denise Dowse, who also portrayed Mrs. Teasley on Beverly Hills, 90210
- There is over the top applause for all of Kramer's entrances
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
This was a hidden classic for sure. There was no big occurrence or Hall of Fame moment, but it was steady throughout, never dropping off for even one scene. Everyone that got screen time delivered in their role and each scene played a part in tying things together so well. I have been loving this season, with the ongoing storyline weaving from episode to episode. They are so good at tying things together, so something like this works really well thanks to their strong talents. It was also great to see Elaine back and tossed right into the fire. Oh, and Morty Seinfeld rules all. Final Grade: 8/10
Best Character
Morty Seinfeld. All day and all night. And twice on Sunday. He dominated this episode and stole every scene he was in. From his aloof responses early on to his rampage at the doctor's office, he was the easy choice this time around. Helen was good too, as was George, natch.
Best Storyline
Oh man, so much good stuff going on here, but I will go with Morty's foibles, from his paperwork issues to his missing wallet to his sleuthing over the watch. Anything he touched instantly turned to gold here and he is filled with so much distrust and anger that the smallest things set him off into a tremendous blinding rage. He is a true icon.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Should Morty still pay for the visit? Should he have stormed out without at least viewing the results? Should he have called the cops if he suspected theft or foul play? No. No. Yes! For someone so bitter and angry, Morty doesn't seem to do much to force the issue as he just leaves the office and grumbles about it instead of getting the authorities involved. Also, he should have looked at the results to at least help diagnose the issue.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Elaine and the Chinese Woman. Clearly it was a leftover subconscious haunting from her long wait at the Chinese restaurant back in the day. Perhaps one day her dream will be realized and they can live happily ever after, feating on Chinese food with no wait, for ever and ever. Relationship Grade: Someday/10
What Worked
Morty & Helen slay it immediately out of the gate; George not liking Susan's father's gift because he has to write a thank you note; Kramer asking Jerry for the time and then grilling him on the broken watch was great; The calamine lotion line always makes me laugh; Morty being a cranky asshole at the doctor's office was perfect delivery; Elaine's return was well done and a good moment, including Kramer assuming it was a burglar, it was great to have her back; Jerry analyzing the facial dating tell was good stuff and a bit that didn't feel forced in; Elaine being stuck in a relationship because her psychiatrist knows her deeply was a good hook; I love the stolen wallet stuff, especially Morty's anger; Elaine's scene with Dr. Reston at his office was really funny; Bobo!; Uncle Leo's argument with Morty was high class entertainment piled onto Leo finding the watch and taking it to Jimmy Sherman, who returned it the next day
What Didn't Work
I really can't find anything bad here without nitpicking.
Key Character Debuts
N/A
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- George continues to compare himself to Ted Danson
- Jerry's parents ask about the watch he threw away in the previous episode
- "So what's the matter with this Davola guy?" - Helen "He's got like a chemical imbalance. He needs to be on medication." - Jerry "Oh, yeah. He's after Jerry now." - Kramer "Kramer!!" - Jerry "He's what?!" - Helen "He's joking." - Jerry "He's after you?" - Helen "Nooo." - Jerry "Why is he after you?" - Helen "He's not after me." - Jerry "Morty, did you hear this? Some crazy guy is after Jerry." - Helen "I'll make a few phone calls." - Morty "Who are you going to call?" - Jerry "What are you worried about?" - Morty "I want to know what you did to this guy that he's after you." - Helen "I didn't do anything." - Jerry "Well you must have done something." - Helen "No, he just doesn't like me." - Jerry "Doesn't like you? How can anyone not like you?" - Helen "You know, it seems impossible." - Jerry "Doesn't like you? How can that be?" - Helen "Ma, I know this may be hard for you to understand but I am sure there are many people who do not like me." - Jerry "Huh, Jerry, don't say that." - Helen "It's true." - Jerry "No, it's not true. You're a wonderful, wonderful boy. Everybody likes you. It's impossible not to like you. Impossible. Morty?" - Helen "Maybe some people don't like him. I could see that." - Morty "Kramer?" - Helen "Yeah, I like him." - Kramer
- "What was that about?" - Helen "Oh, oh, uh, he's got my Calamine lotion and uh, I told him not to return it. If he needs it he should keep it. He's got uh, he's got a thing on his ankle." - Jerry "How could anyone not like him?" - Helen
- Morty blames his bad back on sleeping on the pullout sofa in Florida
- "Well, it's not the sofa." - Helen "You stick up for that sofa like I'm criticizing a person." - Morty
- "Jerry, my young friend, you are so naive. You are so so naive. You know about a few things. You know about comedy, a little bit about relationships, some baseball, but you are so far out of your element here, you are embarrassing yourself. Now listen to me. I am negotiating. Negotiation, this is what you do in business." - George
- "Ah! It's Velcro. I can't stand Velcro. It's that t-e-a-r-I-n-g sound. I used to be in raincoats. I refused to put that in any of my lines." - Morty
- George gives Kramer the box of Cuban cigars
- "Oh, it's my parents. My father came up to see a back specialist." - Jerry "Oh, golly, it's probably from sleeping on that sofa." - Elaine
- "What are you eating my peanut butter out of the jar with your disgusting index fingers? This is a sickening display." - Jerry "I'm not eating bread now. I'm off bread." - George "You're off bread..." - Jerry
- "He has this power over me, okay. He has this way of manipulating every little word I say. He's like a Svenjolly." - Elaine "Svengali." - George "What did I say?" - Elaine "Svenjolly." - Jerry "Svenjolly? I did not say Svenjolly." - Elaine "George?" - Jerry "Svenjolly." - George "I don't see how I could have said Svenjolly." - Elaine "So maybe he's got like a cheerful mental hold on you." - Jerry
- "What kind of clip joint are you running here?" - Morty
- "Excuse me. Yes, Oh yes, Bobo. No it's just east of Madison. Around 4:00 will be fine. All right Bobo. I'm sorry where were we?" - Dr. Reston
- "Elaine, do you remember your dream where you have a sexual encounter with a Chinese woman?" - Dr. Reston
Oddities & Fun Facts
- The receptionist at the doctor's office is portrayed by Denise Dowse, who also portrayed Mrs. Teasley on Beverly Hills, 90210
- There is over the top applause for all of Kramer's entrances
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
This was a hidden classic for sure. There was no big occurrence or Hall of Fame moment, but it was steady throughout, never dropping off for even one scene. Everyone that got screen time delivered in their role and each scene played a part in tying things together so well. I have been loving this season, with the ongoing storyline weaving from episode to episode. They are so good at tying things together, so something like this works really well thanks to their strong talents. It was also great to see Elaine back and tossed right into the fire. Oh, and Morty Seinfeld rules all. Final Grade: 8/10
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