Tonight's
Earl definitely delivered. Last week we saw the warden shred Earl's time-off certificates - bad move. In one of the best showings of the ensemble cast so far this season, the entire crew got in on a plan to break Earl out the prison we've patiently watched him languish in for months. And it couldn't have been funnier.
To start things off, Earl was thrown into solitary after confronting the warden. A clever montage followed, my favorite part being Earl's participation in various prison activities while in a smaller, portable solitary confinement box. After being brought back into the prisoner barracks with the warden assuming Earl would play ball, he instead begins plotting his breakout, along with Randy, Paco, and the hilariously inept Frank.
With that crew, I'm surprised the plan to spring Earl was so clever. But come to think of it, all the daring and cleverness was actually pulled off by Joy and Darnell, with a little help early on from Catalina. That scene where they held the prison prayer service was nothing short of a showstopper. Darnell's singing voice coupled with Joy's tambourine wielding, cheerleader-type nun act was hilarious. I can't quite remember all the phrases she had the prisoners chanting, but "when I say 'Springer,' you say 'host.' Springer, host, Springer, host" sticks out.
Of course, I've recently been on the edge of my seat waiting for clues about Darnell's past, and this episode offered a few good ones. When he saw Frank and Paco in the duct and discovered Earl and Randy were in the warden's office, he chastised them, saying "Never leave a man behind. Civilians . . . ," which hints further at his possible involvement in a government agency. Hysterically, Crabman also felled a security guard by breaking out the Vulcan Nerve Pinch, which he's apparently also used on Joy. I then thought we were going to receive a huge revelation when Darnell recognized the warden. Instead, it was humorously disclosed that the warden was a porn actor who once shot a film in Darnell's apartment. And instead of Mr. Turtle, there was a Mr. Parrot.
Keeping this a hush-hush matter is the price Earl ended up paying for his freedom. Interestingly, though, Earl finds himself questioning karma in the end - he was free, but Frank and Paco were back in prison, even though all three "did bad things." I really hope this is just a small hiccup in Earl's relationship with karma and that he realizes this next week. It seems he doesn't yet fully understand that there are gray areas where good and bad deeds are concerned - trying to flee prison is a societal no-no, but Earl deserves his freedom for all the good he's done in prison. It could also be payback to the warden for being sheisty and underhanded. But fair or unfair, this was a great Christmas gift for a man who checks his
own list twice. What kind of cookies do you leave for Karma Claus?
Highlight time:
" Earl and the warden remember a handshake because they're hands were both wet and it "made that farty noise" and they both giggled.
" Darnell: "Nobody loves pudding more than me, but you got to pick your battles."
" Frank once "spent seven hours spooning a dead guy for nothing."
" The warden as a cable guy in his porn video delivers some great cheesy dialogue: "I'm here to turn on your box."
" Joy recalls when she and Darnell tailgated at an execution. Darnell says, "For the record, I was protesting."
" The Warden: "As for my lack of clothes, you happened to have caught me in a moment of self-pleasure."
To see more Earl,
check out our
Online Video Guide
.
show less
Tonights Earl definitely delivered Last week we saw the warden shred Earls time-off certificates bad move In one of the best showings of the ensemble cast so far this season the entire crew got in on a plan to break Earl out the prison weve patiently watched him languish in for months And it couldnt have been funnier To start things off Earl was thrown into solitary after confronting the warden A clever montage followed my favorite part being Earls participation in various prison activities while in a smaller portable solitary confinement box After being brought back into the prisoner barracks with the warden assuming Earl would play ball he instead begins plotting his breakout along with Randy Paco and the hilariously inept Frank With that crew Im surprised the plan to spring Earl was so clever But come to think of it all the daring and cleverness was actually pulled off by Joy and Darnell with a little help early on from Catalina That scene where t
read more