ThisCurb Your Enthusiasmreviewcontains spoilers.
Perhaps this has always been the case throughout the shows run.
Though Ive only really noticed it now as Ive watched this season with a critical eye.
The setups of season 9 all tend to be groan-inducing and The Shucker is no exception.
Cant quite remember aSeinfeldepisode that began like that.
All of these various setups in The Shucker range from ineffective to awful.
Fox, Shaquille ONeal, or Wanda Sykes contentious encounters with Larry.
Its understandable thatCurbwould want to play on Mirandas public persona for laughs.
At first it just seems as thoughCurbhas gone too far this time around.
This is one antagonistic celebrity encounter too many.
But then something funny happens.
Thats not a turn of phrase, something literally funny happens.
Lin is rapping his vision for Fatwa when Larry tries to subtly make his way towards the big desk.
Just like that, everything clicks into place.
Its hard to believe they actually got Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Thank our lucky stars he choseCurb Your Enthusiasm.
For as unpromising as his introduction is, he and hisHamiltonplot line really go to some excellent places.
Miranda seems to have a similar understanding of those folkways but is even better at exploiting them than Larry.
The fictional Miranda gets virtually everything he wants from the meeting and gets to control Fatwa the show.
Meanwhile the real Miranda also gets everything he wants out of his firstCurbappearance.
Its amazing how much Leon is able to add to any episode just by being around.
Of course Larry and Leon would be terrified of Mrs. Shapiros tiny pug.
First, after Larry accuses Eddie of faking his Aspergers, she comes back with Its not pretend.
Oh, and thats right.
Larry and Mrs. Shapiro end up onJudge Judytogether to litigate their disagreement.
Naturally, Judge Judy sides with Mrs. Shapiro because Larry is the worst.
The Shucker is just relentless.
Part of the episode certainly suffers from that over-saturation particularly towards the beginning.
Rating:
4 out of 5
