Writer & Director: Taika Waititi
Cast: Jemaine Clement (Jemaine), Bret McKenzie (Bret), Arj Barker (Dave), Rhys Darby (Murray), Frank Wood (Greg), Aziz Ansari (Sinjay), Kevin Allison (Customer), Joan Hess (Jessica), Jon Budinoff (Boy On The Bus) & Sylvia Kauders (Lady On The Bus)
Cast: Jemaine Clement (Jemaine), Bret McKenzie (Bret), Arj Barker (Dave), Rhys Darby (Murray), Frank Wood (Greg), Aziz Ansari (Sinjay), Kevin Allison (Customer), Joan Hess (Jessica), Jon Budinoff (Boy On The Bus) & Sylvia Kauders (Lady On The Bus)
Bret and Jemaine face racial hostility from a Indian fruit seller, and Murray falls in love with a tech support woman..."Hey, what are you guys doing? You, uh, you bungee-jumping up there?"
-- Sinjay (Aziz Ansari)
Is it coincidence that the funniest episode of the series is written and directed by someone else, namely Taika Waititi? As the Conchords themselves appear desperately short of ideas and resort to variations on the same plot and jokes, Waititi's script (while hardly a revelation) is a damn sight more compelling and contains some memorable moments.
The thrust of the episode concerns racial prejudice, in the unlikely form of Indian fruit seller Sinjay (Aziz Ansari), who detests New Zealanders and refuses to serve Bret and Jemaine. The idea doesn't really stretch beyond this one joke, but it's humorously told and performed by everyone.
I particularly enjoyed how Bret and Jemaine are so sheltered from life they're unable to grasp the concept of "flipping the bird" and need a training montage from best friend Dave (Arj Barker). The eventual pay-off to the plot is a bit trite (again using the way New Zealanders are mistaken for other nationalities), but it was a fun journey while it lasts.
There's some great stuff for Murray (Rhys Darby) in this episode, as he's quite clearly the funniest character, despite being an unashamed David Brent knockoff. Here, Murray (who we learn is married, but separated) lusts after a gorgeous blonde tech support worker called Jessica (Joan Hess), prompting a desire to pen a love song for her...
As usual, the musical interludes are hit-and-miss, particularly a children's animation called "Albi The Racist Dragon", delivered to the Conchords from Bret's mum back in the homeland. It's a note-perfect parody of 70s-era stop-animation, but it's not particularly funny and is crow-barred into the script.
A song called "Mutha Huckas" contains some amusing lyrics, but it's Murray's climactic love song ("Leggy Blonde") that is undoubtedly the musical highlight of the series (so far.) It's just great to see Murray make his singing debut on the show, while the lyrical jokes work because they pay-off material from earlier in the episode, and the "music video" itself is well accomplished. The idea to animate everyone onto photocopier paper being ejected into a tray was particularly brilliant.
So yes, in a mixed bag series that has never really achieved its potential. Drive By ranks as one of the better episodes. The jokes are improved, Murray is given more to do, the songs don’t distract too much, and the plots (which not very textured) at least tread new ground...
6 November 2007
BBC Four, 9.30pm
