Unquestionably the best episode of the season, and possibly in FoTC's short history, "Unnatural Love" was a wonderfully silly romance for Jemaine (Jemaine Clement), who has a one-night standard with a beautiful blonde. Problem is: she's Australian...It's not wholly fresh territory for FoTC, but what really set "Unnatural Love" apart was the deliciously subversive attitude to Kiwi/Aussie partnerships. It's a running joke that New Zealanders don't get on with their Australian cousins, and this episode takes that unease to the next step. Jemaine's conquest, Keitha (Sarah Wynter), is a gross stereotype of earthy Aussie women (broad accent, uncouth, her apartment crammed with Aussie posters and empty Foster's cans), and Jemaine faced immediate consternation from his friends...
Bret (Bret McKenzie) is totally nonplussed about why Jemaine would even contemplate sleeping with an Aussie girl, while Murray (Rhys Darby) reveals amusing levels of misguided xenophobia. Keitha is practically an alien from another planet in his eyes. I loved his line to Jemaine: " And your children, what about them? What will become of them? They'll be aberrations, won't they?" To which Jemaine corrects: "It's pronounced aborigines."
Jemaine himself is initially fearful and grossed out by his drunken lapse of judgement,but soon begins to realize how genuine and happy-go-lucky Keitha is, so decides to give their relationship a chance to blossom. Interestingly, Keitha's housemates are just as disgusted by Jemaine, while gives the lovebirds something of a Romeo & Juliet vibe as they struggle to be accepted as an item.
In something of a coup, this episode was directed by Michel Gondry, the master French visualist behind Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and Be Kind, Rewind. FoTC is perfect material for Gondry to sink his teeth into -- as it clearly apes a genre of indie film that Gondry's at home with. Just watch the opening credits. Against expectation, Gondry's direction is in-keeping with the tone of FoTC (with no bizarre excesses, or Gondry-isms that called attention to themselves.) The only real sign that Gondry's behind the camera comes from how slick and well-choreographed the musical numbers are this week. An award-winning music video director before he got into movies, "Unnatural Love" benefits from Gondry's artistic eye when the music starts...
After being dropped off at a nightclub by Murray (who increasingly resembles their father at times), the shy Jemaine and Bret are taken inside by Dave (Arj Barker), signaling the first song "Too Many Dicks On The Dancefloor" (synthesizers, vocoders, heavy beats), while towards the end Jemaine sings a lament for past girlfriends called "Carol Brown" -- where Gondry brilliantly projects a slideshow of images on the building behind Jemaine and Bret in a street. The songs themselves were better than usual, too.
Guest star Sarah Wynter (who you may remember as Jack Bauer's love interest in 24's second season) put in a great performance as the permanently-smiling Keitha, seemingly impervious to the obvious hatred of Murray. Likeable, yet clearly a bit deranged (she makes Jemaine dress like Steve Irwin in public), Keitha ranks as one of FoTC's best supporting characters. The ensemble feel to season 2 is also paying dividends, as Dave once again gets some of the episode's best lines ("New Jersey. I’d love to go there, but I got a lot of shit going on in the States right now.") and his comparison of Jemaine and Keitha's prejudiced relationship to the plot of Interacial Holestretchers 2.
Overall, with two decent songs, some excellent choreography from Gondry, an entertaining story, and a fantastic collection of gags from writers Iain Morris and Damon Beesley (more evidence that FoTC is best when the FoTC aren't writing the episodes), "Unnatural Love" was a fine example of what I expect this show to be with greater regularity.
15 February 2009
HBO, 10pm
Writers: Iain Morris & Damon Beesley
Director: Michel Gondry
Cast: Jemaine Clement (Jemaine), Bret McKenzie (Bret), Rhys Darby (Murray), Sarah Wynter (Keitha) & Arj Barker (Dave)
