Spoilers. I've definitely enjoyed the second season of FoTC more than the first (or softened to its charms), as most episodes kept a head above the waterline of average, with a few stinkers and an equal number of gems. "Evicted" wasn't particularly memorable, but it did contain some fun moments and worked as a farewell for these characters, as this is (allegedly) the last ever episode...Jemaine (Jemaine Clement) and Bret (Bret McKenzie) are evicted from their apartment after failing to pay their rent – or, rather, they paid it in New Zealand dollars. News of their destitution hasMurray (Rhys Darby) dusting off a script he's written for an emergency musical based on Bret and Jemaine's lives, following them from humble Kiwi shepherds to Broadway stars. More practically, Mel (Kristen Schaal) gives Bret and Jemaine a place to stay at her house with beleagured boyfriend Doug (David Costabile), overly-enjoying being so close to the men she worships.
"Evicted" was at its best whenever Mel was around in this episode, as her obsession with the Conchords darkens even further: she imposes house rules on them (don't leave the house), tucks Bret into bed so tightly he can't move, turns up the heating so Jemaine may have to show some flesh, and locks their bedroom door at night. Doug himself, revealed to be a gifted harp player, finally begins to fray at the seams (in his own quiet way), resulting in an amusing "divorce" with Bret and Jemaine essentially playing the roles of their children.
The idea of the Conchords acting on-stage in an embellished musical based on their "rags-to-rags" lives was also a fine one, but beyond a few fun moments in the resulting homespun stage production, it was something of a disappointment considering the potential for meta-comedy. Snapshots of the play looked very funny (I particularly like the multiple dancing Murrays), but the episode didn't really do this idea full justice.
The music this week was okay – most notably a Stomp-style sequence of Bret and Jemaine making music around their apartment after waking up in the morning. Shades of Morecambe & Wise's morning dance to "The Stripper", too. It made a change to see the pair having fun together in a musical interlude that wasn't a fantasy sequence. And, having later drawn attention to their illegal immigrant status in their poorly-received play (attended by Murray's Embassy chums), the Conchords are flown back to New Zealand to become simple shepherds again. In the final moment, Bret and Jemaine once again make music on objects in their field – neatly showing us how they probably got interested in music to begin with.
Overall, "Evicted" ended the season (and perhaps the show) on a decent note: Mel rekindled her love for Dave after his harp-playing was given a showbiz context during the musical, and the Kiwi threesome returned to their motherland after trying, but failing, to make it big in the Big Apple. I'm sure a third season would be possible, but there was something fitting about the circular nature of this finale. Season 2 was undoubtedly a stretch for Clement and McKenzie in terms of producing memorable music, so I'd hate to see a third season grind to a halt in the comedy stakes, too. A famous rule of showbiz is to "leave the audience wanting more", so maybe the Flight Of The Conchords should take heed, before they outstay their welcome?
22 March 2009
HBO, 10pm
Writers: Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie & James Bobin
Director: Taika Waititi
Cast: Jemaine Clement (Jemaine), Rhys Darby (Murray), Bret McKenzie (Bret), Arj Barker (Dave), Kristen Schaal (Mel), Frank Wood (Greg), David Costabile (Doug), Eugene Mirman (Eugene), Jonno Roberts (Malcolm - Stage Murray), Richard DeDomenico (Old Man On Stage), Anthony Fazio (Stage Eugene), Nancy Opel (Bret's Stage Aunt), Stella Pulo (Woman On Stage), Jack O'Connell (Bret's Stage Uncle) & Adrian Martinez (Hotel Desk Clerk)
