TV Review: Flight of the Conchords season premiere
Two summers ago I was wildly dubious as to whether Flight of the Conchords would work as a series. I was a big fan of their live shows and I had little faith that their humor would translate to screen, as I thought the funniest bits of their live show was their awkward stage interactions. I was proven wrong when the series ended up being one of the funniest shows of the year. Flight of the Conchords, starring Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, just had it's second season premiere and I find myself wondering whether they'll be able to sustain the high quality of dry wit and hummable musical interludes that was established in their first wonderfully odd season.
If the first episode is any indication of what is to come, things aren't looking that great for the New Zealand comedy duo. The season opening sets it's two stars still being managed by bumbling manager, Murray Hewitt, played brilliantly by Rhys Darby. However, this first episode has Murray a successful manager thanks to a one-hit-wonder band who have made him millions. His success doesn't even last the entire first episode, which is great, because Murray was such a hilarious and endearing character because of his failures and shortcomings as the Conchords manager. Bret and Jemaine decide it's best to manage themselves and work their way into writing a jingle for a women's organic toothpaste, which ends up being problematic as they don't have work permits or green cards. Murray to the rescue.
It's funny that the one thing that has always set Flight of the Conchords apart, the music video interludes, actually seems to be the biggest downfall of the show. Just about every single music video sketch ever done - on any show - always play out way too long and drags everything to a halt. In fact, the season premiere's least enjoyable sequence, is the first musical sequence of the season. It's a classical opera piece sung by Murray and the problem is that it's only light chuckle inducing, and it goes on for a number of minutes. It's sounds gorgeous but if it isn't that hilarious, move on. I would much rather have some dry banter between superfan, Mel, and the band, than endure another musical sequence that lasts for minutes on end. Most of the music videos are funny ideas, but comedy is all about timing, and in a half hour show timing is just about everything.
I rarely laughed watching this first episode, and there were only a couple mild giggles. I wish they'd scrap the music videos, focus on the characters, and do something different I haven't seen them do. While I didn't like the idea of Murray being a successful manager, it felt like a ballsy direction for the show as they were reestablishing the status-quo, something most comedy series avoid. This episode isn't atrocious or anything like that, but it doesn't even come close to being as funny as many of the first season episodes that had me eating my doubt with a spoon. You couldn't pay me to stop watching this show, as I loved the first season so much, and there's many worse ways to spend a Sunday night. Let's keep watching and pray for the best.
2/5
So say we all.
I absolutely LOVE Flight of the Conchords, and although I did find the musical interludes kind of weak this time around...the dialogue and awkwardness is still there for me...I couldn't help but laugh so hard when...
Murray: When you came to me you were poor and you had no gigs, now look at you!
Bret: We're poor and have no gigs.
Jemaine: We're slightly poorer.
LOL.
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I definitely didn't hate this episode I was just disappointed. I did really like when they were sitting next to the pool and there were no girls there. I'll be watching the rest of the season for sure.
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I love these guys.
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You're right, I absoulutly love Conchords, but it's been getting a bit weaker. But Murray singing about the Corn Flakes box without any Flakes was brilliant. breat and Jemaine can get a bit boring at times, (they need to bring back the hair helmet) but Murray is bloody brilliant.
The thing about him living in his car, and the undies that just suddenly appeared was very funny. And I cant tell you enough how much i love it when Murray sings...
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