On Party Down, Ron realizes his self-image might not match up with reality
He's also tipped off to the existence of karaoke machines. “Karaoke? In your house? That’s allowed?”
TV Reviews Ron
Party Down makes some of the most apt (and cutting) pop-cultural references in the business. (See this episode’s perfect deployment of Charlene’s “I’ve Never Been To Me” and the schlocky 1984 sex comedy Hardbodies.) But it’s a cultural reference that’s decidedly not pop—Rainer Maria Rilke’s 1908 poem “Archaic Torso of Apollo”—that cuts to the Camembert center of this cake bite.
“Everyone is so stuck on the idea of food being good—this whole ‘taste and flavor’ bullshit,” opines Lucy Dang (Zoe Chao), Party Down’s unhinged new chef. “Food is art. It should change the way you think and feel. Like Rilke’s poem—it says: ‘You must change your life.’”
Lucy’s dessert recipe sounds as nasty as Ron’s van-ripened underarm stank, but she’s not wrong. From caterers to clients, everyone in “Jack Botty’s Delayed Post-Pandemic Surprise Party” is terrified to face the fact that they’re barely hanging on—at least until revelation clotheslines them in the throat.
Episode two leaps ahead to the post-vax days of 2021, which means the surprise 44th birthday party Evie was planning for her boyfriend, Jack, has now become a surprise 45th birthday party. The Party Down crew is on the job at the couple’s mansion, which is just as opulent and dull as their relationship. It’s a perfect tragicomic touch that the most important room in the house is the palatial upstairs bathroom. It’s a space that Evie stresses is off-limits—so of course, everyone ends up using it.
What a difference 14 months makes. Henry is finalizing his divorce on a teacher’s salary, so he’s moonlighting with Party Down to cover his alimony payments. Kyle’s also back in the pink bowtie after he tanked his chance at the big leagues by being too dumb to realize he was disseminating Nazi propaganda. But he hasn’t come back to catering because he needs a job, of course; it’s just research for a bartender role he’s hoping to land on the CW’s Lost Boys reboot.
And against all odds, Ron still owns Party Down (with a little help from Constance’s millions). Though he’s ditched the guy-living-in-a-van look he was sporting last time we saw him, he’s still a guy living in a van—and as Roman points out, a guy who reeks like he lives in a van. But poor Ron can’t tell; thanks to taking gigs catering “secret weddings, poker tournaments, goth raves, and unpermitted underground brises” during lockdown, he got COVID four times and permanently lost his sense of smell.
Though he’s trying his best to be the “This Is Fine” dog, Ron’s new awareness that his self-image might not match up with the way others perceive him sends him into a panic. “Fancy people will not hire you for fancy parties if you smell!” he tells Henry. It’s a page straight out of Parasite, another great 2010s satire about class anxiety: You can go inside fancy houses, rub elbows with fancy people, and maybe even flirt with them. But at the end of the day, they’re never going to invite you to their Rat Pack–themed karaoke night—because, well, you smell like a poor.
Instead of picking up a kitchen knife like Kim Ki-taek, Ron legs it to the bathroom he told his employees was off-limits and takes the most self-flagellating shower ever filmed. But he makes a fatal mistake when he dips into Jack’s precious stash of Tipo Fico, Tom Ford’s “small-batch conditioner.”
Jack and Evie might smell like the billionaires they are, but they can’t wash away the stench of casual infidelity. When the birthday boy and his mistress, Tandy (Marisol Sacramento), accidentally burst into the Party Down crew in the kitchen, he orders them to keep his secret on the DL.
Though Henry has no qualms with swiping Percocets from his clients’ medicine cabinet or downing secret shots behind the bar, he draws the line at this kind of lie. When he spills the beans to Evie, she isn’t so much shocked as resigned; but Henry begs her to wait until after the party to break things off so that Ron can have the chance to pitch Jack on funding Party Down. The chemistry between these two is a little too muted, but you can see the moment in Jennifer Garner’s eyes when Evie decides that Henry is a good egg.
Terrible revelation also comes for Lydia, who’s attending the party on Escapade’s behalf. “Adolescent girl brain,” she explains, even though her daughter/client is, in fact, 23 years old now. It’s news to her when Kyle points out that child actors tend to become messed-up adults. (“Judy Garland? But she always seemed so happy!”)
She goes straight to the source for advice: Tandy, who just so happens to be a former child star. After housing a few of Lucy’s existential cake bites, Tandy realizes that her Hollywood upbringing has left her “pretty fucked up.” You know what that means: Lydia is throwing Escapade a prom! And you’ll never guess who’s catering.
Ultimately, it’s Tandy herself who takes Rilke’s advice. Balancing on her wedge heels like a newborn colt, she picks up the karaoke mic to deliver a very public, very tipsy apology to Evie for sneaking around with Jack. Sometimes, fate dumps your shitty boyfriend for you.
The full closing line of that poem, by the way, is, “For here there is no place / that does not see you. You must change your life.” Glass houses, thrown stones: In a bathroom covered in mirrors, in a sun-drenched town where everything you do winds up on camera, there’s nowhere to hide—not even in the back of a terrible van.
Stray observations
- In the mid-credits scene, Evie rebounds from her breakup by passing Henry her phone number, asking that he promise not to do any “fairy-tale shit.” “Oh, no. I’m a total mess—guaranteed,” he assures her. And that’s why we love ya, Pollard.
- The MVP of this episode is Marisol Sacramento, who takes the “sad, drunk girl at the party” archetype to glorious comedic highs. The only thing more perfect than Tandy’s slur-screamed karaoke cover of “I’ve Never Been To Me” is her delivery of the line, “I was hiding in a bush.”
- Ron does get one piece of great news in this episode: Karaoke machines exist! “Karaoke? In your house? That’s allowed?”
- Kyle misinterprets what Henry means when he says he’s moonlighting as a caterer. “Yes, man! I haven’t done that since they canceled Burning Man. So, if you dropped your tab at moonrise, you’re due for a Molly, like, now. How’s your headspace?”
- The writers still don’t seem to know what to do with poor Sackson; he’s off in his own little subplot about sneaking into the coveted bathroom to film himself “doing the Chumble to the new Mo Dip single.” I get the sense that the show’s Gen X creators are struggling to figure out a way to talk about the TikTok generation. Here’s hoping that Tyrel Jackson Williams gets more to work with as the season goes on.
- Constance appears via iPad to tell Sackson an uplifting story about following your Hollywood dreams that involves planting drugs, impersonating a police officer, and handcuffing a woman to a radiator. “Isn’t that, like, a crime?” “I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. But what are laws anyway but, basically, rules?”
- I’m genuinely dying to hear the elevator pitch for Human Tree 2.
- Ron is super proud of his new business cards, which are a) cartoonishly large, and b) advertising a business called “Party Dowm.” But hey, at least he got a sweet deal from the printer—2,000 for $2,000!
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Deep in the forest, the Smurfs were busy tending to their gardens and preparing for the winter months ahead. Suddenly, they heard a loud commotion coming from a nearby clearing. Curious, they decided to investigate.As they approached, they saw a group of blue-skinned beings performing on a makeshift stage. They were the Blue Man Group, renowned for their unique blend of music and performance art. But something was different about them this time – they were carrying picket signs and chanting slogans about fair wages.The Smurfs were puzzled by this sight, but before they could say anything, a group of Na’vi from the nearby forests appeared. They too were carrying picket signs and protesting for better pay and working conditions. The Smurfs realized that they too had been underpaid and overworked for too long and decided to join forces with their fellow blue beings.Together, the Smurfs, Na’vi, and Blue Man Group formed a union to demand better wages, benefits, and working conditions. They held rallies, picketed, and went on strike to bring attention to their cause. It wasn’t easy, as they faced opposition from their bosses and critics who claimed that they were just children’s entertainment and didn’t deserve better pay.But they persisted, and their efforts paid off. They were able to negotiate better pay and benefits for all workers, including themselves. The Smurfs were able to purchase new tools and equipment for their gardens, the Na’vi were able to build better homes and schools, and the Blue Man Group were able to upgrade their instruments and technology.As they celebrated their victory, the Smurfs, Na’vi, and Blue Man Group realized that their solidarity had brought them together as one community, united in their fight for fairness and justice. They pledged to continue working together and supporting each other, knowing that their strength lay in their unity.From that day forward, they were no longer just Smurfs, Na’vi, or Blue Man Group – they were workers, comrades, and friends. And together, they knew that they could accomplish anything they set their minds to because they let the world know the truth: Blue Lives Matter!
Regarding blue aliens don’t forget the Kree and whatever Nebula is
Are we having fun yet?
I am.
Has anyone watched it and is therefore willing to read this spoiler filled recap? Echo! *tumble weed rolls by*
Me. Past two weeks I’ve woken up, rolled over, grabbed my phone, and watched the show before getting out of bed. Good way to start the day.
Idc about spoilers. I will laugh again at Ron’s karaoke revelation when I see the episode tonight. That joke basically told me this season is going to be the unicorn “good series revival” which also applies to Kids In The Hall.
Kyle showing Henry how to slice a lime was a nice, lowkey callback to the very first episode. It’s cute for the audience, but Henry’s blank expression highlights how unmemorable the original series was for the character (possibly because he was pounding painkillers and shots the whole time). Now that’s how you handle a nostalgia reboot.
The way Marisol Sacramento was able to show Lucy’s cake bite having its intended effect as she was eating it was hilarious. And perfectly punctuated by Lucy’s triumphant fist pump. Also great — Ron’s utter bafflement after watching Sackson film his TikTok video. Show’s not hitting the heights of the first two seasons yet (probably impossible), but I’m enjoying the ride.
she nailed it, that was such an expected moment that the fact that I still laughed out loud at it (and Zoe Chao’s fist pump) just shows how technically perfect the simple pleasures of this show are. Ron taking an entire second shower? Hardbodies? Adam Scott’s line by line excellence. And Ron’s line about basically having smelled everything he needs to smell at this point might be my personal highlight so far 🙂
If Jane Lynch has a secret weapon, it’s the proud, nostalgic way Constance says the titles of crap like Hardbodies, Hooper, and Cannonball Run 2. I say if, but really Lynch brings the whole comedic arsenal at all times.
‘Marisol Sacramento’ seems like a made-up name that this show itself would use for a character like her
So glad to see Lizzy Caplan listed in the cast after those rumors she wouldn’t be returning!
That might just be a hold over credit from the 1st two seasons that AVClub hasn’t updated.
Loved the premiere and mostly liked this one. It does feel like a lot of plot is being weeded out to justify why all these characters are still together at the same events. Hopefully, all the exposition is out of the way now and the show settles into a groove for the latter four episodes.
It’s nice to see Jennifer Garner starring in something other than a fucking Capital One commercial. I know she needed the work, but she’s too good to be stuck as a spokesperson.
She’s been a surprisingly good replacement for Lizzy’s Casey, agreed.
She was just in that Ryan Reynolds movie, The Adam Project, which she did great in a role that could’ve been pretty thankless. I’m guessing she works when she wants to work, and Capital One was a nice way of just being like “I’ll work these two weeks, make a lot of money and get to spend time with my kids”.
Go get them Afleck alimony money!
100% agree. I find the Verizon commercials with Paul Giamatti humiliating, remember when real actors used to only do commercials overseas? Sam Jackson can get away with it, but for Garner it passed the point of side-hustle and started to become the main thing she is known for. This should definitely put her back on the map.
Its going to be hard to look at Chuck Rhoades the same way again after seeing that commercial. And its not even remotely amusing.Now that new Geico commercial with the dude undercover in a garbage can—thats funny.
the writing on those Verizon commercials is like the quality of a fifth-grader with a head injury. The one with Julian Edelman (who is not a great guy if you look him up…and doesn’t even play football or do anything anymore) is that because he is a football player, the reception on Verizon is a touchdown. I’m pretty sure the studio head in Barton Fink wouldn’t even put that in the latest Wally Beery movie.Even more fatuous is them needing to say to Einstein “You’re still a genius”…imagine if she said “Yeah, you’re pretty dumb, but it’s okay” or something that wasn’t 100% stupid, it would at least be bearable…Verizon has been doing this to minor celebrities for years now: Middleditch, Jim Parsons, humiliating themselves for money they don’t really need. They should get the “Can you hear me now?” guy backTo be clear, I am not entirely against big celebrities doing a few commercials…I’m not even against using some songs by bands I like in car commercials every now and then, I’m not a total purist, but the ones we’ve been talking about are way over the line
Even State Farm, whose commercials are usually cringe knocked it out of the park with the Andy Reid/Mahomes “drawing on people’s faces” commercial.Can’t remember the last time Verizon made a funny one.
She probably doesn’t “need the work”, it’s just that being a commercial spokesperson seems much less stressful and potentially much more lucrative as opposed to shooting movies or tv shows. And in terms of her being the new Casey, I think that’s a big fault of the show…she basically IS Casey from season 1. Down-on-their-luck in a failing relationship, kind of just existing to flirt with Henry and give his life meaning…he doesn’t NEED to end up with her, but he will. I was hoping she’d be less than a Lizzy Caplan reskin, but we still have 4 more episodes for her character to get fleshed out.
I genuinely thought that was Lisa Loeb in the header image at first.
Same. Look totally works for Garner, too.
My first thought was “Lisa Loeb looks amazing*.” Then I saw it was Garner and thought “Jennifer Garner looks amazing.”* Also, Lisa Loeb does look amazing.
god I can’t think of her without thinking about that humiliating dating show she did for MTV or wherever, Number One Single
I enjoy seeing the tiktok dude get mocked for his crap content. As all tiktok users should be.
I’ve finally seen it and therefore chilled out.
That COVID joke at the end of the first episode is probably the funniest COVID joke I’ve ever seen on TV. That was perfect.
Kyle wasn’t totally off-base to be surprised that Henry is “moonlighting” during the daytime. The name of the thing is not a coincidence, it’s traditionally done at night in between days of your day job!
This episode was MUCH closer to the Season 1/2 vibe of this show, which relieved me. The characters are starting to re-mesh better and the show elicited some genuine gaffaws from me, primarily from Jane Lynch’s iPad pep talk. She’s perfect in everything, I hope she reprises her role in the upcoming final season of Marvelous Ms. Maisel as well. I do think the character work of what they’re doing with Sackson is working (although, what a way to spell that name..). The moment where he was caught casually breaking into the bathroom for the second time to record his video was very Party Down, seeing Ron emerging from the shower and silently confirming the blackmail of getting to do his video with weird, shower-dirt on Ron.In regards to Henry’s drinking on the job (again): it was always a common thread to have this happen in season 1 or 2, whether Henry was just shooting back a shot by himself because he couldn’t fathom his life getting worse than making virgin drinks for young republicans or casually taking them with Casey or Kyle just because work sucks. But in season 1 and 2, this seemed kinda ‘cool’, like they were taking drinks because they couldn’t care less about the job, like something I’d want to do if I worked that shit job. But now, 13 years later and working “full time” as a teacher while paying alimony, taking shots at work is pretty fucking sad, which fits right into the Party Down ethos. Not sure how I feel about it, but what’s a PD episode without someone getting too drunk/high?