TV Verdict

So this was Earl’s first Halloween-themed episode, believe it or not. We’ve never actually seen what the denizens of Camden County would wear as costumes until this episode. I’m not sure what was better: Joy’s “Barbie” costume, which consisted of nothing more than her usual trashy gear, except in pink and with her nipples taped down, or Earl’s Magnum P.I. getup, including a sign with the label “Farrarri” for his car. The episode was full of little details like that that provided most of the laughs. It’s too bad, then, that the main storyline didn’t really work. I laughed out loud several times, probably more than I did with last week’s episode. That one, though, worked better as an overall story. This one didn’t, despite some hilarious lines and scenes. However, unlike this season’s other lesser episode, “Sweet Johnny”, it’s easier to pinpoint exactly where this one went off-track.

It started off well enough. When Catalina brings her nephew O-Scar (which, as Randy helpfully explained, “is just like Oscar but with an O”) to the Crab Shack, Earl is reminded that Randy has always wanted a little brother. Randy decides to be a mentor by first attempting to join the Big Brothers, which didn’t really work out so well, as he seemed incapable of understanding that the paralyzed child in the wheelchair probably wasn’t going to be able to play kickball. While he wallows in self-pity after Earl suggested he take care of a plant instead (“I hate plants! I’m sorry, plants, I didn’t mean that! I’m just mad!”) Catalina makes a decisive suggestion: why doesn’t Randy take care of O-Scar? Though Earl is skeptical, Randy instantly agrees and initially does a surprisingly good job. That’s until O-Scar steals a tip from one of the Crab Shack’s tables, and Randy attempts to correct him, leading to the episode’s big reveal: O-Scar is adept at voodoo, and after chanting and dancing, he manages to scare Randy away.

Here the episode took a thoroughly strange turn. I suppose it could have gone in any number of different directions. Maybe the whole thing was a nightmare. Maybe it was all a prank by Catalina (or even Joy). Maybe he really is a possessed child and the episode would serve as a parody of films like The Omen. Or maybe O-Scar is just a misunderstood child who pretends to use voodoo to ward off people he’s afraid off. Or maybe he’s a brat who does the same. The actual answer is, well, I’m not sure. At some points, O-Scar came off as an evil possessed child, and at others he’s just a scared kid who needs to hold Randy’s hand. What exactly is he? I don’t know, and I don’t think the writers did either. The ending in particular, in which Joy leads a mob to punish O-Scar and is then warded off, either by Earl’s karma or by O-Scar’s voodoo, literally played as if it was pulled out of a hat. It seemed as if the writers knew they had written themselves into a corner and couldn’t figure any way out of it.

Look, I’m not ready to call this episode the season’s first clinker. It had a lot of funny bits and pieces; Crabman’s explanation of how the Big Brother program works deserves to be enshrined on that organization’s front door. Catalina actually got some great jokes, instead of just serving as delectable eye candy as she has for most of this season. The acting was top-notch, especially Jason Lee’s reading of the high-pitched voice Earl uses when he’s lying. And judging by the brilliant choice of “Shout at the Devil”, this episode also confirmed that maybe no other TV show uses music better. Still, it’s disconcerting to realize that I liked everything about this episode except for the main story. Let’s just call it a draw, and argue that Earl should never again attempt anything involving supernatural stuff, as that’s really not its forte. I really would have rather seen an episode devoted to the supporting cast instead, such as showing what costumes Kenny and Stuart would wear as a couple. Next time, Earl, stick with your strengths.