'Man Seeking Woman' season 1, episode 6 review: 'Gavel'

By now, it's more than expected from Simon Rich's tremendously original Man Seeking Woman to have the show creators push the boundaries of the surreal and wacky to address the relationship hassles of 20-somethings today.

But in its own, off-beat little way, this week's "Gavel" is the most down-key the series has been of yet. That's not to say the wondrously bizarre antics aren't a foot, but there's something far more humble and grounded about this installment than anything done before. And in its own little way, it makes Man Seeking Woman more bittersweet, dynamic and narratively progressive than it ever was before. For an episode to accomplish that in conjunction with sex aliens and relationship court sessions is no small feat.

In Josh's (Jay Baruchel) ever-weary attempts to get over his ex-girlfriend Maggie (Maya Erskine), he's tried everything from one-night-stands to blind dates to simply asking for a girl's number on the train. All of which have unsuccessfully changed his relationship status in any permanent way, but that changes when Kayla (Anna Konkle) walks into his life and becomes Josh's committed new girlfriend.

All is right in Josh's world, and while some female sex aliens and Josh's best friend Mike (Eric Andre) try to get him to be unfaithful truth blunt sexual force and suburban prison scare tactics, neither are successful. Although, the return of Maggie in Josh's life, crying and wet from the rain, may be another story.

It's remarkable just how confident Man Seeking Woman is in its first (and hopefully not last) season. So often, shows this hellbent on pushing the logical boundaries of space and time fall victim to inconsistent tone or unreliable protagonists. Even Louie took a season or so to figure itself out completely. Rich's show, however, is not only willing to push what it can accomplish, but also keeps its characters and plots in check. Nothing is weird just for the sake of being weird, a true rarity in this post-YouTube age.

That said, with all the wackiness in store in this episode, the show surprises its audience by knowing when to cut down on the goofiness to say something which can feel amusing and genuine in more natural settings. While its ending is fairly predictable, this touch of honesty is very much appreciated, and an early on-set of maturity.

The highlights of this episode, of course though, are the weird little touches it gives. Most notably, an aforementioned courtroom scene where Josh must a relationship legal center, lead greatly by the wonderfully dry judge, to discuss what merits a friendly interaction with one's ex and what crosses the line to full-on adultery. It's a classic Man Seeking Woman, filled with quick-wit, snappiness and a quirky edge which feels natural and organic to the plot and series. It also does a wonderful job of making Josh switch between straight man and wacky counterpart with his judge co-star with no ill-steps or false-starts to be found, which a tribute to both the director and stars.

Man Seeking Woman is on a fantastic track for success. It knows itself clearly, knows what it wants to accomplish and has the talents and means of making those goals a reality. It's not for everyone, it appears, but Rich's show grasps a fundamental honesty which should be commended as much as it should be celebrated. Should FXX allow it, this show has a lot of legs, and it's already just barely touched the surface of its possibilities.

Image courtesy of Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com

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