It's the Dr. Dave show, but come on, we all know it's Dr. Phil. Three well-dressed women are impatiently waiting in line to get into the studio when one of them (the one in pristine gleaming WHITE naturally) begins to have a nosebleed. At first it seems innocuous, dry sinuses maybe? But after her pals go into the show, she keeps bleeding and bleeding, and she collapses and dies in front of an employee who doesn't seem the slightest bit inclined to dial 9-1-1.
Well Nate meant what he said in S1, he needs time off now and again, and by George, he and Lisa are goin' campin'!!! But Nate doesn't expect to have a great time. He already seems aware that with his whiny wifey and babbling baby in tow, it's gonna be dreary enough. The friendly couple Todd and Dana are coming along too. Oh joy...
Once very standoffish towards him, Ruth is now hanging out with Arthur, the eccentric intern. With Bettina gone, Ruth and Art are like 2 peas in a pod as they gab about handkerchiefs and the film Silent Running. Yup, once again, Ruth is desperately lonesome for companionship and conversation, no matter where it comes from. When her new friend expresses how much he enjoyed the little sci-fi film, she rents it for the two of them to watch. They have a wonderful time together until Art grabs the remote. Whoops!!! Nate or somebody left the TV on the Super Spice Sin-emax Playboys N Hustlers Channel. It's anybody's guess what was on...Turner and Cooch??? Bringing Up Booby??? TIT-anic??? Honk My Hooters??? The Fog 2: Highbeam Headlights???!!!
Another pairing off is clearly visible from miles away as we witness Russell and Claire dyeing their hair a shade of blue that looks kinda like the tube of cobalt paint Claire will buy in the near future.
Up in the mountings, Nate is having tons of fun listening to his wife drone on about how you can't have a baby in a sleeping bag on the ground, so they end up in some stale-looking tent. Later, around the roaring campfire, the "friends" discuss whether or not Jesus was black. It's even more fun when they all decline to smoke pot with Nate. What a terrific vacation so far!!! He's having a load of fun being married isn't he??? And that great feeling is reinforced when Todd gushes on and on about how being married has changed him for the better and that everything in his life has always been about his wife Dana. Ugh...I can always feel the chunks rising up in my throat...
Well we all know Nate hates his life at this point in time. That's why I wasn't all that shocked when he ends up bludgeoning a rattlesnake to death. That snake is Lisa. Nate will do something very similar in Season 5, but we'll get to that when we get to it. He hates Lisa's damn guts, and we all know it.
Art school professor Olivier is turning into a real asswipe. He's always been one, but wow. The elephant art and termite art thing is the first time you really get a look at the true colors. He insults Russell's piece and hails Claire's, but Claire isn't happy. How can you be happy for yourself when your good friend has been humiliated for your benefit. Luckily, Claire sees through Olivier's asshole poseur games. She comforts Russell and they become more than friends.
As usual, whatever Nate would like to do for fun is just too "dangerous" for his friend Todd to partake in. If you never want to be married, get your SO to watch this season and see how miserable Nate is. Both you and he/she will be cured of the desire to wed. Todd finds smoking pot and hiking to Suicide Rock too "risky" for married men with "responsibility to their wives and kids". Gawd!!! So Nate goes alone. I'm shocked Lisa didn't browbeat him. And to be honest, if I were Nate and Todd came with me and I had to hear that shite along the way, I'd have grabbed him and pitched him over the cliff. Nate runs into his lost love Brenda, and it is so crystal clear how much he regrets having lost her as they passionately kiss. But then Nate begins to accuse her of stalking him, of interfering with his deliriously happy life, of following him all the way up to the mountains, and she leaps off of Suicide Rock.
Thank the maker it's only a dream. And what it says to me is, Nate hopes Brenda does miss him and will someday seek him out.
This episode really stands out for me because of the shining jewel that is the triple-X coffin mishap sequence. It is the most delightful moment of the season, and definitely one of the most memorable of the entire show. This is Arthur's shining moment, and Ruth, Claire and Russell aren't bad here either. This is a scene that is the epitome of dark humor, morbid comedy. It's sad that there couldn't have been more moments like this. Whose idea was it? Whoever's it was, it was genius. Season 4 could have used some of this greatness. If they would have written more stuff like this to occupy the Arthur character, I might have liked him a lot more. Sadly, after this episode, Arthur turns into a major bore.
Back at the mountain camp, Lisa resents the hell out of Dana and Todd for having good orgasmic sex when she herself has been suffering from some post-partum malfunction. She also resents Nate for just about everything else in her life she is not satisfied with. "I hate couples like that," she snorts as Mr. and Mrs. Lovetabang steal away in the woods for some nature-nooky. Hell, Lis, I hate that couple too. I also hate the couple you and Nate make. Later, ewww, Nate and Lisa "fuck on the rock". I can't begin to describe how grossed out I get imagining Nate giving Lisa oral when none of them have had a bath in at least 2 days. Are you grossed out too now??? Blame me for that, but not for this: Even after Nate makes her scream in happiness, Lisa insists on comparing Nate's love for her to that he had for past girlfriends.
David, having become acquainted with Russell during the hair dyeing session, ponders whether or not some gay people go through transitional phases as they establish their final sexual preference.
Ruth has her creepiest moment as she sniffs Arthur's hankies!!! Claire has her best moment as she snarks, "Mom, not all progress is bad. There's Kleenex, hello!!!"
An interesting episode to be sure, and with that wonderful XXX sequence, it has earned a solid A from me.
SIX FEET UNDER