Television Review | Larry David hates people, and now he's really letting it go

Now is then also seen this: driving rage without even being in the car in traffic.

There is, of course, an American sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024), which we also have on the linear television side under the name Ices to Hat. Larry David's in the long-time favorites David plays an overshooting version of himself, Seinfeld's created a TV writer with a very difficult character.

Just the scene in the car reveals Larry's easily spilling quality of mind, even for those who have not watched the series before: the man accelerates from zero to a hundred with the word-conscious virtual assistant Siri.

Series is now returning for its 12th season, with the ten-episode season slated to be the show's last. The series was originally made between 2000 and 2011, and after a break of a few years again in 2017 and after that from 2020 onwards.

The basic idea has remained the same from season to season. Larry, the epitome of Äksy's old man, takes the bolts at any time from any matter thrown in front of him in everyday life.

Persecution David already pointed to the absurdity of everyday life Seinfeld while writing the script. Especially in the early years Curb Your Enthusiasm humor was made from small uncomfortable situations that became more and more embarrassing step by step. Even though there was the exaggeration and tearing apart that comedy requires, the viewer could at least to some extent identify with the unpredictable course of events.

At best, the episodes were executed so skillfully that there wasn't much idle time in them. It's a tough trick, as the episodes are characterized by loosely written plots and improvisation by the actors.

The main actors of the series gathered for a group photo in Hollywood on January 30: Jeff Garlin (left), Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Susie Essman, Amy Gravitt, Jeff Schaffer, JB Smoove and Laura Streicher. Picture: Billy Bennight / ZUMA

Time of course, the main character ending up in one embarrassing situation after another is by no means a rare sight in the field of comedy. The same has been used as a starting point for comedy in many other TV series and films About Mr. Bean to domestic ones To creditors or Pirjoon. In the end, it's about what kind of tone the main character's characteristics bring to the situations and thus to the humor.

Whereas Bean, for example, as an adult baby, is susceptible to situations and at most reacts by panicking, Curb Your Enthusiasm Larry has a hard time. His way of being in the world is, on the other hand, a combination of misanthropy, rudeness and sometimes quite healthy selfishness.

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Aging seems to have removed the rest of the inhibitions.

The last one watching the production season, it reminds me that maybe something has changed at the character level after all. If Larry's cold-heartedness was also shown in the beginning as an ability to stand his ground, now it feels like the character is giving free rein to his hatred of people as he gets older. Kindness requires more and more effort.

However, in the new season, the anger doesn't almost always rise to the level where it would turn into incredibly funny. Along with the drivers behind the wheel, there is another particularly delicious situation in the opening episode, in which the viewer could find himself. In it, Larry has to borrow his glasses for a while from his friend Leon (JB Smoove) to a relative whose head is stretched. When the glasses don't even stay on Larry's head anymore, his reaction is sheer rage. The joke is redeemed too quickly.

Larry's anger can of course be explained in many ways. Despite his success, life is full of small stones in his shoes. Current partner (Tracey Ullman) is annoying, telling about Larry's teenage years Young Larry Maria Sofia, who became popular in the series (Keyla Monterroso Mejia) is perhaps even more annoying.

And I guess it must also be said that aging seems to have removed the rest of the inhibitions.

The interesting contradiction is how much social situations make Larry feel bad, but how social a life he still lives. His longtime friend and manager (Jeff Garlin) in a fit of rage, he goes to a birthday party of unknown people, gritting his teeth, but still.

Larry goes from party to party, gritting his teeth, but still. Picture: HBO Max

To twelve of course, the season also has small overlaps or at least dejá vu moments. One such is, for example, in the episode where Larry's visit to the masseuse leads to an embarrassing situation. There were also massage jokes in the second production season.

Maybe it can be taken as a sign that it's good to stop here.

Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO Max.