Louie & Pamela go on a date.
It's only been seven weeks but the fourth season of Louie is already at its end. It's been a fantastic season of Louie as well - with only one true misstep in "Pamela Part 1." It was also a rather risky season too. The six part "Elevator" story and last week's "Into the Woods" were great examples of Louis C.K. trying to bend the ways this medium tells stories. It's auteuristic in the best way possible. It still allowed for great singular episodes like "Model" and "So Did the Fat Lady" - which opened up conversations in the way that only Louie can."Pamela Parts 2 & 3" is a wonderful conclusion to this season. In his search for human connection, Louie ends this season truly making that meaningful connection with Pamela. She is a weird character - always making jokes instead of actually opening up about feelings and stuff. Louie is content in life carry for his two daughters and doing his stand-up. But he also yearns for something more. The circumstances were never lasting with Amia earlier this season. And then, Pamela returned to his life. She was willing to give a relationship a chance. She doesn't want to fall in love and open herself up but she's willing to let Louie try and impress her.
But I was really unsure where this story was going at the end of "Pamela Part 1" with Louie trapping Pamela at the door and forcing a kiss out of her. That was a very awkward moment that ultimately doesn't make much a difference in how we are suppose to see Louie and Pamela as a couple here. That week off with "Into the Woods" surely helped.
This hour wonderfully encapsulates the difficulties of a blossoming relationship. It starts off very awkward. They have a history together but this is the first time they've gone on an official date - and it's to a really weird art gallery. They have a lot of fun together simply because they both enjoy making fun of the weird things that get passed off as art nowadays. Then, Louie takes her on a trip down Central Park for the swoon-worthy part of the relationship. He pulls out a blanket and gets her to sit back and just look up at the stars just as a meteor shower happens. It is totally sweet.
Then, there is the return to the awkwardness once they return to his apartment and try to get intimate. They are slowly but surely moving towards each other. When he trapped her in the doorway again, I didn't know what to expect. Instead we get this really great scene about sexting in possibly the weirdest context it has ever been done - with the two taking, sending and viewing the pictures in front of the other. It's odd but does lead to the two of them in bed together.
And then, Pamela takes being called 'daddy's girlfriend' remarkably well and finally meets Janet and Patrick. And finally, someone just openly asks how the hell Janet being the mother to Lilly and Jane happened at all? It's something that just is - mostly because C.K. didn't think he should limit the casting due to skin color. That has never been a part of that relationship and the show has even gone on to poke even more humor into it.
But relationships are complicated and messy. Louie has never had an honest to goodness great one despite his many efforts to try. Pamela keeps him on his toes constantly. She freaking moved all of his furniture out because she didn't like it! But she's also the one able to talk to him after being talked down by Marc Maron once again. The dynamic between Louie and Marc is the same as it was in the past episode Marc did. But now, Pamela is in Louie's corner and advocating for him to feel good and not bad about not being there for Marc.
But that then leads to fighting over those complicated emotional feelings. Pamela struggles with that kind of thing. That's what makes the final gesture of the season so simple yet incredibly important. It's difficult for her to be in that bath with him and just be there with each other. She cracks a couple of jokes before he even gets in. But he does eventually get in and they just share stories about life. It's the most she's willing to give in the moment. And Louie will take that. He's glad that someone out there is willing to give him this. He wants connection and closeness. It's a compromise but a great forward movement for Louie. I don't know how this story would continue in a fifth season - and FX hasn't picked the series up for another season yet and they should - but I'm interested in seeing this romance play out over more episodes.
Some more thoughts:
- "Pamela Part 2" was written and directed by Louis C.K.
- "Pamela Part 3" was written and directed by Louis C.K.
- Louie really doesn't have an ass - just look at the bath scene!
- When I think of midnight picnics, Chinese food is the last food I would think of.
- I'm a bit disappointed there wasn't enough room for one last bit of philosophical wisdom from Dr. Bigelow.
- But that dog couldn't have written that phrase on the sweater.
- Did the show really never give us an answer to Jane's issues at school? That's odd.
- Having nothing to do with this finale, I really wish Sarah Baker and Skipp Sudduth get Emmy nods for their work in "So Did the Fat Lady" and "Into the Woods." Ditto, C.K. with just about everything he did this season.
