Life Lessons from Maron: "Dominatrix"

Left to right: Marc Maron and Maria Thayer

Welcome to a new recap series on the IFC series Maron in which comedian/podcaster Marc Maron lives life and tries to learn how to be a better person. To pay homage to the series, these recaps will be released on Tuesdays and chronicle the various life lessons that are presented in the 30 minute format on a weekly basis as well as a meter that determines just how angry our protagonist seems to be. Join us as we tackle the psyche of the popular angry man and pray that he doesn't lose it entirely.

Plot: After attending a poetry reading, Marc hooks up with a dominatrix named Megan (Maria Thayer) and deals with his father (Judd Hirsch) and his new girlfriend (Michi Michaelson).

Left to right: Thayer, Maron, and John F. Schaffer

A Line That Sums Up the Episode: "I can see how that can be the basis for a short story or a poem or a trip to the emergency room.” - Marc

Illeana Douglas

Guests Review: This week is significantly sparse in cameos. Besides an interview with Illeana Douglas, the story this week revolves around a single relationship between Maron and Megan. While entertaining, it seems like Marc's Dad continues to become one of the better supporting characters. Here his desire to call his girlfriend the Pineapple is ripe with humor and well worth the episode alone. The dominatrix stuff may be breaking taboos and revealing more about Marc, but it essentially adds up to very little, which is a big problem with this show's plot structure week to week. They end up separated at the end and for all of the fun that comes with calling dip as having the smell of pussy, it feels like the gag of the week.

Anger Meter: 3 (out of 10)

Coming off of "Marc's Dad," it almost felt like the writers felt it was time for him to take a chill pill. It isn't that this story is any less interesting than dealing with a shoddy father. It is just that Maron doesn't get as worked up as he normally does. In fact, the term dominatrix alone suggests that Megan has most of the control in the relationship, leaving little room for him to just vent. Marc comes out of this feeling more baffled than angry, which I suppose is a good thing, speaking it keeps the episode from devolving into bizarre, angry, kinky sex.

Left to right: Douglas, Judd Hirsch, and Maron

We good?: This series continues to be just okay with another not terrible, not great episode. The one positive note is that I come away liking Marc's Dad more in this episode. He actually feels like he is useful for something, especially as this perverse mentor with a girlfriend called Pineapple. We kind of see more of Maron in his father this week, and he isn't just that angry old guy who sells pills out of his van. With that established, the dominatrix stuff doesn't really go anywhere and while a ridiculous concept, does little to make it seem interesting.

Rating: 3 out of 5