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| Left to right: Marc Maron and Nora Zehetner |
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: Marc Maron goes to a comedy festival in Arizona that also parallels a sex fest that he had with a woman named Jen (Nora Zehetner)
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| Dave Anthony |
A Line That Sums Up the Episode: "I got a podcast to prepare for. Maybe we should take a breather." - Marc
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| Dana Gould |
Guests Review: Besides a decent turn from Nora Zehetner as Marc's fling, the episode's real highlights came from the small moments. A select handful of comics appeared in this episode, notably Dave Anthony, who sends Marc down the rabbit hole by telling him to not participate in the sex fest. There are also cameos by Kyle (Josh Brener), who finally returns and makes the most of his brief screen time of not knowing what to do with a vagina picture. There was also random conversations with Anthony Jeselnik and Dana Gould. The real winner of the night is Gould, who in probably the briefest screen time managed to win the funniest line of the night. When confronted with a podcaster who wants to record with him in a bathtub naked, Gould's biggest concern is if there is hot water. It is all in the line delivery that proves why Gould is a master comic.
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| Left to right: Maron and Zehetner |
Anger Meter: 5 (out of 10)
While still seeming somewhat mild mannered for the entire episode, there is a sense that Marc is getting frustrated with this ridiculous idea. He has his moments of frustration, but by the montage of sex scenes towards the end, he is glad that he did it. This is a legendary relationship told over the course of a weekend, and he hits all of the highs and lows in a record pattern. In a sense, this makes up for most of the relationships that he's had over the series simply because this one actually feels more sincere than even "Dominatrix." We could actually see this one happening, even if Marc dating younger women still seems to be a plot device that this series seems to use despite being a little bizarre.
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| Left to right: Anthony Jeselnik, Julian Stone, Randy Liedtke, Dave Anthony, and Maron |
We Good?: While the show has been having trouble finding its voice this whole season, the past few episodes feel like it has finally reached its groove. By instating the story as a podcast story, it already gives it some authenticity only made better by the installment of plot structure by varying states in a relationship. It feels organized and while Marc is still a troubling character for a few reasons, he actually seems to be getting better at playing this character. It also helps that there are small cameos by the likes of Jeselnik, Gould, and Kyle, a person whom I wish was on more episodes. As IMDb will quickly suggest by typing "Maron" into the search bar, Zehetner is second billed, which gives me some faith that she'll return? While I still don't enjoy the theme of Marc having sex with younger women as a continual plot device, I feel like this one cut into the relationship better than the others, which at times felt like a gimmick. I could only hope that Zehetner comes back for another interesting story.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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