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| Left to right: Marc Maron and Norah 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 Fridays 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: Maron and Jen (Norah Zehetner) take couples therapy after they think that their relationship starts to fall apart.
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| Left to right: Paul Feig and Janet Varney |
A Line That Sums Up the Episode: "Everyone in this room is a liar."
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| David Koechner |
Guests Review: This episode is jam packed with guest stars and all are equally effective. The most notable is David Koechner as "The guy from Anchorman and... the other Anchorman." He starts Maron down the spiral into getting relationship advice, but not before defecating in his yard when the bathroom is tied up. He is a strange fellow who is sincere but has a lot of wrongness in his actions. Meanwhile, the appearances of Paul Feig and Janet Varney as a couples therapist couple is an equal amount of delight. While they may appear to have the upper hand at first, tables turn and they end up yelling at each other based on their poor practices. It is a nice alteration from the Maron/Jen story, but unfortunately it is short lived with the episode ending in a tragic demise.
Anger Meter: 4 (out of 10)
Yes, this is an important episode largely because it ends what looked like Maron's most stable relationship. While it is true that compared to last week's "Nostaglia Sex Buddy" that it seems out of place, it adds complexity to the character. He isn't so much mad as he is saddened by everything going on. The best thing in his life is crumbling away and he has no choice but to try and hold some compassion as he watches it disappear forever. It is a mix of sincerity and desire that replaces the anger this week, and it makes for a really interesting performance.
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| Left to right: Maron and Feig |
We Good?: For longtime fans of WTF with Marc Maron, this episode feels very familiar down to the final ramblings that includes the phrase "It takes two to toxic." It has always been true that the series has borrowed from Maron's real life problems, and in season 2, the acting has improved enough to make it seem more than hacky reenactments. Here, the couples therapy and the many strange turns that the episode takes manages to capture what I try to look for in Maron. There is plenty of comedy, but deep down it explores the root of pain in one man's life. Yes, Jen's arc in the series has been a little peculiar, but none of the tension was lost because of that. If anything, it made the whole thing seem more suspicious and unknown. Where can Maron go from here? As a longtime listener to his show, I have predictions. Even then, I do wonder if the show will ever not look like a parallel of Maron's real life.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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