TV Recap: Louie - "In the Woods: Part 1"

Louis C.K.

Welcome to the return of TV Recap on the FX comedy series Louie. After over a year off, Louis C.K. returns to TV with one of the most innovative, funny, and disturbing shows on TV. Join me as I chronicle season four's highs and lows and see just where he winds up next. His irreverent take is sure to keep you laughing and with back-to-back episodes, double your pleasure on a weekly basis with recaps every Tuesday and Wednesday unless specified. So join the fun, watch some of the most innovative TV out there and bring your own thoughts into the discussion.

Before we get to the conclusion of the "Pamela" episodes, we are interrupted by a look into Louis C.K.'s past. It is one that has likely helped to shape his somewhat melancholy personality. It is a tale that is unlike any other episode the series has produced. Even more-so than the "Elevator" story, "In the Woods" looks at C.K. and makes us understand his motivations in life. He is a father, but also a former drug dealer. It is a strange, wonderful episode that plays to the best of Louie and asks us to follow a story about C.K. but predominantly not featuring him. It makes for audacious TV and a nice saving grace after the "Elevator" saga.

The episode begins with C.K. and Todd Barry hanging out at a show for a local ska band. People are dancing, riding skateboards, and smoking pot. C.K. feels uncomfortable because he is way older than everyone. He then discovers that Lilly (Hadley Delany) is there smoking. He freaks out and immediately takes her out to lunch to try and talk things through. Things go rather reluctantly with Lilly saying that nothing happened. It is during this moment that C.K. fantasizes about his own childhood and what life was like in middle school.

Left to right: Skipp Sudduth
and Devin Druid

Cut to a Young Louie (Devin Druid) being driven to school by his mother (Amy Landecker). They are happy and taking jabs at each other. As Louie goes about his day, he ends up in science class with a disinterested group of students. The teacher, Mr. Hoffman (Skipp Sudduth) decides to teach kids based on their interests. When someone suggests lighting farts on fire, he asks Louie to volunteer. The two quickly become friends and Mr. Hoffman is eager for Louie to take his daughter Danielle (Sofia Hublitz) to the school dance.

After Louie's mother apologizes for not taking him clothes shopping, C.K. decides to go to the party anyways. As he enters the gymnasium and is about to dance with Danielle, Brad (Cory Nichols) interferes. He has Louie join him in going into the woods to smoke marijuana. From then, Louie becomes and addict and spends a lot of time with Brad and Albert (Logan J. Rush) smoking and telling crass jokes and vandalizing the bathroom. He is beginning to even grow distant from his mother.

When there is a need for more, Louie is forced to confront drug dealer Jeff Davis (Jeremy Renner). He is fine with selling him the merchandise, but he needs to get the money. After he complains about his scales, Louie suggests that he can get Davis some scales from his school. Davis agrees to this and Louie delivers on the promise. After science class, he sneaks into the back room and grabs a handful to sell for drugs. Meanwhile, his mother is searching his room for drugs. When she offers to get him some lunch, she rejects. The episode ends with C.K. and Lilly having an argument about drugs.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Left to right: C.K. and Hadley Delany

Before I begin, I would like to clear up some confusion. While it is true that "In the Woods" aired as a singular episode, it is likely that not all providers have viewed it as so. With the episode airing on the west coast at 94 minutes (including commercials), I have decided not only for the sake of recapping but for those who haven't seen it all that I would split it according to markers. It may not make a lot of sense, but it helps the continuity of recapping along with the fact that IMDb has it listed as two episodes.

With all of this said, I am really excited about "In the Woods Part 1" tackling a bigger subject. While we have gotten glimpses into C.K.'s past before, it hasn't been this extensive. I find the very idea of C.K. not being in majority of the episode rather audacious. While I still find aspects of "Elevator" interesting, I come away feeling a little cold. However, this one makes perfect sense and challenges the medium rather effectively. It takes a psychological look into something that is often only brushed over. How do you talk to your child about drug use when you did the same thing? Along with revelations of a faulty relationship with his mother, C.K.'s childhood is particularly fresh and exciting.

The episode does feel a bit like a throwaway when only  judging the first part. We are left with a climax of Louie stealing some scales to sell for drugs. What is causing him to be so harsh to Lilly, then? Maybe the concern is there, but we don't quite have the whole picture yet. However, we do have some great performances from Young Louie, Mr. Hoffman, and Jeff Davis. The three bring a great dynamic to the show that each reflect something of ambition. Mr. Hoffman in particular is exciting as he feels the most organic and likable character in this universe.

It does make things more interesting to wonder what the episode would've been like with Phillip Seymour Hoffman. As the closing credits (to part two) suggests, he was going to be in this episode. Presumably as Mr. Hoffman, though I am not entirely sure. It would seem too tragic if he was Jeff Davis (though I do like to think that C.K. named this dealer after the comedian of the same name). He definitely would have added an interesting pedigree to the episode in a realm that has already starred countless Oscar winners and nominees (including Renner and F. Murray Abraham in "Part 2"). Maybe it would've been a little too distracting, but we still would've gotten an increasingly fascinating world.

As it stands, this is a great first half to a very good episode. I do feel bad cutting the recap in half, but I feel it is important for continuity. Despite playing as a whole episode, "Part 1" does have the advantage of ending on a note that does feel conflicting. What will Louie do with those scales? Will the relationship between him and his mother be repaired? What is to happen to Lilly? This episode carries a lot of weight, and it is only getting started. Prepare tomorrow for "Part 2" with a whole lot more drug use and Renner singing a take on the "Brother Louie" theme song, which is as close as this season has gotten to using it.