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| Scene from Vice Principals |
In the modern echelon of dark comedy, nobody has quite matched the perversity of creators Danny McBride and Jody Hill, who followed up the success of Eastbound & Down with a comedy that pitted two narcissistic maniacs against each other for the position of Vice Principals. The show failed to receive the acclaim of the former series, but its limited two season run allowed it to be more focused in ways that are satisfying. With McBride acting opposite Walton Goggins in one of his most delirious roles to date, The series may be too niche in the balance of dark comedy and defeatist mentality, but it definitely created one of the more unique comedies that HBO has produced since, well, Eastbound & Down. It may not be their greatest or most accessible show, but it's still a fascinating alternative to other modern comedies.
To understand how insane a plot about two vice principals can be, one simply needs to watch the finale. In the episode, Goggins gets shot by a woman that McBride has a relationship with before she travels to the high school in order to free a tiger (the school's mascot) on graduation day. There's too much more to delve into, but the culmination of the series can be best understood with how it handles this absurd and violent scenario. While Goggins and McBride have shown a handicap when it comes to responsibility, they end the series by saving most of the school from an inevitable tiger attack. Suddenly it makes sense why they could be principals, well at least McBride. By this point Goggins' insecurity has been explored in such fine detail that he is as much a tragic figure as he is the antagonist who almost ruined McBride's life.
In some ways, Vice Principals is best viewed as a fantasy version of high school where the adults are the ones acting childish. Their one advantage is that they have access to weapons, booze, and ways to manipulate their problems (such as authority). The drive for power results in the first season's ascension from vice principals to co-principals in a devious move of taking down the current head. There's a level of incompetence that drives the central characters, of which causes scenes to delve into chaos, forming some of Hill's most disturbing moments since Observe & Report. These adults have issues, and it's a miracle that the comedy doesn't smash it into terrible juxtapositions. What it does instead is never forgive the characters while giving them a rich internal life where they have sympathy - but they also suck.
The first season is a bit lackluster conceptually, though the riffing of Goggins and McBride results in plenty of enjoyable moments. Still, it plays as a mean-spirited comedy where the destruction of one woman's life results in a depressing center that barely gets explored. It's what helps season two triumph, as the show allows everyone to not only continue being reckless but also express their own insecurities. Goggins becomes more complex as he gains power - finding that it doesn't offer him happiness. McBride is still too driven by paranoia to be effective as a leader, causing the pettiness to overwhelm their control. Seeing the lack of control the figures in control have results in something far more engaging and powerful. It's still one of the most bizarre comedies that HBO has released recently, but it is mostly because its commitment disturbing ideas, such as McBride bringing a gun to school to murder Goggins, helps to understand these characters on a deeper level where they are so broken that cognitive dissonance begins to overheat.
The one disadvantage is that the universe of Vice Principals is a bit redundant for those familiar with Hill and McBride's other work. The comedy is just as ribald and confrontational as Eastbound & Down, though McBride hasn't made a character as indelible as Kenny Powers. Instead, his vulgar riffing as he panics over having power centers a character that he knows almost too well. It's why Goggins really shines here, especially as he goes from psychopath to someone whose heart is buried underneath a need to be scrappy and condescending. As a whole, this is an effective show for the group as it brings just as much laughs as it does shock and emotion. However, it's not likely to resonate as well as the flagship series, if just because Vice Principals feels simpler and less flashy, even with Bill Murray appearing in the first episode.
As a whole, Vice Principals is a very well made show that explores the psychological struggles of having power. At some points, it's the craving for it that leads to destruction. At other points, it's the lack of fulfillment that comes with being able to change rules carelessly. The series' biggest attribute is that it doesn't have too many weak spots thanks to its short run, allowing the story to take center stage and unveil the complicated lives of these characters. Somehow it manages to be a compelling comedy with realistic stakes, even as the finale features a tiger murdering supporting characters. It may not be the greatest show in the world, but it's bound for HBO cult series status, which isn't all that bad.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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