Kramer stores the key for his strongbox in Jerry’s apartment. George’s girlfriend refuses to break up with him. Elaine fears her boyfriend may be married. Jerry fails to recognise his neighbour, to disastrous consequences.

Story by: Dan O’Keefe and Billy Kimball
Teleplay by: Dan O’Keefe
Directed by: Andy Ackerman

Kramer’s story this episode is an interesting example of his, shall we say, assumption of intimacy with Jerry. I grew up around people who would be offended if I knocked instead of just walking straight in, and would specifically ask me to take their food. Jerry has frequently said he loves Kramer and essentially wants to see him happy, but the comedy comes from Kramer overstepping whatever boundaries he has anyway. This feels like another example of the show revealing the way city life and particularly American city life – with the general assumption of privacy and individuality – interacts with human nature. In this case, Kramer’s assumption definitely crosses over into ludicrous; perhaps it also crosses over with his status as a perpetual grifter, reducing everything to its material components with no interest in the spiritual aspect of what he’s manipulating (namely: this stuff is Jerry’s). I will admit, this is a little too abstract thinking even by my standards.

With Elaine’s plot, it’s hard to escape the same conclusion that Dave Sims did in his AV Club recaps – this is part of Elaine’s general decline as a person. Unlike most Seinfeld fans, I do actually appreciate this aspect of the show; I often compare this to Always Sunny and note that the latter show really took its most influence from this, and I will admit that Always Sunny worked with the idea of genuinely awful people more effectively, but I do appreciate seeing the proto-form of something. There’s a sense that Elaine is simply losing patience with how long everything seems to be taking in her life and how stuck she feels, and this does feel like a logical end point for the character.

George’s plot, hilariously, is a reversal of his usual problem; it is, in fact, the precise opposite of “The Susie”, where now he’s trying to break up with someone avoiding it, even if she is much more direct about it. One implied element of this show that never became directly referenced is the lack of assertiveness of the characters (which, hey, ties into the Kramer plot!). Confrontation is something to be avoided at all costs, which as we know, ends up causing it escalate further and further. We’ve talked about this occasionally, but attempts to avoid responsibility are a major drive of this show.

TOPICS O’ THE WEEK

• “What could I do? We fooled around and went to a movie.”
• “And in bed–” / “I’m afraid we’re out of time.”
• The show is having so much fun with the idea of Puddy, keeping him on the viewer’s mind even when he’s not present. This, I imagine, is why people remember him being in the show far more than his actual ten episodes.
• “You were in the army?” / “Briefly.”
• “How long do I have to hold this?” Such an Elaine line.
• Elaine and Jerry yelling up and down at each other is a great idea for a scene. It’s a perfect demonstration of Elaine engaging int he same kind of disruptive behaviour that would enrage her.
• “How can I prove it? I can’t! Damn it!” Iconic moment, though admittedly because it’s very easy to plug your own opinions in.
• “Why does it always seem I’m the only one working at this breakup?”
• “Is he wretchedly poor? Does he wear one of those barrels with the straps?”
• “He’s invulnerable to creditors.” […] “Maybe his girlfriend is Lois Loan.” […] “He could wipe out his checking account in a single bounce!” My favourite thing about this is Elaine coming back for her glasses and immediately giving up. Really captures the pleasures of annoying someone you love.
• “That’s my wife.” / “Okay, I think I’m done here.”
• “Oh, Phil… Mrs Phil…”
• “I’M CAUGHT IN MY OWN WEB OF LIES!” Spectacular delivery from Jason Alexander there.
• “Alright. I’m gonna try giving them fifty-five dollars each.”

Biggest Laugh:

Next Week: “The Wizard”