I don’t
think this episode is quite as much fun as the one before it. Now, I’m not gonna say that’s definitely because Andrew Rannells isn’t
in it as much, but it’s a factor, both because of how funny he is in this and
because of how much I enjoy that goofy plot.
Still a good episode, just not as
good.
Lillian
suffers a setback on the cusp of her wedding, and Beatrice returns from her
retreat determined to save her sister from herself. Meanwhile, the family matriarch (who’s in the
middle of a divorce) goes toe-to-toe with her ex’s new gold-digging lady.
Overall,
I do think the humor isn’t quite as sharp here, although there are still some
good jokes – during the titular duel, there’s a running commentary wherein the
name for each “fencing move” is sillier than the last. And just generally, the specific plot threads
we’re following in this episode don’t really interest me as much as the last
one, although the stuff with Beatrice is pretty fun. That said, it’s far from a bad episode, and
the acting is still terrific. It’s more
the difference between “hilarious” and “pretty funny.”
Rannells
is only in one scene today, in which a bitter Lillian tries to sabotage Bertram’s
romance with Hortense. He’s a really
good fit for this show, just the right amount of over-the-top. The general air of the show reminds me a bit
of The Book of Mormon, that
atmosphere of heightened reality, so it’s a good match. It requires the actors to be completely
sincere in their absurdity, outlandish without mugging, and that takes a steady
hand.
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