3x03 New Car

[8.2/10] I liked every storyline in this one, and they hit the right balance between humor and humanity, which I always appreciate.

My favorite of the storylines, as it often is, was the one involving David and Stevie handling the arrangements after the death of Stevie’s great aunt. For one thing, it’s a good look for David. He is very much not used to being the supportive friend in this situation and doesn’t quite know what to do, but he’s trying and well-inteitoned, which allows him to be funny in his awkwardness but also endearing in his sincere if inept attempts to help.

For another, it’s a nice humanizing look at Stevie, who is vulnerable and shaken in the wake of the death of a relative who seems like a forerunner to her own fate. The sense that Stevie is following in her great aunt’s footsteps, toward a life at the motel and eventually a sparsely attended ash-scattering in a local parking lot, is a memento mori of the most unsettling variety. David reassuring Stevie that she won’t end up like this, that she can make different choices, and that he’ll be her friend and support ehr is really sweet.

On top of that, the interlude at the funeral home was hilarious. The awkward funeral director who not only lost the ashes but who’s trying to upsell David and Stevie on pre-purchasing their own funerals is a hoot of goofy proportions. I also like the plot twist that the dead aunt willed the hotel to Stevie, something that both helps confirm Stevie’s fears of her path but also creates an intriguing new development for her relationship with the Rose family.

I also got a big kick out of the plot of Johnny and Moira trying to buy a car for the family. For one thing, the cold open and end tag for this episode were both hilarious bits of single-serving comedy. Johnny trying to make his pitch for the necessity of a car while the rest of the family ind of breezes past his presentation and focuses on sundry details is a big laugh, and David's reaction to the car they buy (“were all the other cars on fire?”), not to mention his mom wearing his clothes, got a big laugh out of me.

Likewise, I enjoyed the Roses’ faltering attempt to appear poor enough not to be taken advantage of by the used car salesmen. Johnny’s attempt to borrow clothes from the Schitt’s is a winning bit of broad comedy, and Moira reverting to a cockney-accented supposed orphan is the type of out there choice that brings the yuks. I particularly liked Johnny’s incredulous reactions to his wife’s ploy. The fact that they eventually do win a lower price, but only because the dealers recognize Moira from her soap days is a good layer to add, and the peak of comedy is Moira then trying to pay more for the car because she doesn’t want to lose her dignity, thereby defeating the purpose of the whole exercise. It’s a nice comic setpiece.

I even liked the humorous subplot with Ted and Alexis! Ted’s black eye seemed like a weird story-starter, but Alexis trying to guess the origin of it is amusing. I also like the fact that he has secret code for his hook-up. It’s adorable, and Alexis’s reaction to it is both supportive and cute. I’m really hoping the show doesn’t try to revert back to a romantic thing between them, but I liked them as friends, and I hope the series leans into that.

Overall, this one had a lot of laughs and went three-for-three in storylines, which is always encouraging.