2x11 Love Is Hell

[7.0/10] Perfectly solid kick-off to the new season. Bean’s betrothal in Hell was my favorite part. There’s a good theme there, with Dagmar trying to control Bean for her own purposes, and Luci (or at least his head), reminding her that she’s as ungovernable and badass as anyone, something she can use to her advantage here.

And she does! Her resistance to Dagmar is solid. While a little long, her extended efforts to suggest to Satan himself that she’d be a nightmare of a wife are worth a few yuks. And while her ability to escape plays as too convenient, I do appreciate her switcheroo with putting Dagmar’s handprint on the “Queen of Dreamland marries Queen of Hell” contract and getting the hell out of dodge. This is the rebellious, cantankerous Bean we know, and it’s nice to see that serving her well.

The lore deposits are out in force as well. Dagmar speaks of a debt she owes to Hell, which is intriguing. Likewise, the head of the Elves affirms that Dreamland may be their ancient Homeland, which I think we knew? Still good to have a reminder.

That point deserves some full disclosure from me here. I’ve forgotten a lot of this. It’s been some time since I watched the last season, and candidly, it wasn’t been on my mind a ton since I last dropped in. Some of the main points, like Luci’s death and Elfo’s sacrificing himself to the ogres stick around. But a lot of the finer points, including stuff as significant as what exactly the deal with the underground elves is, has left my brain. SO apologies on that front.

Still, I like the business with Luci tricking his way out of Heaven so he can help Bean. He’s still a mini-Bender from Futurama, but watching him use his powers and trickery to help his friend is a nice beat for the little demon. I’ve also come to love Joey as a character. Him raising all the “stumpers” with God is a hoot, and while his stupidity is a little over the top in places, he’s a generally sweet oaf, which helps. He and Luci make for an unexpectedly good pairing.

The only part of this that seems pointless is Elfo’s little escapade with the Ogres fighting the Dwarves. It’s not really funny. It’s not terribly exciting. And since Elfo ends up captured by the Ogres all over again, it doesn’t move the plot either. Very superfluous material.

I’ll also say that this one was light on laughs. But there’s a few good setup-and-payoff gags, like Dagmar warning Gomer not to try the lipstick before delivering it, only for Bean to run into him doing just that later in the episode, or God explaining that there are not cats in Heaven, only for the audience to see them lining Bean’s bridal hall in Hell. There’s some groaners here, but those were good.

Overall, there’s nothing here to blow you away, but some nice character moments from Bean and Luci, plus some cool setting and character designs, and a few new intriguing bits of lore and changes to the status quo make this one just enough to whet your appetite for Part 4 of the Disenchantment saga.