13x02 The Gang Escapes

[7.4/10] A fun concept. I like the show using an escape room as a launching ground for a riff on male decision-making. The commentary isn’t exactly subtle, but the guys in The Gang taking what is supposed to be a collaborative exercise and turning into a status-jockeying competition with one another, that dooms them to never make it past the first clue, is a pretty potent metaphor.

Dee was kind of relegated to the B-story, but I liked her part of it too (including her conversation with the escape room facilitator). For one, they briefly tied Dee’s part into the commentary of the episode -- both in her plan to “collaborate” with the facilitator, and in her joy at getting the slightest bit of recognition for absolutely destroying herself as part of the game. But really, her dealing with Dennis’s sex dungeon, while a little broad, was the best part, as her utter disbelief (and yet complete acceptance) that Dennis would do with this, and her freaking out to be trapped in it, was great.

But really, even apart from the strong gender-related commentary, the comedy in this one was solid. The guys all fixating on nonsense like chewing gum and who gets the first bite of a steak and other “alpha” moves and metaphors was funny in that absurd IASIP and tied nicely into the navel-gazing macho bit that kept the boys from making any progress.

Overall, the commentary in this one came on a little strong, but it was on point and done in a funny, if over the top sort of way, which really worked.