1x05 The Cabin

[7.4/10] A fun episode for sure. Johnny and Moira trying to find a little privacy is a nice plot point for the episode, although their accidentally breaking into the wrong cabin was a little silly for my tastes. That said, after all their years of collaboration, Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara know how to play off of one another so well, and it’s especially funny seeing them awkwardly roleplay while their kids, or other random people from the town barge in. (Roland continues to be unfunny though -- all his jibes about their sex lives is far more annyoing than amusing.)

But I got a big kick out of the kids, especially David and Stevie who continue to be my favorite part of the show. David actually having the humility to apologize to Stevie and tell her to bring anyone she wants to the game night is a good look for him. In a reciprocal way, Stevie trying to get David out of his shell to come play charades with them helps cement their friendship. Theirs is the best developed and most human relationship on the show, despite its cartoonishness, and the combination of David’s particularness and Stevie’s snark clicks perfectly.

The game night itself is a fun comic set piece as well. David’s fussiness about how to play his game, and the combination of the townies’ lack of understanding/interest and Alexis trying to transform it into a traditional party makes for a great situation of a stiff being annoyed that not everyone’s going along with his program. Alexis’s demeanor through the whole thing is a laugh, and her...shall we say...reserved friend Eric was a hoot as well.

Overall, another episode that’s not over the top with laughs, but well-marbled with good chuckles and some nice character work.