TV in Review: Louie, “So Old / Playdate”

Quite often, it’s easy to tell that an older guy and younger woman appear in some movie or TV show because some older straight guy is inserting his personal desires into the writing. With this episode of Louie, that’s also evident, but with a twist, as Louis C.K. puts his self-deprecation into the mouth of a beautiful younger woman.

Why does Trisha like older guys? Louis’ insults, put into her character, transform into plain old traditional passive-aggressive deprecation. (It’s also part of how he uses the therapist figure, as another way of insulting himself.)

TRISHA: Older guys are just — relaxed. I mean, you’ve given up, which makes you grounded. And your skin is all loose, and a little dry. And you smell weird….like dying. It’s sexy.

“So Old / Playdate” portrays this particular relationship as a little less “soul mate,” and a little more “crazy fetish.” The sex is, of course, awkward — being that it’s Louie on Louie — and Louie says some stuff to turn her on which is funny to us old guys.

LOUIE: I’m 42. I’m almost 43. I was born in 1967. I remember going to movies when it cost three dollars. I remember smoking on airplanes. I had a vein removed from my leg last year. I voted for Mike Dukakis. I’m older than any baseball player. Except Jamie Moyer, I think. He’s still playing for the Phillies.

With Louis, it’s difficult to tell whether the desire for the younger woman or the desire for the self-abasement is stronger, but he gets to have both. My favorite of her orgasmic responses during the sexyfuntime was to his announcement that he had voted for Mike Dukakis…

TRISHA: Who the hell is that?

Louie also has a refreshing take on the issues of his kids’ school. As an educator, I’m not sure I can fully endorse his conclusions, but they do have a practicality to them.

LOUIE: Isn’t it just — it’s, it’s school, right? So — I mean, school sucks, right? I mean, you do what you can to improve it, but it’s not — it’s, in the end there’s a limit, because it’s school. And school sucks. Remember?

At least going to the PTA meeting allows Louie to set up a playdate with Pamela. Pamela and Louie like to keep their parenting real.

PAMELA: I know you told me her name but I forgot. What is it?

LOUIE: Doesn’t matter.

I like the show Louie on a bunch of levels. As a show on its own. As a chance to get more Louis C.K. in my life. But I’m also realizing that I like it a lot as an antidote to the rest of media. There’s something about the depressing factor of Louie that’s actually uplifting to me, because it’s the understated opposite of pablum.

Oh, yeah, and the season three premiere was last Thursday! I gotta jump ahead to that before returning to season one.

FX first aired Season 1, Episode 4 of Louie on July 13, 2010.

SEE ALSO
Polentical: TV in Review: Louie, “Dr. Ben / Nick” (Season 1, Episode 3)