Martin Carr reviews the seventh episode of Kidding…
As metaphors go the direct translation of this title card seems apt for what Kidding manages to achieve each week. Personal anguish, professional complications and little caution from the writer’s room should make this mandatory viewing. Talking dolls, voice over recordings which segue into anti-Semitic tangents, combine with ensemble swearing moments and discussions around dog grooming or bullet train blowjobs. There is no indication that Kidding plans on toning things down any time soon which continues being a cause for celebration. Woven between the moments of reconciliation, foul mouthed unity and corporate ‘Ken doll’ overtones are some truly original moments.
There is a feeling of unity between everyone for the first time that conveys these people as family, rather than stereotypes used to communicate ideas. Alongside this there are moments where the idea of happiness is bluntly illustrated as something altogether temporary. How people only spend a certain amount of time in our lives before moving on sometimes with, sometimes without us. It is a stark reminder dropped like a firebomb into this saccharine soaked reunion. Something which is further undermined by naked shadow theatre which feels like divine retribution but plays like slapstick before devolving into family upheaval.
Externalised internal turmoil is achieved through a combination of simplicity and pathos which finally gives Catherine Keener her lion’s share of screen time. In just a few minutes of spotlighted dialogue we get the thoughts, we get the feelings and we get how holding back emotional support can truly affect someone. That this can be so easily juxtaposed with Carrey doing songs about genocide remains the joy of this show.
As the end of this series looms you wonder whether or not they can maintain the momentum and if they do, how do you close out a show like this. Whether these actors have signed up for more than one season is debatable and yet if everyone fails to come back would it be the same? For my money as long as the ratings hold up there is plenty of time for things to mature into something unique. There are few if any shows that consistently display such a lightness of touch, control over tone and brazen disregard for form and function. Kidding has been and continues to be a true one off amongst an ocean of pretenders to the crown.
Martin Carr
Originally published October 23, 2018. Updated January 8, 2019.
