Normally I would separate these two into a couple of different reviews especially since season 1 happened last year. However Netflix didn't deem me important enough to send it until recently and I already had season 2 eating up space on my DVR so I just figured I'd do it all at once. Eastbound and down was much different then I thought it would be.
The older I get the less interested I've become in slapstick comedy. Don't get me wrong I laugh very very hard when I see people getting hit in the face with a shovel, but I need substance to stay involved. Without well written jokes and moments I tend to loose interest fairly quickly. I've also begun to really enjoy uncomfortableness and seeing people reaction to that uncomfortableness. I think that is where Eastbound and Down delivers brilliantly.
Normally I would not give details on places and things but I have a feeling that 90% of the people who read this will not make it through the first 3 episodes because the vulgarity becomes over bearing at times and there is really not one likable character in the entire series. I will stay away from major details but you may stumble across a few plot twist reveals. Don't get me wrong it had some laugh out loud moments and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the main character made everyone else around him uncomfortable to the brink of madness and was completely unaware of it. But those of you that do stick with it I hope can appreciate watching the almost unbearable at times embarrassment you feel for him. There were moments that I covered my face like a girl watching a horror movie and peered through my fingers at the TV because I just couldn't stand to see cringe moments happen anymore.
In season one we meet Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) A foul mouthed, narcissistic former MLB pitcher who's talented right arm become useless and overbearing personality became way to much for professional baseball. After a stint in rehab he returned to his hometown in North Carolina to live with his brother and begin his new life as a middle school gym teacher. While trying to win the love of his former high school sweetheart April Buchanen (Katy Mixon), and also hopefully find his way back into the Major Leagues, he uncomfortably bumbles his way through life and even manages to get a former classmate, Steve Janowski (Steven Little), that idolizes him to become his personal assistant. The ending plays out perfectly because even though your led in one direction the it actually ends the only way that this story could end.
Season 2 begins with our hero who is now a cock fighter in Mexico. You get more of Kenny being Kenny and season 2 follows the format of season 1 to a tee. In fact the story line is strikingly similar and there's not one change in Kenny's approach towards people and situations. Again I found it very humorous watching him bumble and stumble through social situations and the uncomfortableness in every episode was hysterical. but I felt like it became almost to much. I felt like we got the joke and I was hoping to see some growth out of the characters but that did not happen. In all honesty I felt like this should have been a one and done series. There was absolutely no need for a second season. Even though I did find humor in it, the situations quickly became old hat and the semi Hollywood ending at the end was almost a disappointment.
Season 1 I would give easily a 4 out of 5 stars. It was over the top and offensive at times but I enjoyed the freshness of it and the fact that our hero was anything but who didn't find his pot of gold at the end.
Season 2 was a horrendous let down and I can only give it 2 out of 5 but not because it couldn't have been enjoyable. More because it seemed like I just got done watching it with different people.
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