What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 1, Episode 3 “The Case of the Missing Screenplay” (B+)

Well, here we go. This is a fine installment of a slow-starting show, and I now have some faith in the series and its future. I suppose it doesn’t bode too well for the show that its first good episode doesn’t relate at all to Jonathan’s work as a detective, but I see it as a possibility that not all of Jonathan’s adventures will be expressly work-related. The incorporation of celebrities in traditional “Entourage” or “Curb Your Enthusiasm” style, showing up randomly without making too much of a big deal and interacting with the main characters normally, is a positive thing. Jim Jarmusch is a fun director to have guest star, and he’s appropriately wacky and plays well off of Jason Schwartzmann. It also makes a lot of sense that George would run in those kinds of circles. Oliver Platt’s brief cameo was pretty hilarious, and a sign that the character actor should be working more. Jonathan’s post-party hookup was ill-fated from the start, but it was entertaining throughout. The guest appearance by Denis O’Hare (“Duplicity,” “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men,” “Michael Clayton”) as the therapist was great, and his completely bullying, mean therapy was pretty fantastic. I can also now appreciate the previously praised Zach Galifianakis, whose performance in this episode was truly terrific. If this show has more sardonic, lively, interesting episodes like this, I could definitely get into it.