What I’m Watching: Wilfred

Wilfred: Season 3, Episode 5 “Shame” (B+)

There’s something very comfortably familiar about the things that happen on this show. Because we never see Ryan doing any actual work, and usually distracted by Wilfred if he actually makes an effort, it makes sense that he would need some money in order to make ends meet. Along those lines, Wilfred expressing his opinions about what qualities a roommate should meet and sabotaging Ryan’s attempts to find work that would help him pay the bills should come as no surprise. This series has utilized a handful of familiar TV comedy stars, and Kristen Schaal, who most people likely know from “Flight of the Conchords” or “30 Rock,” is an obvious and extremely fitting choice to portray Anne, Ryan’s roommate who has no self-awareness at all and who essentially operates a porn site for those who like to watch her eat. While it’s hard to keep Wilfred’s character fully consistent since there’s so much about him that defies logic or reason, watching him lap up the smell and presence of garbage and body odor around Anne was fun. Additionally, the fact that Ryan’s world is so individually contained helps to make Ryan’s plight all the more agonizing and captivating to watch, exemplified by the fact that Jenna only speaks to Ryan about Anne’s existence rather than the two of them actually interacting, a rare occurrence on this show. To think what might have happened if Ryan had gone with his original choice and found a roommate who didn’t make him seem completely normal.