What I’m Watching: Eastbound and Down

Eastbound and Down: Season 4, Episode 3 “Chapter 24” (B+)

This episode used music a whole lot, and it’s fascinating to see how it appropriately reflects Kenny Powers’ rollercoaster ride up and down the ladder of success. The most affecting moment was seeing Kenny and his family and friends so happy at the water park, and to see the pure joy he got from being a family man. April is such a fantastic character, so eternally committed to her husband and in awe of the way that he interacts with their children. Her getting drunk and passing out was a firm reminder that she isn’t always the most responsible, and it was an unfortunate impetus for Kenny to start thinking about things that will prove extremely destructive to his family life. Kenny was all set to go down the wrong path with the hot girl in the pool, and, amazingly, he resisted her many offers for pleasure and turned her down. Seeing him return to her room after changing his mind was disheartening, but, luckily, she too had changed her mind, instead rejecting him and wounding his pride, finally making him realize that he can’t always get whatever he wants when he wants it. If Kenny’s life were perfect, this show wouldn’t be interesting, and so, as it unfurls its final few episodes, let’s hope that Kenny makes mostly good choices and makes his mark as an incomparable legend who managed to be both a player – in baseball and in life – and a father and husband at the same time.