What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself (Series Finale)

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 2, Episode 8 “Allison’s House”

I had hoped for it all along, and then it finally happened, and was so worth it. Allison returned to tell Kevin she was alive, and then as soon as she told him she wanted a divorce, the laugh track suddenly disappeared. I have to commend Eric Petersen on his subtlety in that scene, no longer a caricature but instead someone capable of nuanced gaslighting and abuse. Threatening to destroy had a terrifying intentionality to it, something that we haven’t typically seen from him, and it was the perfect way to say goodbye to a character who, in a different light and with people laughing, didn’t seem nearly as toxic and horrible as he was. That the show ended on Allison and Patty and not on Kevin was also purposeful, and the notion of them dying alone together highlights the worth of healthy friendships over toxic relationships. No one got a particularly happy ending, with Tammy and Patty breaking up because Patty just couldn’t leave her home and Neil told to move out and dumped by Diane when he tried to make their relationship too real. Molly’s presence felt sudden but she was gone just as quickly, namely because she really was just a plot device for Kevin not to feel alone, and meeting Allison and understanding the absurdity of his manipulation was enough to send her running for the door. This show has certainly been creative and memorable, and I’m glad to see it end on such a poignant and worthwhile note.

Series finale: B+
Series grade: B+
Season MVP: Mary Hollis Inboden as Patty
Season grade: B+
Series MVP: Annie Murphy as Allison
Best Season: Season 2
Best Episode: Series finale

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself (Penultimate Episode)

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 2, Episode 7 “The Problem” (B+)

It definitely doesn’t feel like we’re just one hour away from the end of this show, but there were some marked differences in the tone by the time the credits started. Allison is starting to accept her situation and to figure out what she needs to do, and part of her plan is to make things right for those she’s leaving behind. Telling Neil that she was sorry for a lot of things and maybe he is too led to his surprising revelation that he told plenty of people, including Kevin, what Allison did and no one believed him, and Allison tried to make up for what she had done by getting Neil and Patty’s access to the ice rink reinstated. Using Kevin to solve more than one problem is an interesting strategy, and one that now seems like it’s going to cost Tammy her job. Patty freaking out after Tammy told her what she knew also elicited an unexpectedly calming response from Allison, and then the episode ended with the police showing up looking for Allison after an apparent hiking accident. Seeing her look at properties in Maine as Gertrude was startling, but maybe she really is going to move on. But if that means that Patty has to stay behind and take the fall for everything they did, I’m not sure she’ll be okay with that. I’m also very curious to see how Kevin functions without Allison around and if those scenes still come off as comedy or not.

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 2, Episode 6 “The Machine” (B+)

There are only two more episodes left after this, and it’s hard to know whether Allison is actually going to be able to go through with leaving or if she’s going to figure out a way to make staying work for her. Sam and Patty don’t want her to go but have come to terms with her determination and are therefore pushing her to do it, though it’s not clear that either solution is going to be good. Allison did see just how hard Kevin tried to set up his father and Diane and how that involved him putting in an effort to make Patty’s party a success just for that season, and Sam noted how Kevin was able to keep the diner afloat by reporting that he had slipped and fallen. I’m still curious if we’re ever going to have the opportunity to see Kevin in a non-laugh track setting, and whether he’s going to present as a viciously abusive and horrific human being, much more villainous than the inconsiderate waste of space that he is. As he continues to be ignored by his best friend, Neil is connecting much more closely with Diane, though she’s not ready to bring him into her life in a serious way since she does plan to stick it out with Chuck. It’s intriguing that Tammy believes Patty is involved in what happened but doesn’t know that Allison is too, unless telling her that she was worried about her was just a tactic to get in her head. There’s so much left to be resolved, and I’m hopeful that the last two episodes will be adequate enough to explore all of it.

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 2, Episode 5 “The Unreliable Narrator” (B+)

It’s always interesting to me when other characters get to interact with Kevin and see him for who he truly is, and it’s seeming like more and more people understand just how awful he is and how, at best, he always has to make everything about himself. Thinking that he somehow knew how to help Sam with his marriage was absurd, though he does seem to have an idea of the things he shouldn’t be doing even though he does them all the time. Accusing everyone of taking the generator after he was the one who took out the power was typically self-involved and delusional, and it was no surprise that Neil found comfort once again in Diane. Like Allison, she’s also in an unhappy marriage that she’s trying to get out of but realizes may not be possible, though Allison fortunately has help from both Sam and Patty, who care for her and are starting to see that this really might be the best option. Patty did seem to appreciate that Allison noticed her haircut and was being generally more tuned-in to her own needs, and the way that they both noted that they wouldn’t live next to each other anymore, because Allison wouldn’t live there either, made it all feel very finite. Patty moving in with Tammy probably isn’t a great idea, but we’ll see if those cops end up mentioning their mid-blackout run-in with her and Allison, which could make things hard for her to explain to her new roommate.

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 2, Episode 4 “Jesus, Allison” (B+)

A surprise party for Patty probably was not a very good idea, but this episode did reveal some very interesting interpersonal dynamics. I particularly liked how Tammy startled Patty by being open to them spending the night with Allison before she found out about her last-minute idea to throw a party, and how she was actually open to helping Allison plan it once she knew. She was annoyed enough about everything that was happening in the process, including being part of a back-alley menthol deal that should have netted them a discount because she was a cop, and she concluded the evening with a vague threat to Allison about how they didn’t have to be friends and she didn’t want her around anymore. Allison is fast losing friends, including Sam, who wasn’t eager to help her after everything and who is now on Tammy’s radar too. Getting that footage at the end of the episode is bad news too since Tammy is already gunning for Allison and may have Tammy in her sights as well, who she’ll be very upset hasn’t been honest with her. Kevin’s scheme to get his dad to dump Lorraine with the terrible laugh failed, but his unusual efforts to help with the party did mean that Neil and Diane ended up drinking together, with yet another person who might have a reason to kill Kevin joining the ranks of this show’s ever-increasing numbers. They may ultimately end up being loyal to him, though, and so Allison could be on her own.

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 2, Episode 3 “Ghost” (B+)

Falling into an open grave while searching for a dead corpse to help you start your life over can be an eye-opening sign, but I don’t think there’s much that’s going to deter Allison from fulfilling what she’s set out to do at this point. Patty expressing that she wished they were actually going to the movies and that they couldn’t when this was all over indicates just how she’s feeling, which is that she wouldn’t mind being friends with Allison, who’s all set to move on from a life that Patty still can’t escape. Flashing back to Allison’s father’s wake, which was the first time she met Kevin, Patty, and Neil, was an interesting choice because it involved the laugh track with Allison’s mom, played by Peri Gilpin, and Kevin seeming actually charming when he caught sight of her. The timing of “Pal-o-ween” was definitely unfortunate for Neil, who’s still traumatized by being knocked out, and I like that somehow Tammy ended up coming over there to join them because Neil had called her a bunch of times. Tammy does not like Allison at all, but she is very into Patty, and that attachment is going to become more dangerous for Allison as Patty continually gets pulled away for her latest antics. I’m still curious whether we’re going to get to see scenes of Kevin where he’s not accompanied by the laugh track, since him (accidentally) kicking Allison in the face was harsh enough, and I can’t quite imagine how dark and abusive he’ll seem in a different light.

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 2, Episode 2 “The Way We Were” (B+)

While there’s much more content outside of the sitcom laugh track setting, this season is doing a very good job of painting Kevin as a much meaner person than he seems, particularly in relation to his treatment of Neil. That his first reaction to Neil’s new haircut was to insult it rather than to notice his scar was just the beginning, and he continuously insulted him and failed to acknowledge any of the effort he put in to get him the specific hat he requested and all other volunteer assistant jobs. He wouldn’t even hear the important information Neil tried to tell him about Allison trying to kill him since he’s never actually listening. Neil and Allison simultaneously saying “leave her alone” when he mocked Patty was a sign that he’s much likelier to come around to Allison’s way of thinking than to get her in her way. Allison was busy hatching her own plans by using her aunt to try to pawn Kevin’s (stolen) card, but she also got to relive a bit of her would-be future when the reporter interviewing Kevin recognized her and asked her why she didn’t get out when she had the chance. I’d be more concerned about Neil’s traumatic flashbacks and about how he isn’t willing to accept Patty’s help, which is understandable given her part in it. Patty is playing with fire by continuing to maintain her romantic relationship with Tammy, something her cop girlfriend can tell she’s not invested in even if she did try to make out with her at a funeral for a hated colleague.

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself (Season Premiere)

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 2, Episode 1 “Mrs. McRoberts Is Dead” (B+)

I definitely thought it had been longer than a year since this show ended its first season, and this one picked up right in the middle of the drama rather than spending a bit of time in its lighter sitcom side. There’s such a notable difference in how the things Neil says sound, since he’s coming off just as dim-witted but considerably cruel without the laugh track to make his sentiments forgivable. Patty best summarized what she thinks of him, which is that he does pretend to be stupider than he is so that, for instance, she’ll pay his rent for a few decades. Patty seems to think she has the situation under control and will find something to hold over his head so that he doesn’t tell Kevin and get Annie in trouble. He did not have kind words for Annie, suggesting that Kevin doesn’t care when Annie whines, which is hardly a realistic summary of the situation. But she did take note and made sure to curb that behavior so she couldn’t be accused of anything, and she did a spectacular job of bulldozing Pete’s carefully-crafted campaign message to make him look like a brute who couldn’t possibly get the endorsement needed to run. Like in today’s world, however, the less impressive the candidate, the more broad appeal they seem to have, and as she tried to make a new best friend, she saw the horror show that was him becoming popular because of how she had made him portray himself. Faking her own death is an interesting new direction, and I’m very intrigued - and nervous - to see how that plays out.

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself (Season Finale)

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 1, Episode 8 “Fixed” (B)

This was a strange note to end on, especially given the fact that there’s still no word on a renewal of this show. Having Kevin appear outside of the house has always felt weird, and I had a feeling that he wasn’t going to be the one who ended up dead when Allison was being questioned by the police. The frame job that she and Patty were trying to execute on the comatose Nick wasn’t even that complicated or problematic, and instead it was Kevin getting his next great stroke of genius that threatened to send Allison over the edge. We did get to see her talk back to Kevin and call him a name for the first time, though he barely even blinked and just latched on to the positive part of what she said he wasn’t. Sam’s efforts to console her failed too because he gave her what she recognized was not a compliment, and Patty saying that the only person she had was Tammy didn’t make things any better at all. I did not expect Neil to be the one to discover what Allison was up to, and that scene turned violent very quickly with him trying to strangle her, a sign that his slapstick comedy, like Kevin’s, is just a mask for abusive behavior that many might dismiss as guys just being guys. I thought that Kurt was going to prod Tammy to look into Patty’s questionable business practices, but she seems determined to get to know Patty better rather than look for problems to dwell on. I’m definitely intrigued by this show and want to see more of it, though this first season has been an unsettling experience more than anything else.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Annie Murphy as Allison

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 1, Episode 7 “Broken” (B+)

This episode had some real darkness to it, but the way questions are being asked and the narrative is being framed, it’s not clear that Kevin is the one who actually got shot. I’m hoping that’s not the case since this could all turn really bad if something else happened and it comes back to Allison, but we’ll have to wait for the season finale, which will be the last of this show we’ll see unless it ends up getting renewed, which hasn’t happened yet. It’s strange to think that Allison has left Worcester and has a family of her own, though theoretically that doesn’t make her much happier than being at home with Kevin does. Nicky getting fired for assaulting the waiter who bumped him was not a good sign, but the biggest issue with all of Allison’s very careful and purposely obvious planning was Kevin finding the fertility information and declaring his deep desire to be a father. Tammy didn’t seem happy to be talking about Patty when she and her partner, played by Kevin Chapman, were interrogating Allison, but for now they seem to be in great shape, especially considering they even got their sitcom moment of their own where Tammy helped Neil prep for a gritty interrogation. We even got to see Sam at home unhappy with his own life, and these expanded perspectives could make for great season two content. For now, this episode left off on a very serious and haunting note, with Kevin haplessly grabbing the gun he found in the trash and heading down to confront an intruder who’s almost certainly much more prepared for what’s about to happen than he is.

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 1, Episode 6 “The Grand Victorian” (B+)

It was strange to see Kevin in a setting outside of the house, one in which his absence didn’t completely throw off the color of the room but definitely changed the attitude. Allison looking forward to spending Kevin’s birthday dinner without her because he always sneaks off to play games with Neil and Pete said more than enough about the state of their marriage, but the small-town nature of this show’s ensemble made everything dangerously close at the restaurant in this episode. Running into Sam and his wife and being forced to drink with them was particularly awkward, and Kevin was not kind or pleasant when he finally showed up after running back and forth and eating his weight in meat. I don’t know who Sean Avery is but certainly got enough context clues, and I think the Mighty Moo battle was more of an embarrassment than anything else for Allison, who now will have to contend with most of law enforcement mourning her dead husband’s loss if he gets killed according to the existing plan. There’s one cop who isn’t too fond of Allison, and that’s Detective Ridgeway, who isn’t being shy about her romantic feelings for Patty, who seems to be reciprocating them partially to keep herself out of the line of suspicion and partly because someone is actually looking at and caring about her for the first time in a while. I very much appreciated the ending of this episode and the way in which Allison finally reached the limit of being constantly told to shut up and told Nick how it was going to be. Though Sam thinks it happens all the time, it’s good to see her in charge.

What I’m Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 1, Episode 5 “New Patty” (B+)

It’s exciting to see Allison starting to stand up for herself, making major choices that she’s never made before and bringing Patty into the fold. Being called wallpaper was a trigger for her to take charge, and it was great to see her refuse to take her boss at the liquor store apologizing to the man who was rude to her. Going straight from there to see Sam and take him into the closet was an unexpected development, and I certainly didn’t think that was going to lead to him offering her a job, a perfect solution to many problems aside from Kevin’s dismay at not getting his ten percent alcohol discount. The energy he puts into his mad-scientist boards is crazy considering how little he applies himself in the rest of his life, and it was interesting to see how what he said got interpreted a different way by someone who’s not nearly as stupid and is capable of putting simple things together. Kurt was understandably upset that Patty seemed to have forgotten about his proposal, and his reaction to her saying she never wanted to get married was extreme but also legitimate. Kevin saying that she wasn’t trustworthy shouldn’t have caused him to feel the same way, but he was paying attention and understood that what she said to him didn’t add up. Allison couldn’t go through with killing Kevin with his favorite burger that she had Sam recreate, but Patty’s idea of a much more violent and unsubtle death is both intriguing and terrifying, signifying a much darker turn for this show.

What I'm Watching: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 1, Episode 4 “Live Free or Die” (B+)

It was great to see Allison and Patty bond on their road trip to Vermont, even if Patty was resistant the entire way to liking the neighbor that she had never thought much of in all their years living next door to each other. I liked that it was Allison’s joke about killing her mom that first softened Patty up, and that it became a recurring joke over the course of the episode. I’m glad that all the portrayals of drug deals weren’t too over-the-top, and instead indicated the typical dynamic of sketchy people taking advantage of would-be buyers who were in a bad position since they had absolutely no leverage and were in desperate need of supply that only these people could give them. Ending up with a gun rather than the pills wasn’t a great result since shooting Kevin would be too obvious, and I’m so intrigued and excited that Allison felt like she could open up to Patty, who might not support her plan but isn’t likely to reveal it to Kevin either. The fact that Kevin called the police to report the car stolen shows how much more he cares about his things than about his wife, and while his antics with the Escape Groom were absolutely absurd, I do think that’s supposed to show the level of effort he’s able to put into something that he thinks will benefit him but can’t even be bothered to listen to his wife for a second or think of loaning her his car unless he gets something out of it.

Take Three: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 1, Episode 3 “We’re Selling Washing Machines” (B)

I like the fact that Patty is now with Allison in the moody scenes of melancholy, even if her situation isn’t quite as miserable but still just as boring and unfulfilling. Her husband-to-be does notice her and want her to be happy, but he just doesn’t get that she’s not always into the same things and might be happier, for instance, not sneaking cheeseburgers in her car and having some input into what they do together. Allison calling the police on Marcus seemed like an impulsive and uncharacteristic move, and naturally it came back to haunt her because it meant that Patty’s supply got cut off, which has now necessitated a trip to Vermont that could actually be pretty therapeutic for her. I’m not sure what Sam was thinking inviting her to a meeting where his wife might show up, and Patty was right to point out that, not only is Sam married, she’s also married! It was interesting, however, to see how those scenes didn’t look so grim, and how Allison might be able to find happiness on her own if given enough space from her useless and selfish husband. His chili sounds terrible, and I’m actually starting to feel plenty of sympathy towards Neil because he generally means well even if he’s an incredible dolt and he’s constantly being taken advantage of by Kevin almost as much as he does with Allison. He’s not worthy of saving, of course, but he doesn’t deserve the same fate that may eventually befall Kevin.

Round Two: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Season 1, Episode 2 “New Tricks” (B)

This was a similarly moody follow-up to the first episode, one that repeatedly made me want to reach through the screen and tell Allison how she deserved so much better than having to endure such demeaning harassment and soul-crushing judgment from everyone in her life. There were multiple moments where it seemed like she might have an ally, but her husband’s presence seemed to follow her everywhere, like in the doctor’s office that felt like it was straight out of the 1950s with the doctor offering to call her husband and at work when she wanted to confess that she had stolen the hoodie only to be called out for not trying hard enough for her husband. Kevin is so unbearably selfish that it’s hard to take him seriously, but I don’t doubt that there are less comic versions of this dynamic in many households. Even Patty wasn’t sympathetic to what Allison actually wanted, though I’m excited and intrigued by the fact that she’s leading a secret life that could explain why she’s able to make it through each day, and I’m hopeful that Allison discovering that will enable her a bit more happiness. Fantasizing about ways to kill her husband isn’t doing the trick, and she’s really great at accidentally hurting people and making enemies who could just as easily have been her friends before she gave them a bloody nose. This show leaves a strange taste, and while I’m still curious, it’s definitely not an easy or comforting watch.

Pilot Review: Kevin Can F**k Himself

Check out my one-minute take on every new pilot, which is embedded below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.