10. The Actor (s1e11)
Do they, Gandalf?
The tragedy of Murray continues. In many ways the spiritual sequel to “What Goes on Tour,” this episode shows the heights of Murray’s optimism when things are going well and he doesn’t have to devote any energy to rationalizing his hope. And it’s excruciating. Will Forte is fun enough as Ben the semi-professional actor, but more than anything he’s rage-inducing, one of a thousand wannabe New York actors who dares toy with Murray’s happiness and won’t even accept responsibility for his actions. A lot like “Tour,” the humor of the episode is almost overwhelmed by the pathos of the situation. It’s wonderfully offset by the end-credits sequence — a scene from Ben’s stunningly real big break role in Dry Cleaner, opposite John Turturro.
9. Love Is a Weapon of Choice (s2e6)
Was her name Brahbrah? / No I think it was Barbara / Her name was Brahbrah / It was Barbara! There’s no such name as Brahbrah!
Kristen Wiig guest stars as Brahbrah, one of the show’s more bizarre characters and the object of Bret and Jemaine’s undying affection. With a missing dog that she used to dress up and sneak into parties, Brahbrah is a nice balance of perplexed by Bret and Jemaine’s antics and pretty off the rails herself. While Bret and Jemaine’s transformations into each other are fun, the episode’s greatest punches all come at the end in quick succession, as the strobe light remix at the epileptic dog benefit concert sends every dog present into fits, Brahbrah reveals that she would have spent much more time with Bret if she hadn’t thought he was gay, and running gag of misheard words (Bret simply cannot get past saying “pepileptic”) pays off when she exasperatedly explains to Jemaine that her name is not Barbara. It’s a barrage of satisfying and hilarious conclusions that are all then outdone by Bret and Brahbrah’s final, understated conversation as they walk off into the night. How long has Charlie the dog been missing? Seven years. It’s easy to miss and wonderful context for the rest of the episode. Even as desperate for love as Bret is, a date with Brahbrah is presumably too much, and she’s never seen again.
8. Drive By (s1e7)
I had a budgie but it died / Whoa-oh-oh / I like pie
A very special episode in which the Conchords learn about prejudice at the hands of a virtually unknown Aziz Ansari. There’s a very nice payoff when what’s played for most of the episode as straight racism (or xenophobia, rather) resolves into a big misunderstanding. Aziz has New Zealanders confused with Australians, and everybody hates Australians. It’s a lovely dissolution of conflict as the three unite in prejudice against a common enemy. While we may not be interested in learning about Australia beyond the gross stereotypes, we do get an intriguing look into New Zealand culture with Murray’s “dvd” of local programming. Bonus points if you spot Taika Waititi, who also wrote and directed the episode, doing an advertisement for the hot new New Zealand technology, “the phone.” Points off if you’re one of the people who commented on that video that you thought it was a real commercial.
7. Bret Gives Up the Dream (s1e2)
She’s so hot she’s making me sexist / …Bitch
The other episode in which Bret and Jemaine are destitute, “Dream” is a much simpler and, I would say, purer take on the problem. Rather than selling their bodies, Bret and Jemaine just… look for jobs. It’s not an innately funny formula, the way two misguided and sweet men trying to become prostitutes is, but that works to the episode’s benefit. The humor comes from the inevitable divide, as Jemaine focuses on the band (which is actually better without Bret) and Bret focuses on his job, but only to impress a girl. It’s a long-running joke that Bret doesn’t actually like the band, and his willingness to give it up (as well as his easy replaceability) are great.
6. The Tough Brets (s2e3)
The day after my birthday is not my birthday, mum
With perhaps the finest song of the second season, “Hurt Feelings” (still alive and well in the new HBO special with a euphoric addendum about Bret’s love of the film Dirty Grandpa) this episode is a delightfully Conchords-style take on gangster rap, dwelling inordinately on the emotional toll of dissing other rappers. Out of the childlike mind of Murray, who’s worried Bret hurt Missy Elliott’s feelings when he said she was “not very good” during his set in the public library, and exacerbated by Dave, who knows how gangs work in America and heard about a guy who got his whole body chopped off, the episode’s plot finds a bizarre middle ground in which Bret starts his own gang. While the Tough Brets are fun, the real gold comes from Mel and her sensual, powerful painting of Jemaine that he’s too cripplingly polite to refuse. In an episode that’s so diss-centric, their proud parade around the block to show off the painting to what appear to be real strangers is cringingly adorable.
5. Murray Takes It to the Next Level (s2e4)
My uncle John had a special friend / They dressed alike. His name was Ben / I’ve never seen two friends like them / They were very very friendly men
Flight of the Conchords featured a slew of famous guest stars in its short run, but the award for Best Guest goes to Jim Gaffigan as Jim, Murray’s one friend. Jim is a weirdo and there’s no denying it, but even though his idea of conversation is a constant barrage of questions, there’s something wonderfully endearing about him, and it’s hard to see him so rebuffed by the Conchords. As he points out himself, he put in the effort to be friends with Bret and Jemaine. He asked questions. He tried. He’s the perfect fit for Murray, really, with his unflagging and tiresome optimism. It’s adorable to see Murray completely at ease with his one friend, especially tempered by Bret and Jemaine’s distaste for him. In an expert stroke, our heroes never actually reconcile with Jim, and Murray’s attempt to expand his friend circle is deemed a failure. No walls are broken down, no lessons are learned, and two brands of nice weirdness are found to be completely incompatible. The episode ends with a rousing celebration of friendship, sung by two sets of people who don’t want to be together. It’s undeniably sweet and very, very funny.
4. Sally (s1e1)
Spendin’ part of your time modelin’ / And part of your time next to me
The very first episode of the show, “Sally” comes in swinging. Flight of the Conchords songs tend to fall into one of two categories: genre parody and wordy humor. Both are very funny, but I have much more appreciation for the latter, and this episode boasts what may be the three best, word humoriest songs in the whole discography: “The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room),” “Not Crying,” and “Robots.” It’s almost a shame they’re not more spread out, but it’s a wise choice to front-load the season with them for the sake of coming in as strongly as possible. On top of being remarkably clever, the songs also establish the show’s two great themes: finding love and making it as a band, with the two higher quality, more surreal “emotional” songs juxtaposed well with the miserably low budget and very bizarre “Robots” music video, an example of the Conchords’ in-universe talents. It lays it all out in very clear but delightfully unusual terms, and it’s a fantastic start.
3. Mugged (s1e3)
They call me the Hiphopopotamus / My lyrics are bottomless / ….. / …..
One of the show’s most pervasive jokes is the naivety of New Zealanders, especially against the harsh backdrop of New York City. This plays best of all in “Mugged,” in which Murray leads Bret and Jemaine down the same fateful path as all of their countrymen, armed with maps and reflective vests and avoiding crowds by sticking to dark alleyways. They are promptly held up by two hard as nails but slightly disorganized muggers in whom they see themselves. Jemaine is arrested and Bret thinks he may be dead (maybe he did, maybe he didn’t), but their interactions with criminals John and Mickey don’t end there. Too nice to know better, they wind up befriending their attackers, going out to dinner with one and swapping advice and camera phones with the other. In an episode that’s so much about trust (both Jemaine and John are abandoned by the men they thought were their best friends) it’s a lovely touch. Even lovelier are the constant reminders of how out of their element Bret and Jemaine are. The contrast begins with a spirited and extremely tough rap that cuts to them denying that they were “dancin’ a little bit.” It ends with Mickey declining their offer to get a slice of pizza because he’s going to a white supremacist gig that “gonna be awesome.” Ever polite, our heroes deflect that they’re probably just going to stick with the pizza…
2. New Fans (s1e10)
Oh Pretty Prince of Parties / Where do you get your clothes? / They’re made of snow / Pretty party clothes crocheted of snow
Some of the funniest interactions in Flight of the Conchords come from the clash between Bret and Jemaine’s earnest and naive politeness and Mel’s earnest and violent obsessiveness. Kristen Schaal is effervescent as the band’s one (true) fan, and she shines the brightest in this deep and disturbing dive into her home life. Her story about how she and Doug met, only hinted at before, is downright horrifying. And it’s heartbreaking since it’s clear that Doug, now conquered, is old news. But it’s almost possible to feel sorry for Mel when Bret and Jemaine bring dates to her private dinner party and bail early when they realize sex might be in the cards. It’s a lovely balance to strike, with our heroes too in over their heads to be capable of any real vindictiveness. It’s a little bit of a relief, honestly, when the two fake fans have abandoned them and they apologize to Mel in the newly-discovered live video feed of their bedroom. Does anyone really deserve our pity in the end? Yes. It’s Doug. Definitely Doug.
1. Bowie (s1e6)
That’s pretty freaky, Bowie
Sometimes it’s obvious that the songs came before the show, and there’s maybe no time it’s more obvious than with “Bowie’s in Space,” a journey through the evolving musical style of David Bowie. But while other episodes will have a line or two to introduce a song, usually shoehorning them in to great comic effect, “Bowie” makes its introduction an entire subplot. Without bending the rules of reality (it’s all part of Bret’s freaky dream) it swerves heavily into the nonsense of the situation, as Jemaine-as-Bowie enters Bret’s subconscious to teach him the value of self-confidence. A lot happens in this episode — Murray secures a genuinely good opportunity for the band, Jemaine makes an alarming confession about a shared night in a motel room (in the excellent “Bret, You Got It Goin’ On), and Bret exposes his lightning bolt-adorned penis to John Hodgman. But in the end, it’s all just buildup so dream-Bowie can announce that he’s going to a party… in space. Cue the music. It’s perfect.
Related Topics: Bret McKenzie, Comedy, Flight of the Conchords, HBO, Jemaine Clement
