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Flawless run cover-to-cover, high highs, no lows.
(A few weeks later, Vulture namedThe ComebackandBoJackas two of the decadesindisputable classics.
Game recognize game.)
So stop the presses!
Below, Raphael Bob-Waksberg makes his case forThe Comebackseason two as the best show of the 2010s.
And I say, Yougetto see season one.
But I cant think of another relaunched show that comes back better than when it went away.
Season two is so canny about the world we live in now or, I guess, in 2014.
When I think of the show, I think about the cruelty of the world and the industry.
Humanity finds a way.
I think about this show a lot.
Michael Scott and the AmericanOffice,that comes a little closer.
But on both versions ofThe Office,you have Tim and Dawn or Jim and Pam.
Those are the people youre rooting for.
Shes the person youre with.
She is going to be difficult.
She is going to be hungry and desperate in a way that makes you uncomfortable.
She is going to have outdated ideas about comedy and pop culture that make you roll your eyes.
Shes going to say the wrong thing and make other people feel uncomfortable.
Thats a very difficult tightrope to walk.
Its Lisas incredible performance that allows you to see those cracks in the facade.
Its a master class for any actor.
I also think its beautifully written.
I love the arc of the second season.
The main thing is shes making this show and the behind-the-scenes documentary.
The B story running is her difficulty with her marriage with Mark.
And then, on a C level, is her relationship with her hairdresser Mickey.
Whats interesting is, as the season progresses, the stakes of those stories shift.
Its a really interesting way to structure a season.
Rewatching the penultimate episode,her fight with Mark outside the restaurantsticks in my memory so much.
The No one believed in you except for me and Im not no one exchange is just so powerful.
I was shocked, on the rewatch, that thats only halfway through the episode!
I assumed thats the climax.
But no, that happens and then she has to go to a press junket the next day.
Which is just such a ballsy way to structure an episode!
Its about her having to continue to live in this life around this thing happening to her.
I love writing arguments between people.
And the whole season is structured beautifully in that I do understand both characters in this disintegrating marriage.
But I also understand why Valeries doing the things that shes doing.
When they fight, it feels like a real fight because theyre both correct.
Him saying, No one believed in you except for me, thats not a mean thing!
Thats him saying, I believe in you.
But of course, thats not how she hears it.
And its so tragic and beautiful.
The Comebackmight be the biggest singular influence onBoJack.
Its not too funny, its not too serious.The Comebackshows that the opposite is true.
Were just going to sit in this really uncomfortable feeling now.
Maybe its funny to you, or maybe its just sad.
Either way, thats okay.
Were not gonna tell you how to feel about it.
It takes our character the entire season to internalize that message and come to that same conclusion themselves.
I dont know if BoJackeverdoes, actually.
But certainly Valerie does.
And the suspicion of it, but not an outright denial of it, is also a thread.
We also see what she gets out of it and how it enriches her.
They nail the ending.
I cant imagine any other version of it.
The Mickey story is done, unfortunately.
I dont know how much story youre going to get out of Valerie and Mark.
And the Paulie G story feels like its done.
What would young women now make of Valerie Cherish, and what would she make of them?
How would they treat each other or act around each other?
You could do a whole season on that!
I feel like theres always more stories to tell about this character.
I just want to spend more time in this world with this character and this actress and these writers.
I hope we have not seen the last of her.
I hope Lisa feels like,Ive gotta do another one of these.
Her fans are demanding it!
