Portlandia Review: Friend Replacement (Season 7 Episode 6)

Portlandia presents the lighter side of social anxiety on Season 7 Episode 6, “Friend Replacement.”

I am socially awkward, and this episode of Portlandia really speaks to me. Not only does it realistically show some of the pitfalls, but turns them into quirky and endearing moments.

The best example is the sketch with Laurie Metcalf as Jill.

I am immediately transported into her shoes when she gets anxious about questions from her co-workers. They are seemingly innocuous questions that can bring upon innumerable awkward situations: “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

She becomes overwhelmed by her anxiety and thinks of all the worst case scenarios that could come from that “innocent” question. Being a huge worry wart, I can attest to the accuracy of her performance.

We get to revisit her later in the episode and see that she is trying an all banana diet that turns out to be unsafe. Imagine that.

Trying to think ahead to combat any awkward situations that might arise when she uses the employee restroom, she calls in a company to sound proof it.

Take a Shhh! will make sure your bathroom will keep any private bathroom noises private. They’ve been getting a lot of business since this banana diet, apparently.

Jill uses the new retrofitted bathroom with success and she get the abs she was striving towards. I am really glad Jill gets a happy ending. Maybe there’s hope for people like me.

Another social predicament is making a new friend or going to the next step with an acquaintance. Luckily, in Portlandia there is an Acquaintance Fair where one can find all of their friends of friends and casual acquaintances under one roof.

Carrie attends this fair having recently lost a friend to marriage. She peruses potential candidates. She comes away empty handed aside from learning her hair dresser may be an alcoholic and a creepy invite from a “friend collector” that she doesn’t know but looks familiar.

The invite proves to be beneficial when she meets Damian Lillard at the party. They hit it off and agree to maybe hang out.

Damian receives a new friend welcome package about Carrie. Fred gives a testimonial on what it’s like to be Carrie’s friend. “Be ready for some early breakfasts.”

I wish making new friends was like this! This is such an awesome alternative reality. I’m sure it would have it’s drawbacks, but in Portlandia it works.

Damian is convinced that he does have what it takes to be Carrie’s friends and they go shoot some hoops.

Unrelated to the social awkwardness theme are two other great sketches.

One is the return of my favorite meninists, Andy and Drew. They hold a Men’s Film Festival to celebrate the accomplishments of male filmmakers that, sadly, go unnoticed in our society.

All we hear about is women in film and Kathryn Bigelow. But, what about Brian De Palma?

Andy and Drew are going to showcase the work of men and they let the festival attendees suggest films to watch.

Drew: [draws suggestion from bowl] Point Break.
Andy: Who put that in here?
Kid: [raises his hand]
Andy: Do you know who directed Point Break, buddy?
Kid: No.
Drew: Kathryn Bigelow.
Andy: Kathryn Bigelow.
Kid: It’s a good movie.

These two characters continually point out double standards and sexism in such a hilarious way. I am thrilled that we have seen so much of them this season and this film festival bit is a great addition.

The B-52s make an appearance in a sketch about an elaborate box set. Music lover Ghavin breaks into this mother of all box sets and finds treasure upon treasure ending with none other than the band itself in miniature in a miniature love shack.

Ghavin: Are you guys bobbleheads?
Kate Pierson: We can bobble our heads but we’re not bobbleheads.
Ghavin: Can you act like bobbleheads?
The B-52s: [bobble their heads]

This episode is like that box set full of unexpected surprises and delights.

Stray Observations:

• Some TV shows that Andy and Drew think should be about men: Murder He Wrote, The Golden Guys, and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Man
• Fred Armisen plays Ghavin so perfectly. That is absolutely how die-hard music buffs listen to music.
• “You’re like a professional plus one.”
• Wedding invitations are getting out of control. Why are there so many inserts? I really love how they portrayed this strange trend.
• “It’ll take man power, in a literal sense.”
• Again, I want to stress how great Laurie Metcalf is in this episode.

What did you think of this episode of Portlandia? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Portlandia airs Thursdays at 10/9c on IFC.

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