Avenue 5 Review: He’s Only There to Stop His Skeleton From Falling Over (Season 1 Episode 5)
A halfway home party when there’s still three years to go may sound like a bad idea, and it really is on Avenue 5 Season 1 Episode 5, “He’s Only There To Stop His Skeleton From Falling Over.”
Something the show consistently handles well is absolute chaos, and this episode continues that but dialed up to eleven. A bunch of passengers stuck together with alcohol and pent-up frustration and anger is a recipe for disaster, but none more so than Frank.
Frank Kelly has gone from side character to public enemy number one, and Andy Buckley plays that confusion incredibly well. The simple press of a button becoming the catalyst for everyone’s rage, especially when the button isn’t connected to anything, is the kind of thing that makes Avenue 5 a fun study of how quickly people can place blame on someone under pressure.
Frank has mostly been Karen’s sidekick and voice of support before, but now that’s he disliked across the ship, his emasculated position in the new community leaves him a strange villain of sorts. He’s placing his own frustration on Captain Clark, as that same emasculation leaves him wondering if Karen may abandon him for Clark.
To be fair, he may be right, the way Karen appreciates Clark’s turtleneck game. With the way the entire ship is ready to toss Frank out of the airlock, he may be fighting an uphill battle compared to Clark, who at least now still has the respect of the ship’s passengers.
But the thing about Clark is that he’s more of a mess than ever. The space walk is a wonderfully messy moment, Clark’s observations and fear becoming the best source of comedy on the episode. His comment on the valve being inconvenient outside and that it should be inside is the kind of quick aside that does this show a lot of favors, as it’s such a common sense observation that renders the moment silly.
Clark’s boost of confidence after, and Billie being the real (but ignored) hero, is a fun little dynamic. It shows that perhaps they are both a little more similar than either may want to admit, the need for fame and heroism lavished upon them. But over the course of the episode, that heroism is rewarded with being brought back down to Earth (figuratively, of course) as they realize that that high doesn’t last long.
Clark’s thruple collapses under a majority vote, and takes away his win. He’s a rather pessimistic person under such circumstances, which isn’t the kind of personality one wants the captain to have for a three-year trip. Hopefully Karen’s newfound attraction toward him, and Billie’s friendship, can help him get out of that rut in the future.
Billie, however, also lets the heroics go to her head, but at least there’s reason behind it. The fact that no one is willing to give her praise, even Clark, lies more inside Clark’s false narrative of saving Avenue 3, more than it being about her. Clark’s now viewed as a two-time hero, and so her own accomplishment and help is negated.
The party, and the descent into anger, gives plenty of time to the supporting cast, letting them stand out. Himesh Patel’s character Jordan is a brilliant idea, a comedian stuck performing on a ship void of laughter. He makes bombing on stage so painful. There’s also Matt, who continues to troll people with the kind of expertise that must take decades to perfect. Zach Woods is perfection with this role.
Avenue 5 Season 1 Episode 5, “He’s Only There To Stop His Skeleton From Falling Over,” takes away everyone’s joy by gradually reminding them that nothing has really changed. They’re all still stuck, despite the small victory, and the social standing for some may be irreparably damaged. At least Clark and Billie make a good team, as one-sided as their talent may be.
Hopefully the show keeps up this level of organized chaos, as it’s morbidly fun to watch this social experiment of people losing control.
Some stray thoughts on the episode:
- Hopefully the running gag of accidents orbiting Avenue 5 keeps going, as it’s a glorious visual gag to see all of their mistakes endlessly orbiting them.
- The White House is now located in Buffalo in this distant future. It’s curious what could possibly cause this move, and what the White House even is in this future. Have they moved the building, or built a new one? We will probably never find out, but it’s interesting.
What did you think of this episode of Avenue 5? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Avenue 5 airs Sundays at 10/9c on HBO.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.