Corporate Season 3 Review: Beautiful Chaos
We all have stories of bad jobs from over the years. Some are too stressful for their own good, some are too boring, and some just don’t have your best intentions at heart over profit.
Luckily, Comedy Central has tied all three into one with Corporate, the Pat Bishop, Matt Ingebretson, and Jake Weisman-created show that finds itself going into its third and final season with a determined eye on tearing down not only the corporate structure, but anyone who finds themselves within its radius.
Photo Credit: Comedy Central
The third season feels as though Corporate has said most of what it needed to say about Hampton DeVille the company, and so it is more interested in developing comedy from the people who suffer there day-to-day.
The biting commentary on the workplace is still there, but the show looks to be more interested in deconstructing its characters with this last run. No one is safe from the writing’s scrutiny, and the episodes cleverly play on their weaknesses and insecurities to both say something about their environment and their life choices.
But it’s also deconstructing our obsessions on a broader scale, as well. Work gossip and surveys are some of the season’s most masterful moments, and while the streaming craze and depression are subjects that lead to some incredibly funny moments, they don’t quite have the feeling of firing on all cylinders like other episodes.
Photo Credit: Comedy Central
The cast still remains one of the most underrated on TV, every single performer nailing both the absurdist satire and the crushing character dress-down that fills every moment.
Some pairings that haven’t really happened on previous seasons prove to be the most rewarding here, like Anne Dudek’s Kate and Aparna Nancherla’s Grace. Their scenes together during the third episode are some of the most fun and delightful of the season, not only for how funny it is, but for how relatable they are.
Matt Ingebretson and Jake Weisman continue to be pitch-perfect as the main duo of Corporate, and these six episodes are finding them at an interesting crossroad of somewhat accepting their place in their own version of hell.
Photo Credit: Comedy Central
They may not be happy about it, but that doesn’t seem to matter anymore. It’s a dark idea, acceptance of their pain, but it proves to be a great resource for digging into their idiosyncrasies and seeing how they are willing to push through the madness they face on the daily.
When Ingebretson can play with optimism and doubt so well, and Weisman can tap into an unending darkness so well, it’s best to lean into that and dig as deep as possible, leading to some of the season’s most interesting moments (Jake especially so, where we tear back the curtain on his psyche quite a bit).
Adam Lustick’s John may be the most fascinating character of the bunch, especially with Lustick’s absolute enthusiasm to the bit. The episode most focused on John gives Lustick so many moments to shine, and rises to the occasion every time with a fascinating mixture of excitement and concern.
Photo Credit: Comedy Central
Lance Reddick’s Christian DeVille becomes the unflinching highlight of the season, with his brilliantly straight man performance breaking just enough to show the chaos that lay underneath.
Several episodes allow for him to break out and deliver on the madness of an egomaniac business leader with delusions of world domination, and shows not only a strange depth to the character, but gives Reddick a lot more to do than previous seasons.
For its third season, Corporate is undeniably still at the top of its game. Even when something doesn’t land, which is rare, there’s a visual gag or a character’s expression to snap things back into place instantly. For a final run of six episodes, this is a wonderful cap to the madness the corporate structure has gone through on our TV screens.
It’s sad to see this gem go, but it is going out strong, and it’s going out swinging.
Are you excited for the new season of Corporate? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Corporate airs Wednesdays at 10:30/9:30c on Comedy Central.
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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.