Kevin Can F**k Himself Review: New Patty (Season 1 Episode 5)

Kevin Can F**k Himself Season 1 Episode 5, “New Patty,” is the equivalent of Allison kicking a potted plant down the stairs in triumph. This show talks a big game, but it’s yet to commit to any big swings.

This is not because Allison refuses to follow through with murdering her husband, and it is not because Allison herself is incapable of taking big swings. Both aspects complement the progressing story well.

This show, however, cannot continue to swerve away from the building chaos in favour of safe conflict. The same conflict that pushes our domesticated housewife to the brink of insanity yet doesn’t feel comfortable upsetting the male comedy in the meantime.

Allison’s progression has been exhilarating to watch as she steps outside her comfort zone and takes revenge on those that have been dragging her down. Quitting her toxic job and stealing lipstick in defiance of the snobby beauty shop ladies all play into this dangerous form of empowerment.

Her taste of freedom through defiance is a loaded gun waiting to go off, and loaded guns can be a great tool for a slower-paced drama to wave around.

All these microaggressions certainly feel as if they are building to bigger conflict; the kind of chaotic genre-crumbling mayhem this grounded premise can get away with. Yet just as the episode starts to build promising momentum, Allison ditches her overdose plan and decides to start back at square one.

Not only is Kevin’s escalating ego continuing to go unchecked, but the payback this season has discussed is thrown out in favour of more tedious discussion.

Allison taking her own life into her hands is worth nothing if she’s still willing to come home every night and let Kevin shame her for it. Nothing about their unchanging dynamic is willing to generate interesting conflict, and it’s weighing everything down.

The storyline between Allison and Sam is the exact opposite problem.

It is a conflict that has the ability to put Allison’s manic behaviours and this show’s escalating dynamics to good use. Instead, this steamy addition does none of that.

It’s difficult to be a fan of a romance involving two married people screwing in secret. Understandably, Allison’s quest to break from the wife trope will cause her to become an antagonist to herself. However, nothing about their affair makes you want to root for them.

The bigger issue is that this cheating storyline adds nothing to the plot. Sam is really only present to offer Allison a job at the diner after she impulsively quits her job. Their escapades in the backroom feel like unnecessary filler until the episode is ready to progress to that conversation.

It’s not as if Sam wouldn’t have offered Allison the job anyway, and it’s not like we can find enjoyment in his wife’s crumbling marriage.

“New Patty” is still clever. The title beautifully encompasses both sides of this show with a new Patty replacement infiltrating Kevin’s group, and Patty starting a new chapter of her life.

That connection allows both worlds to co-exist much more effortlessly and for Patty to navigate them from a refreshed perspective. She’s often following Allison through the door and into the next genre, allowing the flow between comedy and drama to be nearly seamless at times.

This episode’s ability to hold our attention does have help from flashy cameos. I mean you have Jeremy Jamm from Parks and Recreation (played by Jon Glaser) bringing his signature douchery to the comedy bits and then as if things could get weirder, The Penguin shows up.

Alas, this isn’t actually a Gotham crossover, but including Robin Lord Taylor in the gritty drama to escalate tensions is rather brilliant.

He was teased early in the season and Nick’s menacing return is certainly paying off. It wouldn’t be a small-town drug epidemic if there wasn’t one sketchy guy everyone assumes is down for murder.

Allison and Patty’s reluctant alliance continues to be this show’s best feature.

Patty’s drug dealing storyline may not work with Allison’s murder plot, but the connection between them is more than enough to embrace the overlap.

This episode is once again well spent with the two women having an honest discussion about Kevin. There’s some particularly great dialogue shared at the kitchen table as Patty tells Allison she isn’t capable of killing her husband and Allison tells her point-blank that she knows she’s is. It’s powerful and it grabs your attention.

They may not be besties but that’s the beauty of a developing relationship. These women are learning to put each other first over the men in their lives. Their conversations are rough, catty, and even cruel when pushed; but evolving into something deeper nonetheless.

Patty’s Kevin-fueled decision to assist Allison in her murder plot opens the door for some intriguing shenanigans, as does her date with the detective that could very well be a date.

It’s difficult to gauge just how much this show is actually saying about the sitcom wife when it continuously chooses to sacrifice story in favour of keeping the husband comfortable on his comedy pedal stool.

That said, the women of this series are no doubt front and centre for this ride, and the unwavering bond between Allison and Patty continues to prove Kevin Can F**k Himself is capable of delivering on its female-driven premise.

Here’s hoping this new diner job and the promise of a violent true-crime level murder plot plunge this season into a blazing fire of messy chaos before it can simmer out.

What did you think of this episode of Kevin Can F**k Himself? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Kevin Can F**k Himself airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

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