Mr. Corman Review: Action Adventure (Season 1 Episode 5)

Mr. Corman Season 1 Episode 5, “Action Adventure,” examines the trappings of social media obsession and toxic dude-bro behavior with a not-pointless Halloween episode.

This episode starts off sunny and optimistic with the holiday shaping up to be a fun night but ends on a rather dark note. Such is the way of Mr. Corman with its genre-busting ways and unpredictability. There is an ideal balance of the ordinary and the fantastic in every episode. 

It brings out the anxieties of the main character, but also gives almost entire episodes over to the side characters. And it works every time.

Exposing the intrapersonal by using genre, like in the musical motif on Mr. Corman Season 1 Episode 3, “Happy Birthday,” and artful, cinematic elements, adds an invaluable equalizer. The mundane can become extraordinary and anxieties can morph into an action adventure sequence.

The fantasy portion takes place in Dax’s head when he’s knocked out in a post-party brawl. It’s an epic battle, Street Fighter-style, very much in the same vein as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. It’s flashy and over-the-top just like Dax, brought to life in an energetic performance by rapper Logic who we saw briefly on the first episode, “Good Luck.” 

Josh (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Dax, and Victor (Arturo Castro) get to be the action heroes in this world who take down the villainous dude-bros—the leader, who was established as terrible earlier when Josh encountered him at the bar, is appropriately costumed as the Joker from Joker.

This detail plays off another detail of the Instagram celebrity that Dax aspires to be like dressed as a court jester-type joker, which is a brilliant comment on influencers and content creators. Dax openly admits that he desperately wants the attention and anonymous love from strangers, that everything is about the numbers and the hype—how many followers and likes one can acquire and the pursuit of the holy grail of going viral.

This episode makes something that is rather depressing into entertaining yet introspective fare—a cautionary tale of sorts, especially considering Dax’s fate. He achieves that internet stardom he worked so hard for but only in death. But, hey, he paid it forward, getting Victor to 500 Insta followers by being tagged in the last photo of Dax, who the masses love now that he is gone.

Mr. Corman mixes subtle social commentary into its storytelling in imaginative ways with fine touches that connect to other parts of the story and point to broader themes. 

Such as the theme of disappointment. “Action Adventure” succeeds in portraying what disappointment feels like. After Josh gets the art teacher’s number, he drives home, singing, blissfully on cloud nine only to be met with a grumpy roommate at home. 

Josh and Victor have a brief spat, but then decide to go out together to celebrate Halloween and the possibility of Josh meeting up with Ms. Perry-Geller (Amanda Crew). They walk out of the apartment with confidence, Victor dressed as Batman (which gives me major Ben Wyatt as Batman vibes) and Josh as Arrow, the dog from the fable within Harry Nilsson’s album, The Point! (which is explained adorably during Josh and the art teacher’s flirt fest).

They get to the club and that confidence fizzles out as they wait in a huge queue to get in. Enjoying the night is met with annoying social obstacles and having to navigate through the Sims-like environment. One room consists of Princess Peach making out with Mario and a bunch of Green Marios sitting around, dejectedly.

As enjoyable as the show is, I have often wondered what the point of the story was. Each episode is like a fable, similar to Nilsson’s album, which narratively emphasizes that even the pointless have a point. But you can’t look to society to tell you what the point is, you must look inside yourself.

That is what Mr. Corman seems to be—a series of moments in the lives of ordinary people trying to figure out the point of their existence. And as for the show itself, it entertains and makes you think, and that will always be a valid point.

Extra Credit:

• It’s nice being back in the classroom. The school fight video the kids are watching on a phone is a clever harbinger of what is to come. 
• The visual of the giant inflatable cat deflating is fittingly symbolic.
• What is going on when Josh sees homelessness? I hope these moments have a good payoff. 
• The production design on this episode is incredible and Emmy-worthy.

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

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