American Auto Season 2 Episode 11 Review: Funeral

American Auto Season 2 Episode 11, “Funeral,” zeroes in on Team Payne attending a funeral, where they discover their jobs hang in the balance no thanks to the company’s shareholders. Naturally, things take a turn for the worst while cast in the morbid light of death. 

It’s a step up from last week’s fare, with “Funeral” decisively raising the narrative stakes for our crew. Now, their very livelihoods are on the line. How will they weasel their way out of this sticky situation? The episode boasts brilliant comedic performances across the board. 

SADIE: I think I bought it for a candlelight vigil back when Heath Ledger died. 

This strong ensemble and the general sense of chaos are where American Auto shines. In addition, the cleverly written montages, usually featuring the team working in tandem toward a common goal, are a staple of this series. “Funeral” harbors its own montage, with our leads coordinating to ensure the shareholders retain their stock. It’s hilarious. 

Ana Gasteyer doles out hysterical work as she leans into Katherine’s penchant for overconfidence and perpetually inserting her foot in her mouth. Michael Benjamin Washington is the King of Acerbic Wit, offering up Cyrus’s sarcasm like he was born to do it. Everything from his vocal inflections to his physicality and even the way he pauses mid-dialogue is brilliant and elicits plenty of laughs. 

Harriet Dyer is the Queen of Awkward, playing up Sadie’s inherent awkwardness to humorous results. Notably when her dress slowly falls apart throughout the funeral, and she proceeds to stuff the gaps with flowers. Another fun moment is when she turns to Cyrus and asks him, devoid of emotion, if the tear in her dress is noticeable. 

CYRUS: Does he know he’s singing about wanting to f**k his grandpa? 

Christopher Chen returns as Jin, and “Funeral” allows him to shine tremendously. While Jin incessantly criticizes Katherine’s leadership and tries to frame himself as superior to his former coworkers (save Sadie), he proves he’s just as off-the-wall as them. 

Because the narrative stakes are much higher than last week’s throwaway episode, “Funeral” feels more important in the grand scheme of things. However, now that Wesley has purchased his family’s shares and the company is effectively saved, it leaves the series room to play with other potential plot threats. 

We only have two episodes left in the season, and the possibilities are endless. This series might not be on the level as comedic giants like The Office or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (two vastly different shows, style-wise). Still, it’s slowly carving its own corner in the comedy landscape. 

JACK: What else did he leave you? 

WINNIE: Um, hemophilia. 

“Funeral” showcases the strengths of American Auto‘s supremely talented cast while propelling the narrative and injecting its own unique twist into a morbid setting. It’s always a blast watching how low these characters will stoop to achieve their desires. Sometimes, that includes talking about money in front of Grandpa’s dead body. 

Stray Observations: 

• Cyrus is a crafty person who will even work overtime at a funeral to feed his ambitions. I love that for him. 
• I know the funeral attendees are Payne shareholders and higher-ups, but I would’ve loved to see Dori and Elliot mingle among the crowd. Elliot could’ve provided legal advice when the team discussed that new partnership with Jin, while Dori would’ve been her badass self. Plus, Elliot is 50 shades of awkward. 
• Ike Barinholtz is always a welcome addition to any sitcom. The Barinholtz brothers should create and star in their own series at some point. 
• There’s nothing like schmoozing at a funeral. The atmosphere is perfect for it. 
• Wesley has quoted Austin Powers before. It’s a little surprising he didn’t think of his password sooner because of that. 

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

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American Auto airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on NBC, with next-day streaming on Peacock.

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