STROLLING WITH EPISODE SEVEN OF HAPPYISH

E7 Grade: C+

“Starring Daniel Ogilvy, Anton Chekov and Gluten Enteropathy” is an eclectic title that hardly means a thing, beginning with the subject of what every episode should be named after; and after yet another shot at the reliable Jesus Scapegoat, we venture into one of the more Outside the Box episodes of an overly claustrophobic study of a neurotic New York couple who have problems with just about every concept. It’s to the point where main character Thom Payne, played by Steve Coogan, is so sarcastic it’s difficult to tell if and when (and why on Earth) he’s genuinely perturbed. 

Technically, there are several things for his character, an Ad Man in the modern era, to complain about – but as the old saying goes, “We should only have your problems.” Many out there wouldn’t be repulsed while working with director Rob Reiner, even if his commercial idea sucks worse than NORTH. So trying to sympathize with Thom is like imagining the bedroom Jacuzzi not completely warm when you get home from an afternoon stroll. Meanwhile, Thom’s wife Lee is once again trying to keep their son content at school, and, realizing he’s smarter than a whip, she cracks more smiles than we’ve seen thus far… Giving Episode 7 a brighter outlook than usual, and the characters seem like they’re actually going somewhere... or that they really want to.