Review: 2 Broke Girls ‘And the New Boss’ – What The Hell Is Going On Here?

Surprisingly enough, there was potential in the plot of tonight’s 2 Broke Girls episode ‘And The New Boss’ – potential of course, that was never realized. But for a few minutes, I actually found myself entertained by the misadventures of Caroline and Max…  I’m willing to admit I even laughed a few times.
Predictably, it was all in pursuit of another terribly constructed resolution, completely ignorant to the gold character material they were sitting on. Ultimately, ‘And The New Boss’ was 2BG at its best: a few funny jokes, a somewhat competent plot for two acts, and a super lazy conclusion.

The biggest thing ‘And The New Boss’ has going for it is a lower percentage of jokes that feel completely forced: most notably, Max’s “I’m a slut with no redeeming value” personality and the constant cum jokes are mostly put on hold (save for Oleg’s response to Caroline’s question about choking; “I just step back a few inches) and Max is exposed as someone who is uncomfortable with the idea of an employee who works for free. There’s a rough sketch of a contrast drawn out between Max and Caroline’s attitudes on having an intern, but basically boil down to “Max isn’t strong enough to be a leader because she feels too much.”

But that would’ve been ok if the material around it had set up some kind of conflict between Max and Caroline – not only is there some class humor to be played out with Caroline’s acceptance of treating interns like slave labor (though not with the black jokes we get from Earl) and the connection Max feels to cheap laborers (no matter how bad they are at working, or how naturally resentful Max would be of an upper class intern who didn’t work for her opportunities). Of course, this would mean the scene at the dumpster would’ve needed to have a meaningful resolution to an interesting conflict between the two main characters, AND giving Max a true foundation for her believing in herself for something non-sexual – to which the writers say “no, fuck it, let’s make Max think she’s a strong business woman (by firing someone) because she can lift a metal fence with the weight of one arm!”

But this would involve a competency 2 Broke Girls has never shown: any interesting conflict between the two protagonists is deflected off onto a character who doesn’t say much more than “Really?” an easy target – and not to mention a SUPER lazy commentary on the privileged upper-class business intern. The show doesn’t even bother to try and give Max and Caroline a “we’re strong women who can do shit” attitude: every time they’re faced with work, they either make fun of each other for making an effort or try to pawn it off on the intern…. in reality, these girls haven’t even earned the progress they share smiles about in the end of the episode – they’ve done nothing but fire a selfish intern, who Max couldn’t boss around because she didn’t realize she could pick up a fence with one arm.

That is what we call lazy folks. And to honor that laziness, I’m skipping paragraphs for the rest of the review, and doing it up note-style. It looks like there will be a juicy doubleheader next week (with one episode titled “And The Big Opening”, which DEFINITELY means jokes about Max’s vagina), so I’m sure things will return to their normal level of incoherency.

Grade: C-

Other thoughts/observations:

– This episode could’ve been SO much better if the intern actually signaled “we’re getting ready to start a business and get serious” and not “we can’t handle rats, so let’s hire someone for free to do it.”

– Max fires a woman named Ruth to prove she’s a little more RUTH-less. How dare they use the powers of wit!

– the closest the show comes to anything meaningful is Max saying “I’m the one who’s supposed to be fired.” but ten seconds later, we’re tossing rats around while the studio audience giggles away.

– A half-grade boost for the best Oleg/Sophie scene in recent memory. Her comments about their lack of a business were actually quite amusing (“I don’t want to interfere with your business… but what the hell is going on here?”). Keeping Oleg quiet is definitely the way to go: he’s much funnier when he just struts in his sweaty suits and lets his actions do the talking. Also, no Polish jokes is a major plus.

– Beth Behrs is so game for physical comedy, but the bits always carry on too long to really be comedic.

– autism jokes? not funny (and it ruined an amusing Beth Behrs physical bit). Earl getting imprisoned for racism? also not funny.

– the Caroline sex scene is really awkward. it goes from romantic and kind of funny (“I’m pretty good at this”) to forced in that 2 Broke Girls way (super loud screams out of nowhere, which lead to orgy and enema jokes).

– is it bad that I think Han’s pronunciation of ‘Caroline’ is funny?

what did you think of tonight’s episode? Feel free to leave your thoughts/comments below!