Review: Enlisted “Pete’s Airstream” – The Black Friend Question

Coming home from war is a difficult, difficult thing: anyone (like myself) who’ve seen family members or friends return from overseas can speak to that. Forget the physical strain: the mental strain of being a soldier is incredible, an emotional switch that doesn’t simply flip off when one returns stateside. In the first two episodes of Enlisted, there were hints that All-Star Sergeant Pete Hill wasn’t quite adjusting to his new live in Rear D as smoothly as one might think – and in “Pete’s Airstream”, his struggle becomes real in a way most comedies wouldn’t attempt – and those that would, might be inclined to turn it into a Very Special Episode About Pete. “Pete’s Airstream” isn’t that, though – it’s funny, heartfelt, and subtle where other shows would become self-righteous.

What really makes “Pete’s Airstream” (which is technically the fourth or fifth episode, in terms of production order) so great is how effortlessly builds to its conclusion, paralleling Pete and Perez’s frustrations with the soldiers working beneath them, to very different ends. Perez’s is much lighter in tone, but still noteworthy: it’s nice to see a woman of authority who doesn’t get judged or ridiculed for her professional approach. Enlisted doesn’t try to paint Perez as the sex-starved workaholic: she’s just a woman who is dedicated to her job, and seeing her make some friends and maintain her authority without turning her into some distraught, emotional female stereotype (her standing on Pete’s trailer and howling is one of the funniest moments of the show so far, finally allowing Angelique Caral some agency to flex her comedic muscles).

However, the real focus of the episode is Pete, right from the opening sequence: after Pete talks about living in a tent for three years, he moves directly into a secluded trailer on the edge of base, pushing away the friendly advances of the people around him. Unlike Perez, it’s not about any kind of professional line being drawn: Pete just wants to be alone, for reasons he’s not even able to comprehend. It’s not until the Gossip King (the ever-hilarious Sgt. Major Cody) shows up the next morning that Pete’s able to recognize it: Derek and Randy might be well-meaning brothers, but with their lack of combat experience, they’re in no position to understand why Pete is being so stand-offish (especially Randy, who takes the news as hard as one might expect him to… now who will wash his back in the shower?). Only a man who’s gone through combat can understand the psychological after-effects of that experience – and even though Cody nor the rest of Pete’s company can comprehend what’s going on between his ears, they’ll be there to support him, leading to the episode’s touching closing moments.

“Pete’s Airstream” is an episode that shows a comedy coming into its own, giving minor characters some hilarious bits of dialogue and character (like anything Mort says) around its core narratives, which in themselves are poignant little stories about embracing those around us, even when it feels like it’s the last thing we should (or in some cases, want) to do. We all need friends to get us out of our own heads sometimes: and that includes soldiers, an oft-overlooked part of taking care of our soldiers when they return home for their journeys. We can prepare for the worst (like sinkholes, nightmares, and mole people attacks) – but the scariest things are those we can’t prepare for, the feelings and situations that spring out of nowhere and turn our biggest strengths into weaknesses. In those moments, we all need family: and boy, is Enlisted building a strong family (and quickly).

Grade: A-

Other thoughts/observations:

– I’m hoping there’s a Derrick-centric episode coming up: it’s been hard to get a gauge on his character, outside of pot-stirrer.

– there’s a little too much reliance on cutaway gags for laughs in the first three episodes, but there are a number of bits in “Pete’s Airstream” that show promise for a more active, present form of comedy (like everything Randy says or does… “PETEPETEPETPETPETPETPETE… I got here as fast as I could.”)

– another great little metaphor: Perez is preparing the town for sinkholes, while Pete is stuck in the one sinkhole nobody prepares for – his own mind.

– Naked Randy doesn’t know whether to sit or stand: “I’ll split the difference.”

– “Hello, Sgt. Hill, my name is Randy Hill. I like football, sharks, and spending time with my brother.”

– Mort’s big plan: open a Koreauban food truck. I think he’s got a much brighter future as a Jamaican (Jamort!!!).