Larry David never learns his lesson. In the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” which aired its season finale on HBO Max this past Sunday, David sticks to the ridiculous humor that brought him success on “Seinfeld”. Playing a fictional version of himself, David’s loose filter and stubbornness lands him in difficult situations from poorly timed jokes about colostomy bags to accidentally giving Bruce Springsteen COVID-19, resulting in public judgment of his character.
The final season continues the “Curb” tradition of welcoming an all-star cast to play small roles in the show including Steve Buscemi, Lori Loughlin, Bruce Springsteen and more. The celebrities’ appearance and their character add a refreshing boost by adding one more person that David or another cast member butts heads with. An example of this comes when David mixes up his glass of water with Bruce Springsteen, exposing Springsteen to COVID-19. This resulted in Springsteen missing the last concert of his farewell tour leaving him with an irritable grudge.
Similarly, David continues the tradition of not shying away from controversial topics including strict voting laws and the #MeToo movement. While carefully navigating these subjects, the show stabs fun at irony in the situations the characters find themselves in.
The humor of “Curb” leans toward the dry side, with only a few moments inducing spontaneous laughter. However, as co-creator of “Seinfeld”, David’s trademark storytelling uses this dry humor to nitpick complaints about social norms and create conflict with the people around him. The show also has no shortage of profanity and R-rated topics, deeming the season best for binging with roommates rather than viewing with parents.
Throughout the season, David is questioned about the series finale of “Seinfeld”, foreshadowing the ending of the series that closely resembles “Seinfeld’s” in 1998, which proved unpopular for many viewers. However, with “Curb” built around David’s obnoxious character, the finale fits the show that stayed true to its roots for its 24-year lifespan. At times it feels like David is throwing his own going-away party for his television career, but thankfully, not at the expense of laughs.
By the season’s end, many viewers won’t feel ready to say goodbye to the fictional life of Larry David. Luckily, after running for almost a quarter of a century, David provides 12 seasons to rewatch, with the final proving genuine and comical to the end.
4 COVID-19-infected drinks out of 5.
