'Louie' Season 4 Premiere Recap: Louis C.K. Makes Hilarious Comeback

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Image: Frank Ockenfels/FX Networks

By Anita Li2014-05-06 12:04:35 UTC

After a two-year hiatus, FX's Louie is finally back.

The critically acclaimed comedy's season-three finale aired in September 2012, and fans have long-anticipated its return. Season 4's two-episode premiere aired back-to-back Monday night, so we're highlighting the best moments, here:

See also: 10 Indispensable Life Lessons From Louis C.K.

Episode 1: "Back"

In typical Louis C.K. fashion, the comedian reintroduces himself to viewers in the most mundane way possible: by taking us through a regular day in his life. Those familiar with C.K.'s standup, however, know that mundane is what he does best — and episode 1 is no exception. The entirety of "Back," which has no discernible theme, feels like C.K. is reminding everyone (after a long absence) exactly who he is and what his comedy is about: everyday life in all its absurdity.

The show opens with an exaggerated portrayal of what would be a typical morning — taken to surreal extremes. That relentless clanging you hear outside the window during garbage-collection days? Those garbagemen who seem like they're intent on being as loud as possible to make your day miserable? Louie understands, portraying workers haphazardly tossing around garbage bags, deliberately banging cans against their truck and entering Louie's apartment by smashing his windows, all the while producing a deafening cacophony. Other amusingly ludicrous scenarios include Louie's friend ripping on his daughters, and an apathetic doctor prescribing the following remedy for back pain: "Use your back as it was intended, walk around on your hands and feet, or accept the fact that your back is going to hurt sometimes."

Jerry Seinfeld as himself in 'Model,' season 4, episode 2 of 'Louie.'

As in previous seasons, absurdist humor and surreal situations take center stage in Louie to illustrate the inherent absurdity of the human condition — something that Louie, our hapless hero, knows best. The show is unconcerned with plot continuity and consistency, even using the same actor for different roles (e.g. Amy Landecker's first-season roles as Louie's date in "Bully" and his mother in "God"). Instead, it often strings together loosely connected vignettes. Case in point: "Back" includes the following scenes: Louie plays cards with his comedian buddies, and they talk about masturbation techniques; Louie visits a sex shop to buy a vibrator, but pulls his back while pointing at dildos; Louie visits a doctor for his back pain.

In episode 1, the funniest moments are during Louie's conversations with his daughters. The show is so compelling partly because Louie feels like a real person, and this humanity is most evident during their interactions. Louie cares ("If I don't help you, and you struggle, then you get stronger"), but he also doesn't give a crap ("Get away from me. Get away — get far away from me").

Episode 2: "Model"

Episode 2 is so surreal that even one of its main characters, Blake — Louie's erstwhile lover — says as much: "Well, maybe it's not really happening."

"Model" begins with Louie (wearing his "Awesome Possum" shirt) trying to pick up a waitress, who rebuffs him before he can even get words out. Shortly after, Louie bumps into Jerry Seinfeld (playing himself in a cameo), who invites Louie to be his opening act for a benefit show in the Hamptons. Absurdity (and hilarity), naturally, ensue, after Louie bombs on stage, and meets Blake (Yvonne Strahovski), the only attendee who laughed at his pitiful routine.

Blake (Yvonne Strahovski) in 'Model,' season 4, episode 2 of 'Louie.'

Blake, who happens to be a model and daughter of an astronaut, invites Louie to hop into her Maserati. They speed off toward her beautiful mansion, where the unlikely pair eventually have sex. Louie is dumbfounded by his seeming good luck, as he admits, it's typically "not how I roll." The blonde beauty is a sort of Waspy Manic Pixie Dream Girl for the semi-depressed Louie, but falls short of teaching him to embrace life after he accidentally punches her in the face following a failed tickling session. Even worse news: Blake has permanent eye damage, and her family plans to sue Louie for $10 million. It's a blunt metaphor for how real life often fails to meet our lofty expectations, and can punch us in the face.

Luckily for Louie, there is a consolation. He ends up going on a semi-date with the first woman he asked out, the Comedy Cellar waitress, when she learns about Louie's sad-sack story. So maybe, sometimes things do work out. In Louie's (and our) world, life is unpredictable.

Louie airs every Monday at 10 p.m. on FX.

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Topics: Entertainment, louie, Louis C.K., louis ck, Television