Abbi’s high on drugs and Ilana’s trying to be responsible, which means “Wisdom Teeth” is basically set up for perfection from the word go. And sure, it’s not entirely a “perfect” episode of TV; but it’s ambitious without losing its familiarity, it progresses a few fun running story threads of the show (if you can call the slight serialization of the show a “story”), and best of all, is the funniest episode of Broad City‘s second season to date, the first home run of season two.
What makes it all work so well is how its framed; this is Ilana’s attempt to care care of Abbi, the woman she loves the dearest (“If you die, don’t worry, because I’ll kill myself and meet you up in heaven or whatever!” she tells Abbi as she’s falling asleep before dental surgery). Abbi’s recovering from having her wisdom teeth removed by Lincoln, so Ilana takes her under her wing – aka, she gives her too much Vicodin (assisted by an anxious Jaime), then compensates for it by making her a weed/s’mores milkshake, and losing her on the streets of Brooklyn.
Predictably, this makes for hilarious material, for both halves of the central duo; Ilana’s is pure maternal panic, tinged with the always-eccentric, well-meaning approach Ilana takes to her best friend that goes wrong (like accepting a $1400 Whole Foods tab Abbi rang up chasing around Bingo Bronson). And on Abbi’s side, she’s high again; need I remind you of the events of “Pu$$y Weed”, or her smashing a wine glass with her bare hand on her birthday? Add “Western medicine” to the mix, and you’ve got Abbi who is straight hallucinating, leaving Jeremy a 20-minute message and following around a stuffed toy for the better part of a day.
Every turn of “Wisdom Teeth” is packed with jokes, both in the physical performances of both actresses (Ilana’s poses in the cold open made me laugh so hard, my stomach hurt) and how it adds yet another layer of endearing hilarity to the relationship between the two. And the best part? Abbi gets a win in the end, when Jeremy agrees to go on a date with her; turns out bleeding from her mouth and taking a double dose of Vicadin can actually have a positive effect one’s life (this is not recommended though, kids).
Ilana’s attempts to be mature in this episode are something that’s becoming a theme early on this season, alluded to even further when she refers to Lincoln’s genitals as “boyfriend” material, the first time we’ve ever seen her utter that word and not vomit (speaking of vomiting… poor, poor, confused Jaime; there were just too many fro yo choices at 42 Squirts!). Just as Abbi’s going off the rails a little more this season, Ilana’s trying to stick to them a little more (as well as continue to rock a late 90’s J-Lo look with each episode); two attempts at growth that are leading to equally hilarious results. But there’s no growth without failure; and though Abbi just maxed out a second credit card she didn’t need on organic food guaranteed to go bad in a week, she did finally score a date with Jeremy, something that literally knocks her off her feet (when he tells her he liked her drugged-out Drew Barrymore impression).
With “Wisdom Teeth”, it feels like Broad City‘s second season is really warming up, grasping a hold of their larger concepts from the first two episodes, and delivering the same ideas in a tighter, funnier package than some previous moments (like last week’s amusing, if uneven, half hour). Make no mistake; “Wisdom Teeth” is Broad City coalescing on every level, a collection of fantastic shots, jokes, musical cues – and of course, scenes of Abbi dancing. Because who could honestly ever get tired of that?
[Photo via Comedy Central]
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