Louie (FX)

Since its premiere back in 2010, Louis CK’s self-titled comedy series Louie has become one of the most widely respected and critically acclaimed cable shows of recent years. Over the course of 4 seasons, CK has showcased his ability to perfectly blend the right amounts of dark humor, drama, and insight, all through impeccable craftsmanship, which has led to many hailing CK as “TV’s first auteur”. This is absolutely true, as he has expressed on multiple occasions that he has complete and total creative control over every aspect of the show, and viewers won’t have to look very far into the show to see this.

Expectations were sky high going into the show’s 5th season. In 2014, the show returned from a year-long hiatus (something which you any other show would get shitcanned for even attempting) with a phenomenal 4th season that much of the show’s fanbase have hailed as its best. So when time came around for Season 5 this past April, fans were worried the show wouldn’t be able to hit the same marks, but as per usual, Louie did not disappoint. Opening with the hilarious “Pot Luck”, CK assured us once again of his ability to both surprise and meet expectations.

The biggest elephant in the room going into this 5th season was Louie’s catastrophic see-saw of a relationship with Pamela (Pamela Adlon), which left audiences reeling with anxiety and the end of Season 4 with the notorious “bathtub scene.” This season, that arc meets its end (or, at least as far as we know) in a way that’s conclusive, reasonable, satisfying, and as usual, morbidly hilarious.

One of the highlights of this season so far as well as was an episode titled “Cop Story” where Louie ran into an old friend who he finds out is not quite as he remembered. One of the more dramatic episodes, something this series has never shied away from (see last season’s “Into The Woods” for a prime example), the episode provided lots of the philosophical insight that Louie has become known for. Along with an interest to tackle gender roles via Louie getting beaten up by a woman on the street, the season’s second episode also provided us with one of the series’ funniest cold opens in the show’s history thus far. Here Louie had to abandon his groceries and run home, endangering his daughters, all because he had to poop really bad. Hilarious, creative, and a fresh take on poop jokes.

In just its first few returning episodes, Louie has reminded us through its wit and delivery why it’s truly one of the best things on television, and was the top program to watch in April. – Dylan Brandsema, Contributor

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