Louie: Trolling Lynch

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Is it all a dream?  Two weeks ago after "Late Show (Part 1)," many people thought that this short run of Louie episodes focused on Louie being offered a chance to replace David Letterman was an extended dream sequence. Them that believe that will find Thursday's "Late Show (Part 2)" an affirmation, as things turned--dare I say it?--positively David Lynch-ian.

The episode opens with an exquisite one shot scene between Louie and his ex-wife Janet.  Did he ask for the meeting for, as she suggests, her to tell him that he can't pursue the job?  It's possible but not necessary as long as the audience sees that Louie doesn't have faith in himself to see this through.  Throughout the rest of the episode he continues to put obstacles in his own path, whether it's talking about the potential gig to others or refusing to wear a suit or even retreating as he's being pummeled in the boxing ring.  Louie appears to be afraid of success.  Susan Kelechi Watson is great as Janet; she is blunt, supportive, cold, fed-up, persistent and grateful.  She says to Louie, "I hate to see what the future will be if you don't make this happen."  She doesn't give him permission to fulfill his dream but forces him to.  Louis C.K.'s perpetual hang dog expression is a perfect counterbalance.

That expression gets quite the work out for the rest of the episode as Louie is confronted with an increasingly weird set of circumstances.  He goes to the meeting that Lars Tardigan set up for him with one of Lars Tardigan's "guys" who will work with Louie for a couple of months before the try out shows.  The guy's name is Jack Dall (pronounced Doll or Dahl or Daal), and is played by David fricking Lynch.  What proceeds is a rabbit hole of Lynchisms and other anachronisms that fit together to keep Louie uneasy.  Someone more versed than me in all things Lynch would be able to pick out all the allusions but some of the dream-like things I picked up on:

• Three actresses plating Jack Dall's secretary, which I noticed in the scene (each close up was a different actress than the one that was in the wide establishing shot), but was confirmed in the stinger closing
• I don't know, how about David effing Lynch himself
• Lynch rubbing his left ear before and after their first scene together--a left ear was found in the grass in Blue Velvet
• The contents of Dall's drawer which includes:  mini cassette, post-it notes, Chinese currency, a Remington shaver, plain white business cards adorned with just his monogram and the name Jack Dall, a stopwatch and of course a gun
• Jane calling out the shoplifter who is denying everything to the strange grocery store security guard
• The music and applause that Louie hears while watching the monitor of Jack Dall entering
• Being thrown into the ring with an accomplished boxer
• The maniacal laughter that hangs over the conclusion of the fight.

This was an odd episode of Louie and I'm not sure how I feel about it.  If in fact this is all a dream sequence, then I'm pretty sure I don't like it.  I hate being vested in narrative dive to have it all be sucked out from under me as a viewer.  If the Lynch tone is merely being used to keep Louie off center and out of control, I'm in.  It's hard to judge a series part way through, it's very hard to surmise what may come next in a series like this one.  I am struck by the fact that two very successful film directors have significant roles in both Parts 1 & 2 of "Late Show"; a more careful reading of Part 1 may be needed to see if CK was aping any Garry Marshall tropes.  Regardless, I could listen to Lynch's perfect delivery of "You're not ready" all night.  The entire episode may have been worth those two seconds.