Seeing Doug Stanhope, who's been my favorite living comedian for a long time, playing an underground comedian who's failed to reach mainstream success, being a Yin to Louis' Yang, in this brilliant episode, and illustrating one of those many situations of failure to adapt, of talent wasted because of an imperfect society, of how sometimes sticking to your principles can backfire on you and make you give up on life, was amazing for me. One of the best episodes of the series. Just watching these two brilliant comics (my top two that are alive) sharing the screen is a treat and a blessing. Mustn't miss this, especially if you're a real fan of modern stand-up.
5 Reviews
Best episode of Louie
bagiyevmarif13 July 2020
I've watched this one for the first time about 3 years ago and every once in a while i can't stop myself from rewatching it.It is beautifully shot,has a different atmosphere as it takes place in Brooklyn. My favourite stand-up comedian Doug Stanhope's performance is astounding. As Robin Williams said,this is one of the realistic portrayals of suicide,i honestly don't think there is anything quite like it apart from Leaving Las Vegas.The only negative thing that irritated me a little bit was Louie's acting in general.Eventhough i like him as a director and comedian,his acting isn't really good. Nonetheless,from its cinematography to editing,i'd dare to say this is one of the best episodes in tv history and Louis definitely deserves more recognition for his wonderful directorial skills.
An almost perfect episode
zenmateisshite22 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is my favorite Louie episode, that I watch every few months. The way the story runs and builds up, the shots and camera movement, the way it depicts comedy club scene in New York. Even though i was never part of that, it looks cool.
The episode also showcases very good stand up comedy, and talks about very serious stuff like the meaning of life, success and depression - all in an intelligent and funny way.
The only criticism I have about this show is the way he made Eddie a homeless "loser". He could have made him an average comedian, interested in the craft rather in success, but at the same time more successful than this version.
I only bring this up because he opened the subject of suicide - its a risk few people take but he did brilliantly - so he should have paid more attention to the way to tackle it. Depicting Eddie as a loner, probably alcoholic loser IMO was a bad choice only because it might give people the wrong impression, that only loser commit suicide.
What I say to viewers, successful people, not only losers, also have suicidal thoughts. So if you see changes in behaviors to someone you care about you better take action, it might save their lives, even thought they might not want you to.
The episode also showcases very good stand up comedy, and talks about very serious stuff like the meaning of life, success and depression - all in an intelligent and funny way.
The only criticism I have about this show is the way he made Eddie a homeless "loser". He could have made him an average comedian, interested in the craft rather in success, but at the same time more successful than this version.
I only bring this up because he opened the subject of suicide - its a risk few people take but he did brilliantly - so he should have paid more attention to the way to tackle it. Depicting Eddie as a loner, probably alcoholic loser IMO was a bad choice only because it might give people the wrong impression, that only loser commit suicide.
What I say to viewers, successful people, not only losers, also have suicidal thoughts. So if you see changes in behaviors to someone you care about you better take action, it might save their lives, even thought they might not want you to.
Brilliant , not in the over used way that the kids say, but Steinbeck brilliant.
bletcherstonerson23 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
People pass the word brilliant around a lot, but this show is brilliant. This episode is hard to explain due to the depth of the storyline and characters. Louie runs into an old friend and they spend the evening hanging out getting reacquainted, The association then enters an area where Louie is forced to be raw, honest and unflinching in his summation of his friend's life and where it is at the present time. Both actors deliver a great performance . This is a rare moment in t.v. and film that should be seen by anyone wanting to witness a great performance. The subject matter is a stark yet truthful look at the dark side of life and how the best remedy to a bad situation may not exist for some people.
Eddie
lassegalsgaard25 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know if I've ever tried this, but I can imagine that there is a desire in someone to hurt someone who hurt you back really hard. It can take a lot of forms, but in some cases, it's presenting a dilemma in front of them that - in some cases - may not be entirely fair to the situation, or it can be simply trying to get someone in a position where they will give you some sort of apology for what they did, which - also in some cases - may not even be something that they can actually do. In "Louie," Louis C. K. has decided to present a scenario where an old friend from Louie's past comes back and essentially tells him that he's going to kill himself, almost hoping that he'll present him with an opportunity to get out of it. It feels right for this show to follow up an episode that was about masturbation and one of the funniest the show has ever produced, with one of the darkest installments yet. In it, Louie is faced with something that happened in his past that put his friend down this dark path that he is on, which was not entirely his fault. It's these tough questions that make "Louie" a great show and that makes this episode one of the most memorable ones it has ever produced, as it forces Louie to face those mistakes head-on, while also giving him some sort of ground to stand on to defend himself from it.
When Eddie first enters the picture, we quickly get an idea of an old friend who Louie hasn't seen for a while who also tried to get into stand-up but hasn't had the same success Louie has. And through flashbacks, we explore that relationship a little bit more, seeing the initial support between them was replaced with jealousy on Eddie's part, which eventually led to the bridge between them being burned. With this, the episode provides Louie a solid moral high ground to stand on in this fight between them that's unfolding very slowly as the episode continues to move.
However, the episode then turns on it a little bit, providing a more bleak look at the entire situation, asking the questions of what Louie could have done to help his friend out. But just like back then, he's not faced with a question that he doesn't really know how to answer. How can he stop his friend from committing suicide? Well, how could he have stopped him from even venturing down this path in the first place. It's a question that's impossible to answer, but it's nevertheless an important one and one that takes a big pull on Louie.
Now, "Louie" is not always a show that answers those big questions that it sets up. And this episode is not any different as it never actually gives us that closure that Eddie sought after. Louie tries to help in his own way, but ends up just letting go of this past memory of Eddie, hoping that he won't kill himself. It's a very ballsy way of ending the episode, but it keeps it very consistent with the idea of the show. Louie's past is clearly haunting him, but he'd rather just forget it than have to embrace it ever.
C. K. And Doug Stanhope play incredibly well off each other, and it feels like they've been old friends who haven't seen each other for a long time. They are very clearly alike in their humorous approaches and in their approach to the acting profession in general, but both of them embrace the dark nature of the episode and acts their hearts out in a final scene that's very beautiful and sincere, but ends on a very somber note that's just enhanced by their beautiful performances. It's unlikely that we see Stanhope again, but if we do, I wouldn't complain.
"Eddie" is probably the darkest installment of the show yet, but it's also a very profound look at Louie and where he is right now. He clearly has some issues with his past and he's not able to embrace them yet, but he will take the opportunity to relive it, even if it ends tragically.
When Eddie first enters the picture, we quickly get an idea of an old friend who Louie hasn't seen for a while who also tried to get into stand-up but hasn't had the same success Louie has. And through flashbacks, we explore that relationship a little bit more, seeing the initial support between them was replaced with jealousy on Eddie's part, which eventually led to the bridge between them being burned. With this, the episode provides Louie a solid moral high ground to stand on in this fight between them that's unfolding very slowly as the episode continues to move.
However, the episode then turns on it a little bit, providing a more bleak look at the entire situation, asking the questions of what Louie could have done to help his friend out. But just like back then, he's not faced with a question that he doesn't really know how to answer. How can he stop his friend from committing suicide? Well, how could he have stopped him from even venturing down this path in the first place. It's a question that's impossible to answer, but it's nevertheless an important one and one that takes a big pull on Louie.
Now, "Louie" is not always a show that answers those big questions that it sets up. And this episode is not any different as it never actually gives us that closure that Eddie sought after. Louie tries to help in his own way, but ends up just letting go of this past memory of Eddie, hoping that he won't kill himself. It's a very ballsy way of ending the episode, but it keeps it very consistent with the idea of the show. Louie's past is clearly haunting him, but he'd rather just forget it than have to embrace it ever.
C. K. And Doug Stanhope play incredibly well off each other, and it feels like they've been old friends who haven't seen each other for a long time. They are very clearly alike in their humorous approaches and in their approach to the acting profession in general, but both of them embrace the dark nature of the episode and acts their hearts out in a final scene that's very beautiful and sincere, but ends on a very somber note that's just enhanced by their beautiful performances. It's unlikely that we see Stanhope again, but if we do, I wouldn't complain.
"Eddie" is probably the darkest installment of the show yet, but it's also a very profound look at Louie and where he is right now. He clearly has some issues with his past and he's not able to embrace them yet, but he will take the opportunity to relive it, even if it ends tragically.
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