Seinfeld (TV Series) The Truth (1991) User Reviews

"Pity is very underrated"

[juanmaffeo · 8/10 · 3 November 2016]

There's something about this episode that kept me coming for more and I finally found what it is: realism. I noticed that specifically in the first seasons Seinfeld was really concerned about the realistic quality of the situations the gang experienced, hence, you can always find a Seinfeld referenced to quote in any given real situation. But, as I said, that is more notorious in the first 5 seasons (almost unseen in the last 2) and The Truth is a perfect example of this 'realistic quality'.

Apart from being a ridiculously entertaining episode, The Truth manages to tackle several situations that help build a realistic world within Seinfeld and to further explore their characters. George is dating a pretentious 'artist', Jerry is being audited and Kramer and Elaine are having trouble since he started dating Elaine's roommate. Every single storyline has this realistic quality and gives a sense of depth to each character to the point that you actually believe these people are experiencing this things.

To begin with, there is something about watching Jerry deal with tax problems that makes him extremely human and relatable. I couldn't see this kind of plot line in the latter seasons no matter what. His comments about the sticky situation all ring true and are actually funny and poignant. George problem with the papier-maché artist is just hilarious. We all know these kind of people and every thing George says about it is just on point. And my favorite of the bunch is Kramer and Elaine's story. I don't know what is it, but seeing Elaine deal with a very common issue like your roommate's boyfriend or antics is so refreshing and Julia's performance sells it perfectly. Also I kind of love the fact that Kramer cooks tomato sauce and makes a mess out of it and who couldn't love the picture of Kramer and Tina dancing to tribal music. Bizzardly lovely.

Overall, a perfectly rounded episode with relatable and funny situations and great performances.

Pappy eh mash eh, eh?

[Antoine_Bugleboy · 7/10 · 7 December 2006]

Single Favorite Line: (George's girlfriend, Patrice, quoting Thomas Carlyle in the highest toned, high-flown manner imaginable) "Who so only belongs to his age, references only it's popinjays and mumbo jumbos"

Notable Guest Stars: Valerie Mahaffey (as Patrice), Siobhan Fallon (as Kramer's girlfriend / Elaine's roommate, Tina)

Memorable Exchange: (Elaine pops into Jerry's apartment excited...) E: "Kramer!" - K: "Wha-" - E: "-Do me a favor will ya' --if you insist on making pasta in my apartment, please don't put the pasta sauce on the pasta while it's in the strainer --all the little squares have hardened red sauce in them!..." (Jerry looks up, bemused) - E: "What's so funny?" - J: "It's funny" - E: "Huh? huh -it's a riot Alice!" - K (very confused): "When do YOU put the sauce on?" - E: "ANY OTHER TIME!" - K (thinking for a beat): "No, no -I like to strain the sauce" - E:..."And I could really live without the tribal music and make-out sessions in the living room.." - K: "Yeah..Tina LIKES the couch!"

Key Topics: *Pretension * IRS audits *Nakedness *Coffee Tables *Insanity *African Jungle Love

Part I Didn't Like: The falling on the homemade glass coffee table was a tad too predictable.

Very Nice Touch: Everything about Valerie Mahaffey's performance was spot-on beautiful.

7 of 10 --a keeper, showing the best traits of the program

George Costanza is the highlight in this tightly plotted and highly entertaining early season three episode

[SLionsCricketreviews · 8/10 · 7 February 2018]

"The Truth" was written by Elaine Pope and directed by David Steinberg both of whom would only feature in a few additional writing/directing credits for the show. It's an interesting point, I think, to make given that "The Truth" is really the first episode in the series that was entirely helmed by crew members who would not maintain a particularly long lasting career with the series and therefore might not be as attuned to the sensibilities of the show. And yet, "The Truth" is very entertaining and funny and another good indicator of the third season of 'Seinfeld' as the point where the show really picked up. There's plenty to credit about Elaine Pope's fine script but it's also worth crediting the third season premiere as the point where the show really gained its voice and this episode rides that momentum high very nicely.

As with "The Note", the world of 'Seinfeld' is suddenly brimming with energy and characterization, dialogue and pacing are very well established here. All the storylines work very well, though none work anywhere near as well as that of George breaking up with a woman and calling her pretentious when she asked him for the truth about his reasons to break-up with her. It's just another absolutely classic George Costanza predicament and Jason Alexander once again knocks it out of the park. The scene in which he unleashes all his criticism of the girl he's dating is one of the show's funniest moments thus far courtesy of both Elaine Pope who realizes where 'Seinfeld' truly excels at and Jason Alexander for his impeccable delivery. He really has come to embody the character with these early season three episodes and it's no wonder that few characters in all of sitcom are arguably as beloved as he.

The other storylines are all very good supporting material. There's Jerry, who has unwisely put his faith in George dating the woman who happens to be an accountant after his recent tax gets audited. There's Elaine who is becoming fed up with Kramer and her roommate's sexual activities in her apartment. And lastly, there's a really minor side-plot of Kramer who finds a windshield on the side of the road and decides to make a coffee table out of it for his new girlfriend!

The central attraction of this episode is undeniably George and writer Elaine Pope wisely understands this and builds up an episode that adequately supports that storyline. Jerry's tax issue is seamlessly blended into the narrative and there's plenty of humour watching the scenario unfold after George breaks up with the girl. Kramer gets some outlandish material and as a result, we are treated to some wonderful Michael Richards physicality. Even Elaine finally is starting to get some material of her own, however small it may be so far, it works very well.

I simply found "The Truth" to be very entertaining. It helps that 'Seinfeld' is certainly on the rise as early into the third season as it is and as a result, this episode is brimming with life and energy. The show no longer feels like the stagnant cringe-fest of the first two seasons and now feels like a show on the rise towards legendary status. The dialogue is strong, the characters are developing into their now renowned personalities and the chemistry between the stars is really forming. Even more impressive is the fact that this episode was written and directed by two people who made their debut for the series here and ended up doing very little for the series as a whole, at least as far as episodes are concerned. And yet, they formed a stellar team and perfectly understood what 'Seinfeld' does best.

"I saw her naked"

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 18 February 2008]

In the Seinfeld universe, who do you blame when something goes terribly wrong? That's right: George. As noble as his intentions may seem to be, rest assured he will inevitably screw everything up. This episode is no exception.

The something that goes terribly wrong? That would be Jerry getting inspected by the IRS. George's mistake? He tells the truth to his girlfriend about how he feels, and his confession leads to her being locked up in an asylum. Too bad, especially since she never got around to helping Jerry with the tax papers. On a brighter (?) side, Kramer accidentally sees Elaine naked.

In fact, the latter incident turns out to be the best scene in the whole episode (big surprise - it's Kramer!), as the adorable goof-ball recounts the chain of events to Jerry and justifies his mistake ("I thought it was a closet!" he says referring to Elaine's room). Also memorable: Elaine complaining about the way Kramer cooks pasta and uses her couch for intimate moments with his girlfriend ("Yeah, she likes the couch!").

Finally, with hindsight, The Truth contains a superb hint of one of the best plot lines of Season Four: as George and Jerry discuss the tax problem, the former mentions that the worst thing he had ever done to a woman was that he drove her to lesbianism, not to a madhouse. Judging from later shows, he never learned from his mistake, but then again, if he did, he wouldn't be the character we all cherish for his selfish idiocy, would he?

The Truth is an excellent episode, that's very funny, as I always enjoy watching it!

[callanvass · 5 March 2006]

*plot*. George decides to tell his girlfriend the truth, but regrets it later, because she checks into a mental institution soon afterwords, while Jerry needs the tax papers from her, and Kramer happens to see Elaine naked.

The Truth is an excellent episode, that's very funny, as I always enjoy watching it!. I thought it was hilarious in the way George told his girlfriend( Patrice)the truth, and this is very well written by Elaine Pope, plus David Steinberg does a perfect job of directing. The ending is also very funny, as Tina (Elaine's roommate), falls on the invisible glass table, and this is also very well made as well, plus Jerry's opening stand up about buttons was quite amusing. I really liked the creativity in this episode, and the story in it is excellent as well, plus the scene where Jerry and George, see Patrice in the mental institution is also very funny. The Truth is an excellent episode, that's very funny, as I always enjoy watching it, and I say it's a must see for everyone!. ****1/2 out of 5 Favorite quotes.

Elaine: I remember you, donated to some volcano thing, on out 1st date. Jerry: Volcano, really?. Elaine: Oh wait a minute don't tell me that was.. Jerry: Something to drink?. Elaine: What did you think that would impress me?. Jerry: Youv'e got me all wrong, I was thinking only of the poor Krakatoan. Elaine: Like you'd make this donation for 50 bucks, and I'd start tearing my clothes off. Jerry: Those brave Krakatoan's, east of Java, who sacrificed so much for so long. Elaine: Now your being audited because of it, see that's karma. Jerry: No that's Kramer.

*naked segment*. Elaine: Hello. Kramer: Hello. Elaine: You Haven't told him?. Jerry: Told me what?. Elaine: Go ahead tell him. Kramer: I saw her naked. Elaine: He saw me naked, Kramer saw me naked. Kramer: Well it was an accident. Elaine: Who walks into a Woman's bedroom without knocking?, I wanna know!. Kramer: I thought it was a closet. Jerry: Completely naked?. Kramer: Completely naked. Elaine: Jerry how can I go on?. Kramer: Alright I'll tell you what,if it's gonna make you feel any better you can see me naked. Elaine: No thank you. Kramer: No I want you to see me naked. Elaine: No, no no!. Kramer: I wanna show you. Elaine: No! Jerry!. Jerry: Hold it just a second, let's not lose our heads here, Kramer you know your always welcome in my home, but as far as Mr. Johnson is concerned that's another story.

Geroge: Iv'e driven women to lesbianism before, but never to a mental institution.

Pity's very underrated

[dannylee-78082 · 8/10 · 5 March 2023]

1. Jerry sorts receipts 2. George breaks up 3. Kramer sees Elaine naked

I think Seinfeld is consistently hitting it for me now. I think the writing style is becoming more solidified and humor working out better. So far, there's been good episodes and really good episodes. I felt that this one fell somewhere in between. The theme of the episode was truth-telling. George was perhaps too blunt to his ex girlfriend about why he wanted to break up with her and it caused a cascade of events that complicated things for Jerry. Elaine decides to take that lesson and lie, which also caused suboptimal outcomes. Moral of the day is, both things can cause bad outcomes, so do whatever you feel is most justified.

Where's the Pepsi, where's the Pepsi?

[bombersflyup · 9/10 · 7 February 2022]

The Truth is about Jerry being audited and George's girlfriend helping him out, until he breaks up with her.

The plot's so so, but it's a continuously funny episode. Hilarious when Jerry waves at Patrice. His standup's weak here though. Full circle humour as George tries to get a free cab ride, after he's just disputed Elaine calling him cheap.

Good

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 17 June 2020]

I like the bit a bad breakup leads to tax troubles

Valerie Mahaffey Glows

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 30 January 2022]

Valerie Mahaffey is one of my favorite actresses playing eccentric (but beautiful) characters. She is a former accountant and George brings Jerry's documents so she can assist him in an IRS audit. Instead, George insults her and everything goes haywire. The scene in the depression clinic is to die for. Elaine is staying with Kramer and there is notable tension. Excellent.

Audit

[vivianla · 24 February 2022]

Jerry is being audited due to having claimed charitable expenses to a fake charity he was asked to donate to by Kramer on his first date with Elaine. Elaine laughed saying what did he think she would do - start tearing off her clothes because he donated?

Elaine is frustrated with Kramer dating her roommate and he walked in without knocking on a woman's bedroom door, resulting in him seeing Elaine completely naked. Kramer offers to let her see him nude and begins to strip.

Elaine goes home to hear her roommate moaning from sex. She doesn't tell them the truth of what she thinks of them.

People fear the truth

[ThunderKing6 · 9/10 · 1 April 2023]

Like imdb I am living proof.

This episode was reviewed on April 1st 2023rd in the 21st century.

About: George speaks the truth

Jerry does his taxes

Kramer dates Elaine roomie

Elaine shows her breast to Kramer and she doesn't like it.

The Story and The Production Overview: A good little episode. George's segment/story carries the episode. Everything else is who the hell cares. Take away Kramer's and Elaine's story, the episode still would be good.

Overall, A good episode.

Highlight: Though we don't get to see Elaines B cups. After Kramer see's her naked and tells jerry her little dance was funny.

Villain: The pretentious girl because she was very sensitive and hurt Jerry by throwing away his papers.

Girlfriend Attractiveness level: 7 a cute red head. Can't go wrong there.

Laugh meter: 7

What can be learned?: Truth can either get you censored or burnt

Verdict: The Truth shall set you laugh.