The Muppets - S1E10 - Single All the Way

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Previously on The Muppets, ‘Going, Going, Gonzo’

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

“The Christmas Episode” is an interesting trope. Come December every show on network television is airing their own Christmas Episode with mixed success. Nevertheless it’s fitting that The Muppets wraps up the first half of their pilot season with a Christmas Episode because they’ve proven time and again that they succeed in employing this trope. Although the laughs were not the best of the season thus far, “Single All the Way” did a wonderful job of balancing the humor and heart in this episode without coming off too saccharine.

Mindy Kaling succeeded as this week’s celebrity guest by portraying herself as a vapid, out-of-touch celebrity. The fact that she can’t sing and she doesn’t know it because the people in her life have kept her in a well-crafted bubble of blissful ignorance much like how Uncle Deadly has handled Piggy throughout the season.

Beaker, Bunsen Honeydew, Sam the Eagle, Electric Mayhem, and all the secondary cast members had ample screen time and effectively added to the humor of the episode. The various B-plots were wonderful and given unexpectedly delightful resolutions. For example, one would assume that Yolanda’s deception surrounding the Secret Santa ballot would be met with swift reprisal. Instead the rest of the cast shower her with gifts and affection to make up accidentally forgetting her last year.

“Couples break up and get back together all the time. That’s why Kay Jewelers offers their ‘I’m Sorry Again’ Collection.” 

For a brief moment however the show almost fooled us into thinking that the episode was going to focus on Fozzie’s depression over his abrupt break-up with Becky. He has been a glaring low point of the show what with Fozzie-centric episodes being their weakest so far. I’m not saying that episodes where Fozzie is suspiciously absent tend to be the better ones but the coincidence is worth noting. It’s also worth noting that this was probably the best episode involving Fozzie but that’s probably because his relationship woes were used to talk about Miss Piggy’s feelings over being dumped. Her stark realization that she hasn’t been honest with her own feelings regarding her break-up with Kermit sends her spiraling into a depression. Her subsequent conversation with Kermit where they are, for the rarest of moments, very honest with one another makes for a very poignant moment.

And as the episode comes to an end, we see the rest of the cast join Mindy Kaling and Miss Piggy in their performance of “The Most Wonderful Time of The Year” reminding us that of the strength of the Muppets is in its ensemble cast. I know not what the future brings when the show “reboots” in the spring but I hope that they retain the wonderful writing they’ve done with Piggy, Uncle Deadly, and Janice to name a few.

Quote of the Week “She’s obviously releasing the evil spirits from her soul. Stay strong, sister! We know it hurts.”-Janice

Honorable Mentions:

• “Can. Open. Worms. Everywhere.”-Uncle Deadly

• “It’s stuff! Guaranteed to lift your spirts!”-Miss Piggy

Side Notes

*Miss Piggy’s unapologetic materialism speaks to me on such a profound level.

*Big Mean Carl’s performance of “T’was the Night Before Christmas” is the reason for the season.

*Uncle Deadly should be on the VIP list of George Clooney’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

*Beaker better have good health insurance with all the things Bunsen Honeydew has been inflicting upon his fragile person.

*Sam the Eagle finally got his kiss!