Season 2, episode 1: The Ex Girlfriend

So here we are in season 2 and there a plenty improvements here in the first episode alone. When Seinfeld got picked up for a second season it was too late for the fall schedule which gave the producers extra time to tweak the shows look. A few changes were made to Jerry’s apartment in the form of a paint job and some additional detailing with lighting and furniture. The bigger changes come in the scripts being tighter and characters being more refined and the chemistry of the cast having really coalesced at the beginning of this season. The timing of Jerry, Jason, Julia and Michael is a lot more natural here and the progression is fun to watch.

In the premiere, George is planning to break up with his girlfriend, Marlene, but is nervous (of course) about going through with it. He does, and is ecstatic about it, but he has one problem- he left some books in her apartment. So he asks Jerry to get them. This leads to Jerry dating Marlene, which George has no problem with. George does have a problem with Jerry secretly paying his chiropractic bill. “He didn’t do anything. Touch this, feel that, seventy-five dollars!”

Elaine’s story has her dealing with a guy she knows who doesn’t say ‘hello’ to her when they pass each other leading to the best Seinfeld-esque line of the series so far (but it will be passed in the next episode): “’I just didn’t want to say hello anymore, all right?’ And I said ‘fine, fine. I didn’t want to say hello either. But I wanted you to know that I’m aware of it!’”

Kramer meanwhile has a melon obsession. Jerry gets a bad one and Kramer wants to return it. He later brings a golf club into Jerry’s apartment. Both of these scenes are reminiscent of numerous future episodes including The Mango, The Caddy and The Marine Biologist. The episode wraps up when Marlene breaks up with Jerry after she sees his act. This whole episode from beginning to end is great and we’re getting to see the cast and crew at its full potential when dealing with the minutia and trivial events in our lives.