Curb Your Enthusiasm Review: The Social Assassin

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"Palestinian Chicken" would have been an instant classic if all that happened was that the show faded in to the discussion where Jeff labeled Larry a social assassin, and then it faded out.

If memory serves me, nobody on Curb has ever given LD a name for what he does so well. Like the no-balled Ron told him after the fabulous dinner party scene, Larry "says what everyone's thinking. [He] just comes out with it.  It's impressive." I love that people on the sitcom have finally come to grips with how talented Larry really is.

Larry David and Jeff Garlin

Would you ever tell Janice from Friends that it's annoying when she says LOL at something funny? I doubt it. How about explaining to Susie Greene that nobody can stand it when she goes "ahhhhh" after every sip she takes? I would rather hide in a corner than confront her like that, but that's what LD does, and it's about time he was recognized for it.

The other side of "Palestinian Chicken" was just that, the Palestinian chicken that apparently was the best thing in the entire world. A couple of Jewish people eating at a place like that made for a bunch of humorous moments, highlighted by LD and Jeff getting cheered by the patrons after shoving Funkhouser away for wanting to wear his yarmulke inside.

It also created the ever-awkward moment when Funkhouser heard Larry having sex with Shara, who yelled out "f*ck me you Jew bastard!" It was quite hilarious to LD, and to much of the audience I'm sure, but the Big Funk wasn't too happy about, which was probably the funniest part of the whole thing.

After you decide which side Larry ended up choosing, his Jewish friends or the best sex of his life, help us decide if LD handled the situations below correctly:

The Adult Dinner Party
LD's Stance: He felt that the teenager shouldn't have been at the party to begin with, but if she's going to be there, she can listen to a dirty joke.
My Perspective: I really feel this depends on the group of adults, and just how old the child is, but a dinner party like that really felt like no kids allowed. I'm not as crude as Larry, so the idea to tell a dirty joke wouldn't really come to mind, but if it did, it would not be happening with a young teenage girl at the table. I understand it's probably mild to what she hears at high school, but that's not the point. Did it make for a hilariously awkward dinner, though? Yes. Point, Curb.

The No Matter What
LD's Stance: If someone goes out of their way to tell you not to let something happen no matter what, you adhere by that. That is, unless the results can benefit you greatly.
My Perspective: I'm with Larry on this one all the way. What's the point of listening to people's requests if you are just going to go against them half an hour later? Juliet said don't let her eat cake no matter what, and I would have been right there with him wrestling it away from her. We have a different story with the Rabbi because LD needed her to let the Big Funk play golf, so using his "no matter what" stance to trade chicken for a golf championship was okay in my book. Then again, Sammy ended up ruining everything on the 17th hole, which made everything else that much funnier.

As always, here are some of our favorite quotes from "Palestinian Chicken."  Don’t forget to check out all the best one-liners at our Curb Your Enthusiasm quotes page.

Jeff: He has no balls. I have a solid single ball. | permalink
Juliet: How are the potatoes?
Larry: Actually, the potatoes are a little cold. | permalink
Funkhouser: She's an adult when she turns 13 or learns to make her first latkes. | permalink
Jeff: You know what you are? You're a social assassin. | permalink
Larry: You really are your mother's daughter, aren't you?
Sammy: Yeah. Now get the f*ck out my driveway you bald prick. | permalink
Larry: I know we have our problems with these people, but man oh man, do they know what they're doing, chicken wise. | permalink

Palestinian Chicken Review

Editor Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 (35 Votes)

Dan Forcella is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow him on Twitter.

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Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 8 Episode 3 Quotes

Juliet: How are the potatoes?
Larry: Actually, the potatoes are a little cold.

He has no balls. I have a solid single ball.

Jeff