Episode Report Card Aaron: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Zed's Dead, Baby. Zed's Dead.
By Aaron | Season 2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 04.20.2002
Speaking of later on, we now cut to Nate and David, upstairs at the kitchen table. Nate is upset to be working on Christmas Day, but David rightfully points out that they've had worse Christmases. "Yeah, we have," sighs Nate. "Do you remember the last time you saw him?" David thinks for a moment, but can't come up with an answer. Nate, on the other hand, remembers quite clearly, and the slow zoom into his face makes it clear that it's time for a flashback.
Dear God, that hair! I'd forgotten how much they've cleaned up Peter Krause now that he's a respectable (non-gay) mortician and everything. He's back to his season one hairdo in this scene, and it really looks like he's wearing some sort of animal pelt on his head. Assuming, of course, that whatever animal it was died in a bizarre accident involving an electrical shock and a giant vat of hair mousse. Anyway, he and Claire are out on the back porch after last year's Thanksgiving dinner, sharing a joint and bitching about the commercialization of Christmas. Suddenly, Dad appears, smoking a joint of his own, and everyone hurries to hide their respective vices. Nate and his father make some small talk, with Nate opining that they've got a lot to be thankful for. "Either that or we've lowered our expectations so much we've given up on anything better than this," says Dad, before breaking out in the giggles. I've got say, Richard Jenkins does a phenomenal job here of portraying a man who is stoned off his ass, knows damn well that his kids are stoned off their asses, and truly appreciates the irony of not being close enough to them to really talk about it. They banter a bit more, and then Dad heads off to pick up a body. Claire, meanwhile, has a total wide-eyed look on her face as she watches the men in her life interacting. Damn, she's cute. The Late Nate's last words to his eldest child are, "It's good to see you, son. Take care of yourself," and then we return from the flashback to see David leaving Nate alone with his thoughts at the kitchen table. Hmm. Symbolic much?
The Ghost of Christmas Past: I am the Ghost of Christmas Past. I have come to show you the error of your ways.
Aaron: Um, okay. You do know I'm Jewish, right?
The Ghost of Christmas Past: Oh. Well, that's gonna be a problem.
Aaron: Why? You can't do Chanukahs past?
The Ghost of Christmas Past: Hell no. We're union. I don't even have to work Kwanzaa.
Aaron: Wow. Good deal.