The initial appeal of The Kominsky Method wasn’t just that it stars a pair of Hollywood legends in Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin, but that it offers a welcome change of pace from the usual sitcom stylings of writer-creator Chuck Lorre. While that method has served him very well over the years with mega-hits like The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, it wasn’t necessarily the right fit for a single-camera comedy-drama about two older men in the twilight of their careers and lives, and which touches — frequently — on notions of death and just how much it sucks to get old.
That’s not to say there isn’t room for humor — gallows or otherwise — around two things all humans must experience in their lifetimes. If nothing else, the Emmy-nominated first season proved that with aplomb. But what it also did was demonstrate the lengths to which Lorre was able to execute a sitcom on a different level from what has made him one of the most successful television writers and producers in the history of the medium. The comical melancholy of The Kominsky Method made for a satisfying binge-watch, in particular as the banter between Douglas’s not-so-reformed cad and acting teacher Sandy Kominsky and his grieving friend/agent Norman Newlander (Arkin) played perfectly to the two actors’ strengths. So, it’s a bit of a surprise to see the degree to which season 2 tends to rely on punchline-heavy dialogue that feels noticeably less natural than what’s come before.
It’s debatable whether or not The Kominsky Method is funnier in season 2 than it was in season 1. There’re more blatant jokes, to be sure, but an increase in swings taken doesn’t necessarily result in a greater home run percentage. Viewers’ mileage will vary, of course, and some will likely find the increased reliance on jokes to be a welcome relief from some of the show’s more persistent themes. Nevertheless, the new season, while still being as charming as ever, and plenty fun to watch, does feel at times as though it’s trying too hard to please an audience it’s not necessarily intended for.
That being said, when the series is more like its old self (sorry), that is, when it simply lets the gentle contemplative humor of its premise, coupled with the inimitable charm of its leading men, take over, it’s often very funny. Case in point: Sandy’s daughter Mindy (Sarah Baker) confesses she’s been in a relationship with an older man for some time now. Fearing the worst, Sandy agrees to meet his daughter’s new beau, Martin, only to discover two shocking truths: he’s about Sandy’s age, and, perhaps due to that fact, Sandy really likes the guy. It helps that Martin is played by Paul Reiser, who brings a disarming likability to both the character and his dynamic with Douglas.
Similarly, Arkin is paired more frequently with another newcomer, Madelyn, an old flame of Norman’s played by Jane Seymour. As luck would have it, and as the series’ sometimes morbid sensibilities demand, Madelyn is a widower, freeing her up to reconnect with Norman, and maybe even help him though his grief and struggles with his recovering addict daughter, Phoebe (Lisa Edelstein).
It’s something of a gamble for The Kominsky Method to not only add several new characters in season 2, but also use those characters as a means of providing Sandy and Norman with storylines that are, by and large, separate from one another. While this gives the season a sense of growth and expansion, it’s not necessarily one that was needed, at least not right away. With just eight, half-hour episodes at its disposal, The Kominsky Method was a rare instance in which a new show, let alone one on Netflix, felt like it could have benefitted from a longer season. As such, the end of season 1 felt a bit like the preamble to a more dedicated exploration of Sandy and Norman’s relationship. That’s still certainly on the table this time around, but the show is asked to share some fairly limited real estate with Martin, Madelyn, Sarah, Phoebe, not to mention Lisa (Nancy Travis), and the cast of characters who comprise Sandy’s acting class and provide the show with some of its most consistent laughs. The result is a season that at times shows the seams of its construction, almost as though it’s straining from the pressure of trying to do too much.
Certain season 2 inconsistencies aside, The Kominsky Method is still one of Netflix’s best comedies. And when it finds time to explore the notion of death and the many indignities of getting older with a sense of humor, it’s a pleasure to watch. Though it seems at times as if the show is working at cross purposes with regard to its humor and its storyline, there’s still enough of what makes the series so good to find yourself caught up in, and leave the door open for season 3. The sun’s not setting on Sandy or Norman, and with any luck it won’t set on The Kominsky Method for some time yet.
The Kominsky Method season 2 will stream exclusively on Netflix beginning Friday, October 25.
