TRIAL & ERROR: LADY, KILLER S2E7 & S2E8: Friendship & Affectionate Parody

Trial & Error: Lady, Killer gives us more insight into its central characters in episodes seven and eight, “A Family Affair” and “Bad Instincts”. Every episode of Trial & Error wonderfully combines absurd humor with heartfelt moments and a focus on characters who care for each other.

Trial & Error is a remarkable ensemble, where each performance is strong and hilarious, and no performance undermines anyone else. Everyone in the cast plays so well off each other, creating a community of characters you want to visit each week.

The Importance of Friendship in Trial & Error

Trial & Error takes pride in the friendships between all of its characters. East Peck starts to feel like home for the audience, as it also does for its characters coming from the city. Both Josh (Nicholas D’Agosto) and Nina (Amanda Payton) have started to enjoy their time in East Peck.

Josh’s story-line of becoming more and more connected to East Peck and the friends he has made here is an important part of the success of Trial & Error. The outsider coming into town story has been done many times, but I love how Trial & Error has always treated its central town and all its citizens with affection.

In episodes seven and eight, I loved seeing Nina work with Josh, Anne, and Dwayne, and become a part of the group as the episodes came to an end. Showing her seeing more in East Peck like we saw in Josh throughout season one helps show how Trial & Error, and its central town of East Peck, puts an important on showing that you care to the ones you love.

Jayma Mays performance as Carol Anne is always strong, and this season has been especially good for her. I love seeing her relationship with Josh, as well as the rest of the group. In this season, her campaign as well as her pregnancy have given Jayma Mays some very strong comedic moments, as well as some equally strong emotional ones. I loved Carol Anne’s bed rest resulting in her bringing a bed into the courtroom because her character is strong and never gives up. The moment between Carol Anne and Josh in the bed set up in the courtroom is sweet, yet still has the edge we have come to know in their relationship.

Unique Yet Connected Anthology

As an anthology, Trial & Error: Lady, Killer is both connected in tone and characters, yet is extremely unique as well. I love how the season feels like its own entity, but still has the charm we came to know in season one. Season two episodes have occasionally referenced the first season, but more often, they offer unique insights into the previous episodes in season two.

When the show does reference its prior season, it is always in a way that flows well with the episodes, and never feels like they are trying to distract the audience from the story they have built in the second season.

The case with Jesse Ray feels more connected to the tone of season one, and it is a nice change from the case with Lavinia (Kristin Chenoweth). The trajectory of season two ‘solving’ Lavinia’s case halfway through gave the show an opportunity to explore different areas and a different kind of character.

I have loved the cases surrounding both characters, and getting to know more and more about these characters through the cases. These past episodes have given nice insight into Jesse Ray Beaumont, and have been a great way for Michael Hitchc*ck to showcase his comedic talents. His performance perfectly blends the surprise and paranoia of the character with an underlying sweetness, which comes across with his friendship with Mr. Boom and Echo.

Meeting Mr. Boom (Sandy Robson) and Echo (Robert Mann) brings Jesse Ray into a new light. I like how the character is not written as a terrible person because a few characters, mainly Lavinia, have told us how much disdain they have for him. Trial & Error never writes any character with the purpose of hating them. Even when a character comes up as part of a joke, they are always given depth and in most cases, reasons to love them. The center of Trial & Error is one of affection rather than hating on small towns. Like any worthy parody, Trial & Error jokes about its central themes while also showing all the reasons these same themes are deserving of our love.

One moment I felt was especially strong in these episodes were the flashbacks to where every main character was when the initial Jesse Ray trial was taking place. I liked seeing the relevance of the case for each of the characters we have come to know and love.

Anne (Sherri Shepherd) experiences more ailments in these episodes, which lead to strong comedic moments. Her Alice in Wonderland syndrome which makes her think objects are either much bigger or much smaller than they are is great, especially in the frozen yogurt shop, The Frozen Pecker, run by Forge Clooney, a man who also provides the best forgeries in East Peck.

I love how Anne grabbing the huge decorative spoon off the wall is in the background, while the plot is moving forward with the conversation about Lavinia’s passport. Trial & Error is so good at creating amazingly funny jokes which aren’t the focus of the scene, but something happening in the background, in on-screen text, or simply in the name of a character or store.

Building Comedy Through Twists and Turns

Trial & Error does an especially strong job of creating strong comedic moments through the twists and turns of its plot. The twist with Lavinia possibly being Dwayne’s mother is an interesting twist, but even better than the plot directions this reveal could take us in, the way it leads to Dwayne trying to act smarter is amazing.

Steven Boyer’s performance is always amazing, and in this episode he is given a change to play Dwayne with small changes, both to his personality and his appearance. I love how the characters around him interact differently with this slightly different version of Dwayne.

I love how Dwayne decides to change his hair and clothing choices based on the potential that he is Lavinia’s son. The joke about him wearing laces because he used to trip over them is great, especially when it leads to him tripping once he is told he isn’t her son. This moment is especially strong in the way it leaves the audience wondering if Lavinia is telling the truth.

Conclusion:

Trial & Error: Lady, Killer continues to provide a smartly written story with comedic moments performed by a wonderfully talented ensemble. The blend of tones of friendship and finding where you belong with a well-crafted crime story makes Trial & Error stand out as one of the best current comedies.

Trial & Error airs Thursdays on NBC 9/8C.

Are you enjoying this second season of Trial & Error? Do you hope another network picks the show up for a season three? Share your thoughts in the comments!