How To Live A Better Life - Season 2, Episode 8: "The Fight" Review

Watch The Episode Here

One thing about this show; it's definitely improving. It's pretty much a universal rule that the more you do something, the better you get at it. Compare this episode to the very first episode of the series, hell even the first episode of this season, and you will be able to tell that the They-Know-What-They're-Doing Meter is raising bit by bit. However, this really only applies to the technical aspects of the show, which is great in itself. As for the story element, the show is really spinning its wheels.

This week focused on Jordan preparing himself for the most easily-provoked fight in recent memory, but it doesn't happen right away. You know what though? The intro this week was actually related to the main story! Wow! It wasn't anything particularly special, but wow! Evolution! This show is evolving!

We are reunited with Hot Girl in this episode, who last appeared in season one, episode nine "Hot Girl". She's dating some douche (new guest star Ben Watson) now, proving that Hot Girl is a glutton for dating abuse. What's weird is that she's aware that she's being mistreated, yet stays with Ben for some reason. She did the same thing with Jordan on their date last season. And she even acts like she likes Jordan in this episode! Somebody help this girl. I think she's got some deep-rooted problems she needs to work through.

On the main cast side of the show, Mike shows up to Jordan's house with a sack full of groceries (read: ice cream). He's spending so much time over there that he thinks that's his house now. D'aww, Mike. I think he has some issues too. Probably something related to not being able to handle being on his own. There are people like that. It makes sense, actually, Mike Sylvan is mentally ill.

Jordan overhears the ice cream truck driving by, and goes out to find it, not knowing that Mike just got some. But who wants the processed ice cream? Not Jordan! He wants somethings that was just handled by a closeted sex offender! So off he goes. He doesn't find the truck, sadly, but runs into Hot Girl and her douche boyfriend Ben. Jordan calls Hot Girl by "Hot Girl" because that's all he knows her by, and this offends Douche Ben. He then calls Jordan by "Bucko" because he's a douche and tells him "5 O'CLOCK. SCHOOL PARKING LOT. BE THERE." What's funny is that the parking lot they eventually have their confrontation is a church parking lot. The school one is a bit more to the right. BUT WHATEVER Jordan never obliges to the fight, but he goes home and tells Mike that this is happening anyway.

Thing is, Jordan's never been in a fight. So Mike agrees to help train Jordan, because apparently he's got experience. Eleven fights he claims to have been in. Whatever, Mike. Allowing someone to wail on you because you're a defenseless little turd isn't a fight. Thankfully, they don't throw a montage in here, because, well, that'd be lazy. Plus, we've already had one of those in "The Pool Master".

After Jordan seems to be ready. He completely by chance catches an after-school special on tv, telling him that violence is bad. Whatever, man. Jordan's mind is made up! He's gonna gat that kid! Y0LO $$WAG FIIIIISHHHH

But the message gets to him, and he throws the fight. Cool.

This episode was pretty alright. And by "pretty alright" I mean, "I also had problems with this episode, as with all of them". I'm in the mood to list things right now, so I'm going to do that.

1. The "I think you should go and make me a sandwich" line was terrible. Lines like that are awful. Not because they're sexist, but because they are NEVER FUNNY. If the character is sexist, give them sexist things to say. But NEVER give them lines like that. Anything with women and kitchens is off-limits because they are bad. Really bad. 
2. Here's something that really urked me: When Ben started doing pull ups on the tree branch, he kicked the camera, and the shot kept going. Seriously! They did not re-shoot that! And it's not like nobody noticed it during filming, because there was a real human being holding that camera. What's even worse, is when I first watched this episode with Zach and Jordan, they did not seem to notice and/or care until I pointed it out. How in the hell do you not notice something like that?
3. Lastly, and you know it's coming, the ending to this episode was lackluster. Mainly because Mike just decided to drop his British accent altogether and go full native-Midwestern on us. Jordan didn't notice, but I sure did. I know, in "Do The Dew" Mike reveals that he's not actually British, but don't do stuff like that and not call some sort of attention to it. It looks more like a mistake rather than a subtle nod when you completely downplay it into oblivion.

All of that being said, I think mechanics-wise, this was a strong episode. It was the last episode filmed for season two, so the culmination the guys' experience from the past 23 episodes is put into this one, and it shows. The plot is split up between characters, so the pacing is better. There are less awkward cuts (but still a bunch) and more fluid shots. The characterization of Mike and Jordan is top-notch at this point. If they pay more attention to detail when filming and stop making weird/dumb decisions with the stories (which would include them making PROPER endings), I think season three can be something special. Like, really good. The best stuff they've ever done. Once they stop running in place, they only way to go is up.

Stray Observations:

• Comments?
• HTLBL Fun Fact: This episode was originally titled "Get The Girl". I like that title better.
• Is "Not in my calendar." A reference to something? Jordan and his movie references.
• The sound effects were well chosen in this episode. The ice cream truck sounded like it was really outside, the shower sounded like it was really on in an enclosed space, and even the Mortal Kombat game kind of correlated to what was happening in the scene. Good editing, Zach.
• Speaking of, is the Super Nintendo just a regular Super Nintendo when it's not being a dream machine? Or are we going to act like that episode never happened? Damn you guys.
• Ben Watson really phoned it in this episode. I even talked to him today and he agreed that that was the worst acting he's ever done.
• Ben still kicked that camera. Jesus Christ.
• The flashback to "Hot Girl" was nice, but a little too long. The part with Mike was unnecessary.
• Haha, America bandana.
• Mike losing control of himself around Hot Girl is always funny.
• Overall Episode Grade: B-