‘American Auto’ Recap: ‘The Letter’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

AMERICAN AUTO -- "The Letter" Episode 206 -- Pictured: (l-r) Harriet Dyer as Sadie, Ana Gasteyer as Katherine, X Mayo as Dori -- (Photo by: Greg Gayne/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 206 of ‘American Auto’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It really is quite amazing, how far comedy television shows have come. For these once simple stories, the kind that offered up hardcore yuks and little else, are outright impressing us in this day and age. Because they are now beginning to offer up bold commentary on our world, the kind that is neatly hidden beneath satire and jokes. But what they are offering is quite powerful in nature and the humor is allowing for the points these shows make, to stick with us long after a story has come to an end, and one show that is excelling at this is American Auto on NBC. Simply because this series is a flawless satire on corporate America, and it truly is digging into topics and questions and criticisms, and concerns, that we’ve harbored about the corporate world for years. 
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But the show isn’t just content with poking fun at some of the goofy decisions that we know are made at the corporate level, and the greed these companies enjoy, it feels the time has come to address how some corporations are struggling with how to handle the real world problems that are now part of the workplace since employees rely on their employers to pay their bills, and how workplaces are struggling to deal with the reality that the employee expects more from their employers in this day and age. And ‘The Letter’ brought forth this powerful examination… by way of some employee concerns. For a great deal of the employees at Payne Motors, came to learn that the company donated money to politicians that were Pro-Life and on the side of the ridiculous Dobbs decision and when pressed on the matter… Katherine was dismissive of the whole thing.

Which brought forth a letter that demanded she do something about it, and that in turn… led to turmoil in the office. Wherein Katherine pushed back on lowering the wall between duty and personal matters, and where the men were the ones who were writing future policies on how this was going to be handled and well… that made for some powerful commentary. The kind that really did explore how the modern working world has prioritized profits over people. Since cost concerns and bringing personal matters into the workplace, puzzled the team and left them at an impasse as to how to handle this, and it was incredible to see a comedy point out that employees want the current mentality that a job is nothing more than that to change, and to feel cared for by their employers through and through, because this kind of commentary is usually reserved for drama or film. But it was here, and it was glorious and kudos to the show for pointing out that the employment world is changing and that bosses need to adapt since people keep companies going. 

Not to mention, the show also deserves a massive round of applause for taking the time to point out how so many decisions regarding how a woman should live and what she should do with her body, are being made my men. Who have no understanding or right to do so, and who never include women in that conversation. Because no one in popular media is taking the time to point that out, or how ridiculous that truly is. But this show did it, and this show did it well since the attempt to create those policies without a single woman in the room, was disastrous in nature, and rightfully so. Because… men shouldn’t be making decisions for women, plain and simple. If anything, it was just incredible to be presented with these powerful and relevant points and get an idea of how companies are making simple decisions difficult, when they don’t have to be, and really… all of these storylines and moments made for one stunning episode.

One that managed to tackle topics that really are quite polarizing in nature and tend to anger those who firmly plant themselves on the pro-life side… in a manner that was engaging and non-polarizing. Simply because it stated facts and offered objectivity and humor to present what it had to say. In fact, it even went after the discourse and the polarizing nature of such arguments as well to point out that perhaps… we’d all be better served by being objective in matters that are critically important. So that common sense can win the day, and well… this episode deserves endless praise for its outright bravery and its desire to be more than just a corporate workplace comedy and truly… it will be interesting to see what other powerful messages are hidden within the framework of this series, as season two of this brilliant comedy continues along. Until next time.  

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