"Blunt Talk" Recap: "I Brought a Petting Goat!"

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

We've talked a lot about the healthy mix of bittersweet and gentle storytelling on Blunt Talk while the show keeps its comedy roots going and with good reason. The show is damn good at peppering in either tear jerking moments or ones that warm your heart, but last night...the show finally decided to go all out hilarious. 

Yes, "I Brought a Petting Goat!" was rip roaringly funny, so much in fact that I had to pause my DVR last night on several occasions to get the laughs out so I didn't miss another joke because they just kept coming rapid fire. Not to mention, this episode was filled to the bring with star studded cameos and guest spots, and the cause of this wonderful cavalcade of comedy? A party hosted by Walter.

In order to celebrate the 33th Anniversary of the end of hostilities from the Falklands Conflict, Walter hosts a grand celebration at his humble abode and holy hell, everyone, and I mean everyone that has managed to show up on the show came to this party. Walter's pal from the Sexual Addiction group, the guest that called him out on television for plagiarism, Stan the bartender, Phil the piano player, the list goes on and on and it was simply magnificent. But the joke that left my sides splitting last night was the one involving Jim and the hot dog. Seriously, that was an absolute stroke of genius.

But, while I spent most of my night wiping the tears from my eyes, the show of course took a few moments to explore its characters and their humanity and I would have been stunned had the show stuck with just the comedy so thank heavens we had those gentle moments and the two that caught my eye the most were for Rosalie and Walter. Rosalie because it's clear she's beginning to crack with Teddy's deteriorating state and is desperate to feel needed and wanted by someone in her life and that revelation was simply heartbreaking. 

Yet oddly enough, she and Walter share the same need. Perhaps the most sobering moment of the night was Walter walking about the party, seeing all the couples kissing or holding each other and we were witness to some fine acting from Patrick Stewart as you watch Walter try his best to keep it together and not let the loneliness tear into him and those final moments of the show, with a flashback to the conflict in the Falklands where he doesn't leave Harry behind...well it's clear now that Walter is a man haunted by every moment of his past. Every mistake, every lost moment, they stay with him and that most certainly is a profound and fitting ending to the penultimate episode of the season. Until next week, when we hopefully see what this revelation brings about in the season finale.

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