Storylines: Jerry’s apartment gets robbed while he’s away and Elaine house sits for him. Kramer leaves the door open that leads to the robbery. George shows Jerry a new apartment, but ends up wanting it himself.
Personal take: This is the closest the show gets to changing locales. It’s a classic staple of the great sitcoms. From “I Love Lucy” to “Cheers” to one of my favorites, “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” there’s always that main set piece that stays the duration of the show. I think it was early enough in the show that it wouldn’t have been a big deal, but now I can’t imagine the show taking place in a different apartment. I think the familiarity with the locations gives a certain continuity that shows otherwise didn’t have before Seinfeld.
As far as the coin-flipping debacle in this episode goes, there are a couple things to consider. First of all, if George had won the coin toss after it hit the counter, then he wouldn’t have said anything; however, I do agree with George. I would re-flip the coin. I love the choose game they play instead.
On a side note, I think it’s interesting that Elaine is upset about losing the deposit on the Uhaul like it just happened, even though it had to have been a while after that happened since the new people who took the apartment were all moved in and everything. It’s not a big deal, but I don’t think anyone thought of the time that would’ve lapsed.
Gaps in society: This is an obvious one. People get robbed. It happens. They go to the police. Nothing happens. If, for some reason, people try to take matters into their own hands, like Kramer does in the episode, that usually spells trouble. Where problems come in is if it isn’t your fault. Accidents happen, but someone needs to be held accountable for that (Kramer, in this case). I think he should’ve made Kramer buy all the stuff that was stolen, or at least a new TV.
The other odd situation about two friends wanting the same apartment usually involves more mature ways of being handled. Some might even compromise by sharing it as roommates (can you imagine George and Jerry as roommates?). But no, these two have to play games like little children to see who should get the apartment. Good stuff.
Jerry’s bits: He opens with how sticking up your middle finger is really arbitrary, and that he would feel worse if someone gave him the “toe” instead of the “finger.” His next one is about how policemen don’t really do anything after a robbery. He later talks about how kids resolve disputes by “calling it,” which is perfectly legitimate.
Best lines:
Policeman: Well Mr. Seinfeld, we’ll look into it, and we’ll let you know if we find anything.
Jerry: You ever find anything?
Policeman: No.
Elaine: Jerry, it’s a walk-in closet. Look, I’m walking in it…What do you think?
Jerry (after closing the closet door): I like that.
Tidbits:
This episode was the first one written by someone other than Jerry and Larry David…. This was the first episode that Kramer slides in. He did so because he was late for a cue. But from that, Kramer started to slide into Jerry’s place.
Running jokes/references/connections:
Elaine gets a break from her roommate, the waitress/actress, who isn’t seen until final episode of season 2 in “The Deal.”
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