Let’s all take a moment to bask in the glory of this photo.
Sitcom weddings tend to be polarizing; they can be heartwarming or nauseating affairs, depending on how cynical the viewer is. (I found Jim and Pam’s wedding to be nearly unwatchably saccharine, which should tell you where I fall on the spectrum.) I thought Parks and Recreation’s recent proposal was affecting, but mostly because the show undercut the moment with humor. It felt “realer” than a typical hackneyed TV proposal.
And then there’s last night’s 30 Rock, in which Liz Lemon, perpetually casual, whose fashion sense is more of the what’s-on-top variety, finally admits that she wants her perfect wedding, and in the episode’s climax, proceeds to have the most Liz Lemon wedding possible. Sure, she’s a princess – but that princess is Leia, in a costume that’s appeared a few times through the series’ run. And yeah, there are rings – rings bought at a police auction, one being a grill. And there’re some scripture readings – a chapter out of The Fountainhead, read, of course, by Jack. The moment blends Liz Lemon’s inherent wackiness that we’ve come to expect with a grounded feeling of relief and fulfillment that resonates with the sentimental and brutish alike, as fans have been waiting seven seasons for the character’s happiness to be confirmed by tying the knot. It’s a beautiful and moving moment not thrust upon the viewer or overly sentimentalized; it’s a natural end-point for a character so many Americans have been able to identify with, and as with an old friend, it’s refreshing to see her smiling.
It’s an earned moment; on a macro scale, it’s taken seven seasons to build up to this one dysfunctional wedding. On a micro scale, it also took the episode significant time to allow the wedding to happen; Liz and Criss transitioned from adoption without marriage, to a procedural court ceremony to the wedding subversion climax all within the episode’s span. Liz eventually came to the realization that she wanted her idealized wedding after obstacles to the ceremony – including a very welcome and perfect send-off for Dennis Duffy – kept halting her initial plans. Letting Criss, and not Jack, be the one to demonstrate how badly she wants “her day” is also a nice character trait – he really does know and love Liz Lemon.
“Mazel Tov, Dummies” will be remembered fondly as the wedding episode, which is lucky for the show, as the supplemental plots were mostly afterthoughts – middling adventures that only made me want to see more of Liz’s story.
The “also-rans” this week included Tracy’s discovering that he’s healthy. Dr. Spaceman breaks the news to him that he’ll have another 40, maybe 50 years of life, to which Tracy freaks. He’s always fashioned himself as James Dean (not James Deen, by the way), and happily figured he would die young, before real responsibility set in. Disappointed by his sudden health, Tracy learns to brush his teeth, begins hysterically planning for retirement and actually starts reading scripts that flow into his new production company before he’s hit by a taxi – twice. He has a post-Avada-Kedavra, Harry-and-Dumbledore moment in which a Harriet Tubman/Jack hybrid explains that his seeming immortality is not sealed – he can still die at any given time. He quickly reverts to his old, reactionary ways, and gives the green light to Toopher’s script. The subplot has its moments – the Tubman/Donaghy hybrid sexily eating corn may forever be burned into my brain – and it does advance Tracy’s arc this season. But it’s mostly inconsequential.
As for Jenna, she’s done in by a commercial she had filmed years earlier in which she said $1 million Surge points could buy her, and one-off character Terry – John Hodgman at his creepy best – now legally owns her. Jack manages to buy her back after unofficially arbitrating the matter, reasoning that Jenna’s 1994 worth of $1 million is now a paltry $2,000, as Jenna’s age and absurdity have really damaged her net worth. This leads to a downward spiral from Jenna that we’ve seen countless times before, but the spotlight is gratefully placed back on Liz.
It may not be Liz’s series; the ensemble is fantastic and Tracy’s and Jenna’s plots are often the funniest. But last night was Liz’s episode. Liz Lemon (Cross?) is now married. She’s finally found someone who will empty the dishwasher, not just take out the forks as needed, like she does.
Tidbits:
–While it’s a fulfilling end-point for Liz, it’s not the fulfilling end-point for Liz. I’m glad the show didn’t drag out the wedding until the last episode, but I’m curious to see where Liz will end up baby-wise. Adoption? Pregnancy? Will the final episode jump ahead to Liz delivering?
–Dr. Spaceman is never wasted. “Here’s a pamphlet with a picture of vaginas.”
–Black Dennis! And white Dennis only needs to pay for one year of college education!
–Liz Lemon’s eye roll is the Michael Jordan of eye rolls. Wow.
–“Ergo. Affleck’s finally going to get that Oscar.” Dennis Duffy, I’ve missed you.
–Official 30 Rock EpisodeCountDownOMeter: Six more. Let’s see if Jack can get the uplifting send-off that Liz receives.
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