Curb Your Enthusiasm Recap: Palestinian Chicken

Could Larry David one day bring peace to the Middle East?

Larry David speaks his mind like no other. It’s what makes LD, LD. It’s also what gets him into incredibly funny shit most of the time.

In an episode where Larry David tackles the Middle East conflict, Jewish self-loathing, and final marriage straws, Larry David’s uncompromising commentary is in fine form. Dubbed a “social assassin” by Jeff, Larry David takes on a number of favors hits and bungles them spectacularly. Much to our enjoyment.

But before we get to that, LD and Jeff have finally discovered the solution to bringing peace to the Middle East. Palestinian chicken. Apparently it’s amazing, because “these guys know what they’re doing” at Al-Abbas — a chicken joint that’s quickly becoming a lightning rod of controversy. Not all that different from the WTC Mosque debate, the Jews of Curb Your Enthusiasm argue over Al-Abbas’s plans for a new store opening. Next to Goldblatt’s Deli, no less! The chutzpah of these guys!

If only the Jews would try the chicken.

When you ask Larry David to keep you away from something using the phrase “no matter what”, be prepared to get into a wrestling match when you finally crack. Tasked with keeping desserts and chicken away, social assassin LD makes quick work of Eddie’s wife (Denny Siegel) and Rabbi Stein (Joanne Baron). But when it comes to more important matters, like verbal txting and annoying sipping noises, Larry David can’t quite get it right. When asked to confront the wives of his friends, it costs him a Golf Championship at his most cherished country club. Larry David essentially shoots himself in the foot when he takes on these assignments, setting off a series of arguments.  Arguments that are the clearly the final straws in a marriage. Wasn’t there a Seinfeld episode about that?

Larry David’s self-deprecating humor shines when confronting Funkhouser’s renewed faith in Judaism. Probably the funniest story thread in the entire episode and one that had me grabbing at my belly when Funkhouser’s Jew cap falls off after he’s been sitting in the living room listening to the dirty talk between Palestinian and self-loathing Jew.

“You occupying #@$%. Occupy this!”

“Yeah, I’m an occupier.”

So when Curb Your Enthusiasm ends, what choice do you think Larry makes at the end? Does he choose his hot new piece of ass or does he go running back to Jew Nation?