The Decline and Fall of the Monty Empire
Week Seven (Feb. 10-14, 1986) -- Part I
Terry: "You really don't care about that night?"
Kevin: "I swear to you, I don't care. I swear to you. ... To hell with Laurelton!"
-- my thoughts EXACTLY!
Laurelton, the Terry's back in town stuff: After a month of buildup, the prodigal Miss Purity Water finally comes home. We get three episodes of Terry's former friends and neighbors treating her like dirt. Special attention goes to the boys in the bookstore who taunt Terry with a copy of Scarlet Woman in a Small Town (not a real novel), and the pair of crones who clearly think it's apt reading for her.
This week gives us two-thirds of the answer for why Terry's so disdained. On Wednesday, we see Terry get crowned as Miss Purity and have an absurdly quick reaction to her first drinks of alcohol. I mean, I guess it's possible that Terry could get drunk that fast off of three cups of spiked punch. Maybe Patrick and Dave gave her moonshine. Also, it seems likely that at least at the start of Terry's spree, she's consciously cutting loose in response to Patrick egging her on.
Back in the '90s, there was a Simpsons Comics story presented as Rev. Lovejoy's preaching against prank phone calls, with the added humor of Bart doodling, giving sarcastic commentary, etc. Naturally, the person being asked for in this version is especially lame ("Gee Willikers."). That's how this is all coming across to me, like a morality play presented by the hopelessly out of touch.
I mean, seriously, Terry playing with her dress, using her crown like a tambourine, then riffing and stomping while singing the lead on "I Am So Happy (His Way Is My Way)" (apparently not a real song) is supposed to be shocking? Reva Shayne, she ain't. In Thursday's episode, we have Terry drinking some more (when she sobers up, she's gonna puke like a firehose) and taking off the sash of her dress while dancing between Patrick and Dave. I wonder if Dave genuinely believed he was gonna be part of a devil's threesome. And all this playing out to the sounds of Juice Newton and The Cars.
At this juncture, Kevin seems likes the only sensible person, wanting to elope with Terry rather than have her continue to be tortured. Girlfriend's a masochist, though, or at least an attention hog, since she ends Friday's episode with the decision to fight back. Terry's going to include her walking down Main Street as part of the wedding ceremony.
"After tomorrow's over with, the past is gonna be buried. Terry Brock is dead. Long live Terry O'Connor."
By
Franko ·
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.