I'm bothered. Extremely bothered. Even though it has been a few months since HBO cancelled 'Bored to Death' I'm still rather annoyed about it. For those who don't know, 'Bored to Death' was a clever little comedy about a novelist who takes jobs as a private detective on the side. The programme stars... I mean starred (sigh), Jason Schwartzman, with Ted Danson as his mentor and Zach Galifaianakis as his best friend. I bloody love Jason Schwartzman. It has long been my intent to start a short people club and I shall be petitioning him to join. Everything he's in is brilliant. His many collaborations with Wes Anderson, 'Marie Antoinette', as well as 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' are all among my favourite films, and he was again brilliant in 'Bored to Death' as white wine-drinking, love-lorn writer of varying success, Jonathan Ames.
The show was a whimsical mix of gum-shoe detection and farcical comedy. It was so good. I looked forward to their misadventures, like the time they performed a rescue mission from an Asian spa, or when they defended their honour in a grudge-match against their rivals from GQ magazine. Episodes of 'Bored to Death' had a refreshing unpredictability. Oh how I'll miss their zany adventures. Series writer, Jonathan Ames, who gives his name to Schwartzman's character is apparently noted for this kind of anecdotal, biographical style of writing, where he recounts events of significance and humour in his life. Ames' stories are coloured not only by the events of the narrative but the neuroses of his characters and their concerns. And the fact they were often quite stoned on the job. That also had some pretty excellent results.
The characters were well formed and we grew to care dearly about the bromance of Jonathan, George and Ray. There was a continuity in story-lines, with certain plot lines being revisited, most significantly that of Ray's sperm donation. It moved from being just a brief story arc to becoming a major plot device in Ray's battle for visitation rights. Jonathan's, George's and Ray's friendship had depth. It's fairly commonplace in TV today to have complete inconsistency and shallow characterisations, but not in 'Bored to Death'. George is portrayed as a loveable old stoner rogue, who acts as a father figure/ mentor to Jonathan. A sort of a bon viveur, he is excellently played by Ted Danson. Zach Galifianakis fills his typical role of 'the lone wolf', a characterisation more deeply explored in that famous monologue from 'The Hangover'. We don't understand his actions, he operates using a type of logic none of us are familiar with, but he is held with special fondness in all of our hearts. The dynamics were brilliant, especially the introduction of a nemesis and rival to Jonathan in the form of Louis Green.
Curse you, HBO, for commissioning fine, well produced programming! You sucked me in with your relatable, funny characters and humorous, absurd plot-lines, then you took it away! So rarely do we come across characters that are so endearing and modern, without falling into the dreaded pitfall of 'quirkiness'. I love the little details in everything, like Jonathan's penchant for white wine and the inclusion of a goodly number of Ray's works. Le sigh, HBO, you've made this little nerd immensely happy and tragically sad in equal measures.
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