As most fans are well aware, Louie can go to some dark, dramatic places. After a very funny opening bit and some laugh out loud standup, this episode takes on a very somber, if darkly comical and strangely nostalgic tone. Tom Noonan appears as a very religious doctor who teaches Louis' younger self about Jesus Christ's suffering in an over the top and scarring way. The scene is an impressive feast of beautiful cinematography, disorienting editing, flawless acting, and pitch perfect tension. Even in its first, more comical season, Louis C.K.'s weird gem of a show was still filled with moments like these; unique and thrilling sequences that felt less like a more realistic episode of Seinfeld and more like an absurdist art house film. There are also some genuine and thought provoking questions borough up about belief and sin, and they are handled in a way that isn't trying to be "deep" or anything; instead, they're just handled really HONESTly, and this frank delivery of difficult issues is a large part of what makes this show as a whole so successful and brilliant in general.
2 Reviews
God
lassegalsgaard3 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
No matter what your feelings are towards Louis C. K. - and there are a lot of different opinions out there that are all totally valid - it's impossible not to be impressed with the lengths that he went to in order to get absolute creative freedom on "Louie," among others was taking less money, despite doing everything himself. It gave him the opportunity to tackle some of the issues that a lot of studios may have had some harsh feelings against, like this episode for example, which deals with the topic of religion. This is one of those few topics that's often seen as a taboo to talk about with others, alongside politics. However, for someone like Louis C. K., who was apparently bursting with an idea of showing his younger self going through one of the most traumatizing religion classes, this is the ideal place for him to come out with that; on a show where he can literally do anything. So from the beginning, I guess it was only a matter of time before he found the right placement for this episode and the right way of telling it, using his flair for dark comedy and obscure storytelling to bring it to the screen. And it made its impact because this was an absolutely killer of an episode that trades out the laughs for a more experimental tone that is overly dramatic and very dark, yet so filled with interesting imagery and amazing direction, that it feels like it completely belongs with the rest.
"Louie" is definitely a show that is unique in its identity, because it doesn't really have one. It doesn't have one single thing that it goes for, but rather tries to do a bit of everything. And honestly, that's one of the main reasons why it works so well. It has tackled themes in the past, but none as in-your-face as this. It literally starts out with a guy ready to do something very transgressive in order to go to Heaven, much to the main character's surprise. It's surprising what some people would do if Heaven is guaranteed for me.
But C. K. doesn't waste a lot of time making his own thoughts come across as secret, because he seems very adamant in his disbelief in God, mainly because he's not afraid of "sinning" during his onstage monologues. Knowing C. K.'s humor, it doesn't surprise anyone that he wouldn't be a God-fearing man. However, he's also too smart to just let that be it, and therefore, he dedicates most of the episode to a flashback sequence that paints a more nuanced picture of C. K.'s ride with faith, putting everything we've seen so far in a different perspective.
With the flashback, a lot of the episode's ideas take the forefront, and it's clear that C. K. is trying to draw parallels through the actions of the flashback to comments he made earlier in the episode and how people will do anything to show their faith. And what becomes the climatic event of a very scary medical examination of Jesus' crucifiction is something that would haunt anyone, especially a young child. And it paints a scary picture of what religion really is: not something that was made for beliefs, but something meant to scare other people into their place.
The episode ends, though, with a very loving moment between Louie and his mother that shows that, despite the show's comedic exterior, it's certainly also a poignant and very emotionally satisfying show. And it sends a nice message to people, that it's important to be true to oneself and be a good person, no matter if its a religion that says so or not. Looking through the comedy is C. K.'s job on this show and he's constantly good at doing that, making it always better than the last time, resulting in this emotional high point of the season.
"God" is a good exploration of religion and the purpose of it, which is shown beautifully through a horrifying flashback sequence to Louie's childhood. It's darker than the usual episode of "Louie," but it certainly hasn't forgotten its comedic roots with the opening scene and the monologues being clear comedic scenes that all hit.
"Louie" is definitely a show that is unique in its identity, because it doesn't really have one. It doesn't have one single thing that it goes for, but rather tries to do a bit of everything. And honestly, that's one of the main reasons why it works so well. It has tackled themes in the past, but none as in-your-face as this. It literally starts out with a guy ready to do something very transgressive in order to go to Heaven, much to the main character's surprise. It's surprising what some people would do if Heaven is guaranteed for me.
But C. K. doesn't waste a lot of time making his own thoughts come across as secret, because he seems very adamant in his disbelief in God, mainly because he's not afraid of "sinning" during his onstage monologues. Knowing C. K.'s humor, it doesn't surprise anyone that he wouldn't be a God-fearing man. However, he's also too smart to just let that be it, and therefore, he dedicates most of the episode to a flashback sequence that paints a more nuanced picture of C. K.'s ride with faith, putting everything we've seen so far in a different perspective.
With the flashback, a lot of the episode's ideas take the forefront, and it's clear that C. K. is trying to draw parallels through the actions of the flashback to comments he made earlier in the episode and how people will do anything to show their faith. And what becomes the climatic event of a very scary medical examination of Jesus' crucifiction is something that would haunt anyone, especially a young child. And it paints a scary picture of what religion really is: not something that was made for beliefs, but something meant to scare other people into their place.
The episode ends, though, with a very loving moment between Louie and his mother that shows that, despite the show's comedic exterior, it's certainly also a poignant and very emotionally satisfying show. And it sends a nice message to people, that it's important to be true to oneself and be a good person, no matter if its a religion that says so or not. Looking through the comedy is C. K.'s job on this show and he's constantly good at doing that, making it always better than the last time, resulting in this emotional high point of the season.
"God" is a good exploration of religion and the purpose of it, which is shown beautifully through a horrifying flashback sequence to Louie's childhood. It's darker than the usual episode of "Louie," but it certainly hasn't forgotten its comedic roots with the opening scene and the monologues being clear comedic scenes that all hit.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
