Better Off Ted went out about the same way it came in. This season finale didn’t offer any spectacular twists, exciting developments or jaw-dropping cliffhangers. Instead, it offered us another over-the-top parody of life in corporate Ameerica. The theme this week was morale and individuality.
I know when I worked in a giant corporation, it was all too common to feel under-appreciated and largely unknown by management. I half expected my bosses to just call us drones rather than by our real names. And I can’t tell you how many times I had upper management ask me if I needed assistance finding something as if I was a guest at the company after I’d been working there for six years.
I guess that’s why Better Off Ted works for me. Sure it’s in that realm of absurdity that Scrubs teetered into the past several years, before reigning it back into J.D.’s fantasies this year, but it’s relatable. And it’s one of those things where if you don’t laugh about it, it will drive you crazy.
There were some funny moments in the episode, and I did enjoy seeing Veronica let her hair down and try so hard to compliment people. Ted, on the other hand, just showed us the depths of his insecurities by trying to get in good with the “old boys” club. And yes, I worked with those guys too.
The storyline that was the most ridiculous though was the cubicles one. “The Company” does ridiculous things all the time, as if there is no proper thinking behind any of their decisions, so it wasn’t a surprise when they came up with their four non-threatening themes for the drones’ cubicle decorations.
What was surprising was how quickly everyone fell into their cliques. It kind of pulled me out of what I like about this show. The people working there, save Veronica, have always seemed kind of sane and normal. The humor was in their working at the whim of “The Company.” But by them devolving into their themed groups, they too became parodies of reality. And I don’t think I like that direction for the show.
There’s enough fun to be had in looking at the big corporation as a joke without making the regular working people there jokes as well. Veronica, as upper middle management, should be a joke. Ted is the anomaly as the likable manger. And everyone above that should be inept beyond fathoming, which appears to be the case. But we need our “everyman” to relate to all the craziness, and that is supposed to be the regular people working at Veridian Dynamics. At least keep Linda sane.
Poor Linda, who is our voice of true reason. Even she got sucked up into the cat madness, though at least she recognized her own weakness at the end when everyone was realizing they’d succumbed to poor choices for the wrong reasons. Ted’s was in needing to be liked by everyone. Veronica’s was in trying to make the employees less afraid of her. Linda just wanted to belong, which is human enough, I guess.
Originally there was a thirteen episode commitment for Better Off Ted, so I’m not sure if there are six more episodes floating around out there or if they were never made. What I do know, is I’m pleased that I’m hearing that ABC likes the show creatively, even if it hasn’t found its audience yet. At seven episodes, I think it’s still trying to find its groove, but even at this stage its so much better than a lot of comedies out there.
Clacked by Jason Hughes 
on May 06, 2009 @ 09:00 EST5EDT
Actually, I thought the four tribes division was extremely realistic, especially as the pre-existing social relationships between the people we followed were casual and superficial. I’d bet they didn’t even know each others’ last names. And to me, every random employee we’ve seen in previous episodes has been weirder than Linda.
It’s not guards and prisoners, but the psychology of the group (or the mob) is awfully reductive. Loved Veridian’s non-offensive and completely arbitrary choices: Green Bay Packers, Cats, Space, or Classic Cars.
I also liked that Ted’s perfectionism and over-achievement was finally explicitly linked to his Daddy issues.
Personally, I think it’s the best new show of the season, and I can’t believe how quickly it’s jelled.
“There’s enough fun to be had in looking at the big corporation as a joke without making the regular working people there jokes as well.”
I cannot agree with that. One of the things that made Office Space such as success was their willingness to show the quirks of all the employees of a corporation. “JUst a MOmeNT.” Who doesn’t say that? Or, “It’s MY stapler.”
Better Off Ted goes there, and just as well. I know all of those people. Including how easy it is to fall into false cliques.
I really hope that it gets picked up for the coming season.
I absolutely love this show. I hope ABC gives it a chance.
Are you kidding? Who wants this show to depict what life is really like in a large corporation? It’s the absurdities and quirks that make it so charming and lovable. Without it, all you have is The Office, which has waxed tired and boring.
Better Off Ted runs in the same vein as shows like 30 Rock and Arrested Development, both of which are hilarious. It’s the exaggeration of reality that makes it as endearing as it is. If it was more realistic, I’d hate it.