Sex, Death and Nudity

Coupling Episode Review

In which there is a giggle loop.

What Happened

Jeff is up for an interview and worries that he'll panic and say an accidental word, like "nipples." Not to mention the possibility of having to suppress a "giggle loop." Steve suggests that he imagines the interviewers in their underwear, a tactic Jeff likes so much he starts using it on everyone.

Steve winds up doing some suppression of his own when he opens his door to a sobbing Jane: her Auntie Margaret has died. Steve tries to explain that the end of their relationship relieves him of obligation to comfort her over her aunt - or to go to her funeral - but Jane gets her way. Realizing that Jane hasn't told her family that Jane and Steve are broken up, Susan insists on accompanying Steve to the funeral. Desperate, Steve tries to recruit Jeff to be Susan's date, so that Steve can be Jane's date. And when Susan gets Patrick to be her date, he decides he'll just have to bring Sally.

At the funeral itself (after a brief detour through a Reservoir Dogs imitation), Jane gives Steve an erection when she mentions how much she likes Susan - would have gone for that herself if Steve hadn't got there first. Visions of lesbians dance in his head as the minute's silence for poor Margaret starts up. Steve, Jeff and Patrick find themselves fighting the giggle loop - until a little snigger breaks out.

Of Jane.

Days later, Jeff goes off to his interview. Only to be faced with a panel sitting in front of a giant mirror - in which his own imagined naked form is reflected.

What We Learned

• You are a pioneer in paranoia.
• Steve has to worry about Susan's aunt.
• You can't judge someone's health by one day.
• Death is the best advertisement for moisturizer.

Best Lines

Jeff: "How could you say 'thighs' to a person with an interview. Why not just throw in 'vulva'?"

What Did I Think?

Loved the punch-line with Jeff more than I should.