Eastbound & Down very much fits into the mold of the Prestige TV era it grew up in but it feels unique to me in that yes, it’s incredibly dark, but I don’t find the show cynical at all. McBride and Hill genuinely believe even a bad man like Kenny Powers can change, even if it’s only slightly
Been rewatching and not only does it hold up, it really is one of the very best shows
The thing Eastbound & Down gets too is that while Kenny Powers is often the worst man in the world, he is also undeniably cool, the most swagged out guy, there’s a reason why he was a superstar. There’s a truth there, that’s every icon, it wouldn’t be an honest character study otherwise
May 13, 2025 18:35I don't feel as strongly towards this show as you do, but holy shit I would have paid for a full version of the audiobook he reads in every episode. Those scenes were always golden.
I think it was chapo that defined it in talking about Gemstones about how Danny McBride is the king of protestant american comedy. Because no matter how terrible his characters are, they are always redeemed and able to continue living their lives of success.
I think that’s true but I also think it’s interesting in that these shows also do genuinely believe these people can actually find some grace
The bits where he's looking right at some screaming insecurity and trying to talk around it... baby, that's acting
McBride really is such a great actor
