MovieChat Forums > Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) Discussion > Am I misunderstanding the subtlety of Th...

Am I misunderstanding the subtlety of The Acupuncturist?

posted 9 years ago by jason_13
3 replies | jump to latest

Don't get me wrong, this episode is still a fun watch because of the realistic, somewhat funny in a bitter way situation with his old friend in the grocery store. However, I can't completely enjoy it, because I seriously don't understand the whole Japanese sub-plot. I get that there is an obvious contrast between the acupuncturist sending him flowers and the waiter being hostile, but... why? These are characters with no previous background in the show. Why was he sending him flowers? Why was the waiter angry? At first Larry reacts like me, laughing and asking Jeff "What the hell?", but why was the waiter angry that Larry watered his shirt when it got on fire and why didn't Larry (of all people) say anything? It should've been an embarassing situation for the Japanese waiter, not for Larry. The storyline does connect to Larry's friend's father, but it never actually explains why the waiter is so mad. And to think that he was bald and bald people support each other, according to Larry.

As for the acupuncturist - he says that it IS a Japanese tradition just as Larry suspects, with the implication being that he just wants the $5000, but still - flowers?!

What are your thoughts on this episodes? It doesn't seem to have the highest of ratings, so it's probably for hardcore CYE fans only. I consider myself one, but this is just too bizarre even for me.

[–] j-curl 9 years ago

I think you're overreading it a little.

My favorite New York moments:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ0Sqmnle6Y

[–] rmontro 9 years ago

I do agree with the OP that the waiter was very unreasonable for being upset with Larry putting the fire out on his sleeve with the water. The guy was on fire, what does he expect?

[–] millar70 9 years ago

I think that's the oddest Curb episode I've seen.......it just doesn't seem to fit in to me, although I grew to like it more on repeated viewings.

It's a strange one, though......Larry's friend is kind of weird, the whole Cheryl/Ed Asner thing is bizarre, and the situation with the waiter doesn't really make much sense......a weird episode for sure.