Going Dutch

After the pilot where I was very underwhelmed I thought I would at least give it one more chance. I don't think I made it ten minutes in the second episode. The plots are just written like a junior high school project. Then again Dennis Leary's usual sharp wit is both missing, and what is attempted just falls flat. I guess because he played a hard nosed drunk fire fighter and a cop in two different series they figured it would work as an army officer. Part of the problem was in those other series he broke the rules, but usually for a good reason to help others. Here he is supposed to be the top brass in what seems like a dumb joke in the first place. I've never served, but I've heard wild tails by some who have. Somehow a base like this one just does not seem plausible in the military. So Leary being sentenced to it for insubordination seems just so dumb.

It's funny but seems like a budget pilot. It has that Community kind of humor but lots of flaws. It misses some authenticity. The Dutch are some German crossover stereotype, Dennis Leary looks like a vampire and it often misses opportunities for cultural jokes. Still it has potential to be really funny. Danny Pudi saves the first pilot with his typical performance. Maybe a decent make-up artist can give Dennis Leary some spark, so the show can have a second star shine.

Without Danny Pudi's Community-input there's not much left worth watching. I'm wondering for which audience the show is made, what do you think?

I don't expect a low budget comedy to deliver an accurate depiction of the Netherlands, but this is just downright lazy. It's one thing to take creative liberties, but to conflate Dutch culture with... German, Swiss, Austrian maybe? Who knows? Honestly, I can't even tell what they're aiming for. It's as if the writers skipped geography class entirely, glanced at a pack of stroopwafels and cobbled together the entire plot based on a handful of tired Dutch stereotypes. If at least the humor could be its redeeming factor. But alas, the jokes are flat, shallow and barely enough to elicit even the faintest hint of a smirk.

It is clearly a fictionalized version of an Army base in the Netherlands so don't expect too much or any realism. It reminds me a little like Hogan's Heroes; I just didn't think too hard about how implausible almost everything was and just enjoyed the banter and shenanigans. The cast has good chemistry and the show has enough heart to make me want to watch more. I haven't liked the complete cast of a show this much since Community. Similar to Community this show is more focused on the characters interacting then the basic premise which I consider a good choice considering the weakness of the premise and apparent lack of care in doing research.

As others have mentioned, plot lines aren't always great. But it gives me early days Parks & Rec vibes (you know how you have to tell friends who haven't seen P&R to just stick through the first season or so?). They're working on it and I see it getting better with every episode. If it gets renewed, I think one day it'll become a cult classic like the aforementioned Parks, or even Community. Which reminds me, Danny Pudi is no stranger to this type of comedy. I recommend sticking with it, it has a lot to offer, and the dry wit is on point. The acting is, as others have said, great even when the plot isn't there which helps immensely. Are there a few dumb plots or issues with the show? Yes. But I think they're shaping it up and, if they get a second season, they could really do something great with it. So, while I'm not surprised at the poor reviews, I think it'll grow on folks like other cult comedies have.