Comedic Misadventures Abound in 'Going Dutch'
A loud mouthed Colonel is transferred from the army headquarters with the rank and is posted to a non-military operating base in the Netherlands. This being his estranged daughter’s show, once the interim commander, he stumbles to introduce levity and structure to quite a diverse and chaotic world.
The main motifs of the episode ‘Going Dutch’ are recognition, reconciliation of family members, and cultural differences. The overall mood is highly ironical yet there is a very sweet recurring subplot of the family being reunited. There is more darkness mixed into gags and humor.
Such dramatic note is supported by the performance of Denis Leary as the Colonel, an energetic and charismatic austere man. Taylor Misiak plays the daughter’s role securely showing both resentment and love for her mother. Danny Pudi brings a lot of energy and fun to his role, while the rest of the cast adds depth to the antics.
The series is directed by Trent O’Donnell and Declan Lowney, and manages to tackle its themes with some measure of ambiguity. While the cheerful disposition can be maintained throughout the entire show, there is a potentially brash transition between comedic and dramatic elements.
The musical elements fit the comedy area while providing substance to moments of drama within scenes. Although it doesn’t overshadow the plot, it adds to the overall mood of the show.
In the section with bright and engaging visuals you can really feel the energy of the series. Scenes are well built and take full advantage of Netherlands to support the comedic and cultural aspect of the narrative .
Aesthetical aspect of the production focus on the excitement and dynamism of the military base situated in the Dutch landscape. Special effects are used effectively to great visual laughs while never seeming too artificial, out of place or interrupting the narrative flow. When used they are smooth and seem almost invisible.
Pacing while offering comedy editing is also relatively tight. However, there are moments when the scene transitions are somewhat awkward, making a small pause in the tale. On balance, it supports the show’s fast comedies tempo.
The tempo is upbeat – it matches the chaotic behavior of the protagonist well. However, at times, it affects a meaningful thematic analysis as the show quickly moves from strong themes to a joke, rather than a dramatic scene.
The characters’ conversations are also full of wit and humor and contain a lot of well-timed comebacks. It represents cultural diversity and kinship appropriately which are favorable to tedious depth of character comedy and dispensing.
Nonetheless to plot, directed and written aspects can be more sophisticated and smooth. Certain comedic arcs seem so cliché yet they drown out the subtext in some episodes.
All in all, ‘Going Dutch’ is a fun show to watch as it rolls from episode to episode. In essence, the show provides spirited comedy, emotion, and several acting performances. Viewing is backed by a lively spirit, and one is left in stitches while at the same time being made to think.
