Last Man Standing: Episode 4

Writer: Marieke Hardy
Director: Emma Freeman

Plot Synopsis: The sexuality of Bruno’s parents continues to haunt the lad as he see’s mental images of his naked parents everywhere. Bruno finds himself quickly cured by a model he starts dating, under the pretense that he’s a doctor (and not the nurse that he actually is). After several dates filled with lies, it becomes apparent that Bruno isn’t the only one lying.

“I can’t get them out of my head. Everywhere I look I see naked old people. I’m like that kid in that Bruce Willis film. Only all retarded”.

Adam is feeling fenced in by family obligations with his brothers insistence on using Adams apartment to entertain his new girlfriend. While sympathetic to his brothers desire not to take women back to his own place, where he lives with his mother, he’s not particularly keen on all the romance taking place on his couch. Adam later finds himself reluctantly in the throes of a budding relationship with a woman at work. His lack of enthusiasm for the pairing is heightened by the erectile dysfunction he encounters prior to an impromptu afternoon delight.

Cameron encounters professional disappointment as he and his partner find themselves nominated for an industry award for their Landscaping business. Cameron is disheartened when they win with his partner accepting all the glory without thanking him.

Inspired moment: Adams mother on the phone to him having trouble coming to terms with why his brother doesn’t feel that he is welcome to bring his lady-friend to the family home. Cut to a flashback of Adam in his youth bringing home a girl at the end of a night after attending a gig, only to find his mother greeting them as they quietly sneak in the front door.

Mother: So, what band did you see?
Adam: (sheepishly) The Hard-ons.
Mother: Uh, oh, right. I bet you could both do with a cuppa.

Thoughts: The episode seems a little lifeless compared to the previous episodes. A spark seems missing, despite the episode having an abundance of great one-liners. This may stem from an awkward combination of the episodes gust-stars, or simply a Director who hasn’t quite gelled with the rhythm of the show.

Camerons storyline is a bit on the dull side, but certainly necessary to develop the character beyond the walking-penis he has so far been depicted as.

The bright-spark of the episode comes from Bruno as he revels in lying to impress his attractive new woman. Watching Bruno claim he’s renovating his conversation pit at home, just moments before splitting payment for an expensive hotel room across two credit cards goes to strengthen the likeable everyman nature of the character.

Recurring: Sue Jones (best known as Pam Willis from Neighbours) is great in her first appearance as Adams mother Gillian. The episode also see’s more Anto and Chich. Featured for the first time in this episode is music from Brisbane band Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side. The same couple of songs from their debut album are featured so often from this point in, one would assume that they were commissioned specifically for the show.

“He’s not Cary Grant. He’s a 23 year-old with a half-mongrel”