Last Man Standing: Episode 5

Writer: Marieke Hardy
Director: Elsie McCredie

Plot Synopsis: As we re-join our intrepid inner-city dwellers the night after the big landscaping awards, we are privy to two weekend staples of modern day Australian life. The post-big night hangover breakfast at a cafe. Sausages, eggs, bacon. And lots of it. This is then followed by the great Australian tradition of spending part of the weekend going to a massive hardware store.

Adam invests in an expensive barbeque, which serves as the impetus for a Sunday afternoon gathering at Adams place. Quickly the barbeque is hijacked by his new lady-friend Taia (a younger woman), of whom invites all of her friends. The inability of Cameron to pick up Taia’s friends hits him hard as he realises he has past his prime somewhat.

“Be the buffer zone between me and the products. The place is evil. The last time I went there to buy hinges, I left with an eight outlet surge powerboard and three banana lounges”.

Thoughts: The trip to the hardware store was an inspired moment and serves as an example of what I do enjoy about this series. It served as one of those small slices of life that resonate within my own life. Being of a similar age group with no real idea how to really build or construct anything, yet still feeling the strong desire to spend up big at the local Bunnings.

Hearing Bruno extol the majesty of the hardware store to Adam had the desired comedic value, though with the combination of lavish praise and the big-honkin’ visual of a Mitre 10 logo adorning the store, one can’t help but sense the product placement.

Both Bruno and Cameron are given fairly mediocre plots this week. Bruno’s friendship with a doctor from work whom he meets after being roped into playing netball with his fellow nurses has merit in examining the construct of a developing male friendship in ones late 20′s. Unfortunately, the storyline has come so soon after Adams storyline in which he is befriended by his personal trainer. And considering we’re only five episodes in, it’s certainly a tad worry-some.

Meanwhile Camerons desire to gain equality in the landscaping business (the almost cleverly named ‘Manscaping’) provides some character growth for him as he asserts himself professionally, but serves as a fairly uninteresting and unsatisfying B story.

The relationship between Adam and his new ladylove Taia felt horribly forced. Hopefully she isn’t long for the series.

Recurring: At the barbeque we are treated to a return appearance by the most excellent Kat Stewart. How that woman hasn’t top-lined her own comedy series by now is astounding. Comedian Cal Wilson makes her first appearance as a co-worker of Bruno. And Fletcher Humphreys makes a relatively brief appearance in the recurring role of Ando.

Oh, and Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side are heard quite prominently with their single The begining of The End. This would be two episodes in a row now.