Wilfred: The Dog to the Man

Wilfred is back. Is Ryan crazy or more sane than all of us?

 "I meet woman... she say I pay fifty dollar for doggy style... but there was no dog! Why she say this?" - Borat, Da Ali G Show S02E01



For the past six weeks, and for four more to come, we have been watching the final season of the weirdest comedy on television, FX's Wilfred. One of the most unique shows ever, Wilfred details the story of Ryan, played by Elijah Wood, and his relationship with Wilfred, his neighbor's dog. The intrigue however, is that Wilfred is no ordinary dog. Instead, to Ryan and Ryan alone he is a large Australian man (Jason Gann) in a dog costume. Is Ryan crazy? Is Wilfred a supernatural creature? Will Ryan ever get with his neighbor Jenna? These answers and hopefully more are coming in the final episodes airing this Summer.
So, as we asked last week about True Blood and The Leftovers, the real point of this article comes down to one question:

Is Wilfred worth watching?

What makes Wilfred such a special show, one that is so worth watching, is the strange blend between comedy and drama. While the show has a lot of laughs, often based around the fact that a large Australian man happens to be in a dog suit and acting like a dog, at it's core, Wilfred is incredibly dark. In the final season of the show, it is reaching even darker levels. In the pilot episode of the show, we watched as Ryan attempted to kill himself with pills, only to be stopped due to the fact that they are placebos. From episode #1, we know that Ryan has some serious mental problems. However, the show is so expertly written that we sometimes forget about this fact and just focus on the buddy comedy format between Ryan and Wilfred.
But, now that we have entered into the final season, the time for buddy comedy seems to have reached an end. In it's stead are only a minimal amount of jokes per episode with a large amount of plot. Though in theory, giving up the comedy for drama isn't a great idea for a... ya know... comedy show... Wilfred really makes it work. The final season has been as compelling and previous seasons have been funny, while still delivering consistent, though a little bit less, laughs per episode.
One of the main plot points of the final season is a cult, known as the Grey Shepherd, who, although now extinct, once worshiped an ancient dog God known as Mataman, or as Wilfred calls him, MattDamon. However, opposite MattDamon is Krungel, another dog God who is a trickster God, one who leads people to agony instead of happiness like MattDamon. It's not your fault... it's Krungel's. Naturally, Ryan assumes that Wilfred is one of these two Gods as he does not wish to face the other reality, in which he is nothing but a lunatic who talks to a dog. Thus far, the season has been building the tension very well. The viewer actually has no idea whether or not Wilfred is a crazy person's dream or whether he is in fact a dog God. Then, there's the ever popular internet theory that Ryan has been dead since episode one and that the events of the show are in some type of afterlife. Whatever the answer, the final season has kept the mystique high, keeping us as viewers guessing in every step along the way.

As far as the side plots go, Wilfred delivers as well. Though not nearly as compelling as the dynamic between Ryan and Wilfred, Ryan's relationships with his sister Kristen and his neighbor Jenna are essential to the show. Kristen, a bit of a crazy person herself, brings out Ryan in another light than Wilfred. While Wilfred shows Ryan's fun-loving, edgy side, Kristen brings out his neuroticism and his trying-to-be-a-good-guy persona. Kristen is a good woman, though she badgers Ryan constantly and always asks him for favors. Ryan, ever loyal to his sister, especially after she has helped him so much with his mental issues in the past, tries to help in every way he can. However, his mental issues and friendship with Wilfred constantly get in the way. Aside from being an interesting character, Kristen shows how Wilfred is affecting Ryan's relationships with real, important people in his life. This is reflective of the way that mental issues in general hinder Ryan's relationships.
Finally, there is Jenna, Ryan's pretty blonde neighbor and crush. Jenna brings out Ryan's feelings of love and his fear of commitment. For most of the series, Ryan is constantly trying to please Jenna, trying to impress her and make her reciprocate the feelings he has for her. Jenna is seemingly the goal that Ryan wishes to get to by the end of the series. However, due to the fact that she has a fiancee (at least until recently), and the fact that Ryan is usually taking advice from Wilfred, the relationship has yet to happen. Showing this never-ending start and stop love story between Ryan and Jenna is part of the heart of the show. Though Ryan wants Jenna, his best friend, Jenna's dog seems to be what is prohibiting the relationship. Whenever faced with the choice between love and friendship with Wilfred, it seems that Ryan chooses friendship. Maybe it's just bros before hoes, but judging by the themes of the show, it is probably something along the lines of lunacy before poon... acy.

So, in conclusion, Wilfred is most definitely worth your time. Even if it means turbo-watching three seasons on Netflix before being up to date, it is a worthy cause. In just one month, when the show finally comes to an end, though it was never the most watched or talked about show on television, it will have left it's mark. In one month, when it reaches it's conclusion, we will have to say goodbye to one of the most truly unique shows ever on the small screen.

Labels: , , , , ,