Wilfred – Ryan aims squarely at the truth

When last we saw Wilfred, Ryan’s sister had told him “you’re dead to me,” we were left with a closet where a basement should have been (possibly indicating Ryan may have been dreaming all the madness Wilfred has been putting him through) and a single rolling ball rolled out of that closet to throw everything that had been assumed previously out the window.

On the return in this special preview episode (“Progress”), things are scattered farther and wider in the air than when we left last summer. But that’s part of the joy of this show. At least it is for me.

Hints and nods of symbolism began to creep through at the midway point of season 1, culminating in a heap of it at the season finale. But The Powers That Be didn’t hold back this episode, however. They launched right into it from the get go. There was a barrel-full of telltale metaphors you could read into nine ways to Sunday. The thing is: Where do any of them lead?

• Ryan’s back at his job at the law office? Or is it part of the dream?
• You’d think the blinking “Exit” sign was a warning, not an invitation for flight while Ryan was in his meeting at the law office. But remember: It was blinking. Indication of warning? A hint where he needed to go? Because it lead him in the wrong direction, if you look at it one way, and to a promised land if you look at it in another. Which direction was “The Truth” … ???
• Speaking of truth (and its antagonist “lies”) Ryan kept questioning Wilfred throughout the episode, at practically every juncture of the 22 minutes. “I can’t trust a word you say. And even if I could? I don’t care anymore! I just want to stay out of my head and live in the real world …”
• Still, a more important “truth” was contained in Wilfred’s last will and testament: “Keep digging.” It’s yet to be determined if Ryan “keeps digging” whether he’ll find the truth or not.
• With Ryan’s realization Dr. Eddy is actually Robin Williams, I’m less inclined to believe he’s dead as hypothesized several times during the course of last season. Is he dreaming? Coma? Delusional? Is he in fact right in the head and Wilfred is in cahoots with, say … Santa Claus in the belief department?

But that’s what we’ll be delving into with this brand new season of Wilfred. And a whole lot more.

Notes:

• I had to crack up when Dr. Eddy was attacked. Did you hear his exclamation? “Shazbot,” the Orkan profanity William’s character Mork used in Mork & Mindy.
• Why is there a cat picture hanging in the basement?
• What was the deal with Kevin’s annoying throat clearing in the boardroom?
• Speaking of the boardroom, Ryan noticed the jimmy’d table, one of its legs propped up. Metaphor for the balance in his life that is uncertain. Right?

Bonus! Don’t forget to comment on the CliqueClack Wilfred season 1 giveaway that’s still going strong! The entire first season plus extras on Blu-ray! Head over there and register for your chance to win!

Quotes:

“Ryan … please. I need you. What? You want me to say it.? Fine. Without you I have no purpose. I’m nothing. It’s like I don’t even exist. I was good to you Ryan. I helped you stand on your own two feet …” — Wilfred to Ryan

“Hear me out: Do you know why dogs dig?” — Wilfred
“‘… ‘Cause they’re searching for bones?” — Ryan
“Because we’re searching for truth …” — Wilfred

“Maybe none of this would have happened if I’d been honest with you.” — Wilfred
“About what?” — Ryan
“Me. Who I am. Why I’m here. After all we’ve been through, I think it’s time I gave you some answers. Let’s start with an easy one: Why are you the only person who can hear me speak?” — Wilfred

“Don’t you want to know who you are?” — Wilfred
“I know who I am. and I know what you are: You’re the part of me that lies to me … and I’m through listening …” — Ryan

Clacked by Michael Noble
on Jun 22, 2012 @ 00:40 EST5EDT