Sunday, October 22, 2017

God, The Devil, and Bob 1.8 - Lonely at the Top

Plot: God catches Bob nailing his neighbor's garage door shut, as payback for the neighbor's leaves landing in Bob's yard. Bob doesn't take kindly to God criticizing him, and implies God doesn't know what it's like for the Average Joe. So he has no one to blame but himself when god shows up at his job the next day as Arthur, from the Ypsilanti plant. Where he proceeds to piss off all Bob's coworkers by actually doing his job, rather than just screwing around all day.

Then he invites himself to Bob's for dinner, and uses his powers to override Donna's free will to let him stay the night. He does help Megan sort through some friendship issues. I thought the kids were the Devil's from ages 13-20.

Having ruined all other facets of Bob's life, God decides he wants to be on the company softball team. Too bad he sucks. But he's still able to convince Bob to let him bat in the biggest moment of the game, and then fails miserably. Having now guaranteed Bob will be murdered at work tomorrow for not pinch-hitting for his savior, God finally admits that he just wanted a chance to hang out with some people, like he used to do in the old days. Bob understands a little better, but still draws the line at letting God come in for dinner again.

Also, while all this was going on, the Devil first tried to commit acts of depravity. But without God trying to work against him, there was no challenge. So then he tried teaming up with Bob to get God to get back to work, and having failed at that, then decided to try and do good himself. His attempts at horticulture were. . . not so successful, depending on how you'd want to measure that.

Quote of the Episode: Devil - 'This is rock bottom Smeck. The Creator of the Universe is adjusting his cup.'

Smeck Smacks: 0 (18 overall).

Other: Eddie Harris in Major League once raised the question of whether Christ can hit a curveball. We may not know about him, but it isn't looking good for his dad.

Not a good look for God that he messed with Donna's free will twice. Especially considering that even the Devil, when he was trying to score with her while disguised as Bob last week, didn't do that. Even when Donna didn't do what he wanted, and he was reduced to pleading with her (unsuccessfully), he still didn't mess with her free will. And he's supposed to be the King of All Evil, although he really comes off more as a rebellious teen here. Once God isn't paying attention, he has no idea what to do with himself.

Anyway, between abusing his power to overstay his welcome, and cheating repeatedly at Chutes and Ladders, it's not hard to see why people stopped wanting him around. He also dropped a tree on Charlie, one of the guys at the factory, so he could play third base. Then tried to deny it. That's without even getting into what God admitted to Bob, that he used to come visit in the old days, but then he'd lose his temper over something and, well, there's a reason the phrase, "Go Old Testament on their asses" exists. God's like that guy who's OK until you get a few beers in him, then you gotta watch out or he does crazy shit. As Bob mentions to Donna when she comments on Arthur's peculiar sense of humor, ask Job.

When the Devil is trying to decide what unspeakable act he should commit while God's not minding the shop, Smeck uses the idea of Tony Danza on Broadway as an example. Via Google, I learn that is actually a thing that exists. I'm guessing it was horrible? I'm not the person qualified to judge, even if I were willing to view it.

The Devil did get the DH installed in the National League, which is truly his lowest moment.

2 comments:

SallyP said...

So basically, God is a mean drunk. This does not surprise me.

CalvinPitt said...

That was the impression I got from what he said. Presumably he's mellowed out in his New Testament days.