Though the real payoff comes when Larry strikes back at his Romanian Uber driver, who fancies himself an honest three out of five by noting, “You’re from one of the most unattractive countries on the planet.” And, in a later tussle over actual Uber satisfaction ratings, doubling down by insulting the man’s sister, whom he naturally assumes would be an ugly Romanian. The episode’s ongoing informal survey about Larry’s appearance, solicited or not, pays dual dividends: treating us to the latest in a long line of children mocking his shiny pate, and pointedly addressing the typically conspicuous gap in surface appeal (and often age) between him and his love interests. After all, as Justin (Marc Evan Jackson) puts it while haggling with Larry over fender-bender etiquette, he can often “seem like a complete garbage person.” But despite Susie’s assertions, Larry insists that if there’s one thing he’s not, it’s a two out of five when applying Uber’s user-satisfaction scale to good looks.
The most shocking development in tonight’s episode - which, like many that have aired this season, is hilarious but also stretched about five minutes and one-plot-point too thin is - was Susie’s willingness to set up Bridget and Larry to begin with. At least the suspension of their consummation is good news for fans of Graham, who one imagines will reappear before season’s end. This is problematic for Larry, who otherwise likes Bridget very much, but can’t seem to sneak in so much as a kiss with Eddie around barking demands about donuts. He and Larry just happen to agree that Bridget’s (Lauren Graham) autistic teen son Eddie is a prick. Jeff actually offers the caveat that most folks he knows who’ve been diagnosed with the neurobiological disorder are utterly pleasant.
To Curb’s credit, “Namaste” tiptoes somewhat delicately around the topic of Asperger’s syndrome.