3x03 Dennis and Dee's Mom Is Dead

[7.7/10] One of the things I enjoy about IASIP is that there’s such an obvious rapport among the cast members, which lends an air of realness to their otherwise ridiculous interactions in the ridiculous world of the show. That’s why the funniest bits in this episode often involve Mac, Dennis, and Charlie just having a conversation about what they’re planning to do. Whether it’s realizing the three of them have no other friends, or drafting a flyer for their party, or commiserating when no one wants to come, the repartee among them is hilarious. (And the funniest scene in the episode involves the lawyer who is just baffled at how little of what's happening these crazy people seem to understand.)

It splinters off nicely with Dennis and Mac coming off romantically interested in all the guys they invite to their party, and then completely going overboard with the college kids they invite over and attempt Jackass-style antics with. I also like the C-plot with Charlie bonding with the passionate, crossbow-wielding guy from the mall over the pain evident in Dee’s middle school diary. It’s a nice dose of faux-heartfelt weirdness.

Speaking of which, the other story in the episode, featuring Dee and Frank trying to convince Dee’s bio dad that they’re a couple so that he’ll sign over Dee’s mom’s fortune is...uh...weird. There’s an amusing sort of brinkmanship to the whole thing, and while it’s a bit out of character, I appreciate Stephen Collins’ character testing Dee and Frank and trying to punish them for being terrible. That said, on a night where I also watched Fire Walk with Me and given Collins’ shall we say unfortunate personal history, a lot of the material was more than a bit uncomfortable.

Overall, still a good episode though, with the funniest material coming from when the gang is just hanging out and having back and forths about their ridiculous schemes.