Sitzprobe

First of all, the plotting here is beyond compare. Red herrings are swimming all over the place in the most positive way. Meryl Streep's beginning confession puts us on our heels and makes us care. Her inability to tell her son makes us want so badly for things to work out. As Oliver and Mabel try to do their detective thing, Charles puts on the performance of his life, doing his patter song to perfection. What an actor. What actors! And who should show up but that rotund female cop, barging in at the most inopportune time. There is also the tension between Oliver and Loretta as she feels he has betrayed her. But there is one other thing. We get a real look at the workings of the music in a Broadway play. We see that this is not a silly thing like Oiiver has done in the past. And finally, there is the undying love of a mother after years and years. One of the finest moments I've seen on TV, with a very serious conclusion.

Sitzprobe takes OMITB's unique storytelling one step further. What could be considered a twist of an entire season is casually addressed early in the episode, but this twist holds the viewer so attached to the screen that the viewer internalizes every piano note, every violin chord and every conversation throughout the entire episode.

Multiple stories converge while the music in parallel builds up to the finale of the episode, where the viewer is simply left in awe. Not because there are any surprises or big twists, but because of the way this masterpiece appeals to your senses.

You can intellectually expect what's about to happen in OMITB but you can never emotionally be prepared for it.

I am so glad to watch this episode as it really takes a leap in the overall quality of this season. It is well crafted with a balance of emotions and mystery. Martin Short just keeps exceeding himself in this series.

But the star of the show is Meryl Streep. Its amazing how as an actress, she completely elevates a movie or a series to heights. Her performance is brilliant in this episode, how can someone be so consistently good in all forms.

The NYPD cop lady is quite funny and has great comic timing and its good to have her back.

I read somewhere this is Steve Martin's last act, I can see he is trying very hard to make it the best. But he is getting completely eclipsed by Martin Short and Meryl Streep. Selena Gomez has the flattest role this season with practically no character arc or any acting scenes of importance. Even the producer actress has scenes with more depth.

What an episode. ALL the payoffs! All the chills. All the lols and gasps and holy moly EVERYONE delivered. Streep is magic.

Da'Vine Joy Randolph made me belly laugh at least 6 times.

Short, Martin, Gomez have a nice complex chemistry that has developed like real friendships. Disappointments, fights, make ups.

Mostly - I feel like Martin Short has found a character that he can be way over the top with, but also, genuinely vulnerable and intimate. His masks drops and you see a man struggling to get it right. With work, with friends, with family and with love.

And the music is lovely lovely lovely. I want to see Death Rattle, the Musical for real.