The Bris

Season 5, Chapter 5, "The Bris" This is one of those episodes that made people say that Seinfeld is "too Jewish".

Much as we Jewish folk love to make fun of ourselves - and I loved those part of the episode - this is one of the weaker episodes in season 5. The bris scene itself is, actually, one of the few major highlights of the episode, with the Dangerfieldian mohel making or an excellent character, but the story itself doesn't make much sense and the ending isn't satisfying at all. It does have some very funny moments like the pigman debate, and it's funny like every episode from this season is, but it's not a classic.

A mediocre episode that was saved by Charles Levine ( as the unhappy and unhinged mohel) . This guy got more laughs in one minute than the rest of the episode put together. I didn't think the character was insulting or anti-Semitic. Yes, he was over the top, but that's what made him funny.

When people discuss the great episodes of this series, many (if not most) sound like dilettantes. Sure, they mention "The Soup Nazi", "The Contest",etc.Yet it always sounds like they know less about the series than they are willing to admit. It's like asking them what their favorite "Twilight Zone" is, and they say "the one where Burgess Meredith drops his reading glasses" or when it turns out that "To Serve Man" is actually a cookbook. When you get answers like this, you know that the people haven't seen terribly acquainted with much of the show, and are unfamiliar with a lot of entries that aren't shown as often. It's too bad because, for instance, some of my favorite "Twilight Zones" are ones that are either rarely shown or--if I'm lucky--an episode that some have seen and dislike."What's In The Box", for instance (how the censors let that one pass in 1964 is beyond me), together with the gorgeous music composed for its final episode "Come Wander With Me." In the case of "The Bris" what's fascinating about the episode is that, upon repeat viewings, you may come away with a different take than you had the first time you watched it.Its subtleties are myriad.

Right off, George demands that the hospital pay for the damage to his car.At first ,you may regard him as a callous jerk, but the more you think about it, the guy's got a point.Guaranteed, that if he took it to court, he would win. Or, it would be settled before that--again, in his favor. Secondly, Jerry and Elaine are uncomfortable being the Godparents, and rightfully so.The mother and father--besides not being the best looking couple I've ever seen- are indeed boundless, "level jumping" on the friendship.

Finally, some reviewers have stated their belief that the Mohel was drunk. Wrong.He is a hopelessly neurotic sociopath--played in sterling fashion by Charles Levin- who clearly is not very good at what he does for a living.

So make sure you mention this episode instead of the one where everyone is terrified of this four foot, 13 inch guy behind the soup counter,or how long any of the four principals can go without an exercise in onanism.

This is still my 1st viewing of this show and I can say "The Bris" is still their most bizarre episode yet. But to call this a weak spot for the show is an understatement. I know it's not as watchable as the other episodes but a lot is happening here. I mean it feels distinct than the rest of the show. Most of it has to do with that anxious kind of pace that runs through the episode which is among the greatest points of this show. Literally each character has a strong personality here. I knew this episode would be popular in the series, and for good reason.

The Bris is easily the weakest episode in the amazing Season 5. It's not awful by any means but it's not good.

The first half is actually good. We get the good old social commentaries with Jerry and Elaine being asked to be the godparents of a friend couple and we get George issue with his car. The one story I'm split about is Kramer's with his pig-man. Larry Charles is known to be the most absurd of the writers and sometimes that can be good (The Limo, The Subway) and sometimes it can come out as out of place (The Keys, The Trip and this storyline). Actually everything about Kramer in this episode feels out of place: the presence of a pig-man and I can't go on without mentioning the ending. That ending just buried this episode. Maybe in the latter seasons it would've fit nicely but on this season it just felt absurdly weird.

So, Kramer's story is kind of funny and kind of out of place, but what really kills this episode is the second half. Right from when George have his conversation with the hospital administrator (which is remarkably dull and unfunny for some reason). Then we get the bris scene, which has some nice dialogues (level-jumping friendship and George conversation with the cardiologist), but as soon as the mohel arrives everything crumbles. Apparently, every reviewer here on IMDb liked the mohel character, but I personally couldn't find him more annoying. He enters the room and starts shouting left and right with these never-ending monologues that really drags the story down. I don't know, I couldn't even giggle at him. And in the end Charles tries to tied everything together in the most forced way possible: George's car gets stolen by the pig-man for some miraculous reason, the parents ask Kramer to be the new godfather of the baby (with that ending) and the episode just ends flat.

As I said, some good moments here and there but an underwhelming episode in general.