The Smelly Car

I like how even the robber didn't want the car because it stunk so bad

The video that George (Jason Alexander) puts in the vcr is Pretty Woman where Jason Alexander plays character Phillip Stuckey.

Let's just start by saying that The Smelly Car is an immensely entertaining episode with great direction and sharp editing.

We got two stories here. Jerry and Elaine with their BO issue and George and his encounter with lesbianism. Kramer kind of bounces around (like in many episodes). The BO story is extremely funny and find its way to entertain throughout the 20 mins but there's something missing and that is realism. This is the primal story that would fill the majority of the last three seasons of Seinfeld. It's definitely funny but you can't relate to it and that makes it feel out of place in this season. Season 4 is maybe the more realistic season (with 5 around there) and it is not only because of the probabilities of the events that happen but also for the sick attention to detail that Larry David has for human customs. This story has nothing to do with that. Jerry's car gets really smelly and then that smell gets attached to Jerry and Elaine and it just won't come off. And to make it worse we do actually get a human story with George's storyline. So the contrast is even more delimited.

George's story is great. We get more insights on his persona by the way he reacts to lesbianism and we get some funny moments with the video rental store. That's human customs.

So yeah, it's a hilarious episode but a big part of it feels out of place here just as the season opening episode did.

Jerry's BMW is at the center of this episode. After being parked by a valet, a the car is beset with body odor. This problem is the smell is transferred to the people riding in the car. The whole thing is utterly absurd, but we need to pull back our suspicious natures and let it go. The secondary plot has to do with George's realization that dating him leads women to lesbianism. George actually gets rather introspective. The thing is that George is utterly unaware of his offensive qualities. He's always trying to figure things out when they get down to simple rudeness and insensitivity. But that's what makes him a great character.

Do molecules really desmellify? I doubt that's a word but it's another reason why this Seinfeld episode smells so sweet. George's ex's 'metamorphosis' into lesbianism, an evil, mutant-like BO that just won't desmellify. It's all neuroticism at its best.