FX has been hitting every mark recently, putting out quality shows year after year. This past season brought back the highly acclaimed “The Americans,” and an amazing new show, “Fargo,” based on the film of the same name. But come May 5, the highly anticipated return of “Louie” will be what everyone is talking about.
After taking a yearlong gap to star in “Blue Jasmine” and “American Hustle,” Louis C.K. is back with his hit comedy series – one that he writes, directs and stars in. But will this new season be a return to form, or will his time away from the camera take the series in a whole different direction? Last season found Louie nearly nabbing a job hosting the Late Show, discovering the love of his life and watching her die before his eyes, and in the season finale, we were left with an endearing shot of Louie sharing a meal with a random family in China. For a show like “Louie,” the start of the fourth season could take its viewers anywhere. With its absurdist humor, philosophical storylines and honest portrayal of humanity, anything goes.
Louis C.K. hasn’t hinted much about what is in store for his titular character, but recent promos suggest a plot about back pain and a less than thrilled doctor. Any plot revolving around Louie and a doctor’s office has proved to be gold in the past, so fans should get excited. But what’s most intriguing about this next season is if it can even live up to the perfection that was “Louie’s” third season. It reached such emotional heights and philosophical depths that any other effort might seem pointless.
What is even more concerning is that the third season ended in such a way as to provide closure for a large, satisfying story arc. And Louis C.K. has taken a long gap from writing comedy in order to appear in feature films, slowly making his transition as a credible actor. Could his absence from writing for television impact this upcoming season for worse? It’s doubtful, seeing as C.K. rarely has diverged from his comedic formula. That’s not a bad thing per say, as it’s a formula that works and is funny and thought provoking. And “Louie” is a show that comes up with unique stories, week after week, in ways that challenge viewers in ways that a comedy hasn’t.
It’s what keeps viewers coming back, and is hopefully something that will continue. C.K. has hinted at Louie running for seven or eight seasons at the most, something that most half-hour comedy shows strive for (“How I Met Your Mother” and “Seinfeld” to name a few).Thisinturn must mean that the titular man of comedy must have a plan of how the show will progress. Or maybe he’ll go wherever the show tells him to go. Either way, in the hands of Louis C.K., comedic genius can almost always be expected and will always be appreciated.
