The eccentricity of Lodge 49 is never merely gratuitous. It is a story about how ordinary people try to get by, have a bit of fun, and sometimes save each other’s lives on the ragged fringes of a post-industrial economy. And it’s also about alchemy.
An hour-long comedy, rich with dramatic complication and depth of feeling, it is not without crises and conflicts; but it is also not weighed down with murders or monsters.
This is my second favorite show on TV right now beside Better Call Saul. It's half-way between The Big Lebowski and Mad Men, filled with real, recognizably human characters, who are struggling to find meaning and connection (my favorite type of story, the type of show AMC does best). There is an consistent undercurrent of subtle humor based on just how well drawn the interactions are, (where it's just as beautifully weird as reality), as well as a few great physical comedy bits, a couple truly shocking moments of dark comedy, and at some point Bruce Campbell shows up and adds his Bruce Campbell-ish charm to the entire thing. Just beautiful, from start to finish, I can't stop thinking about it, and the season 1 finale is absolutely stunning. WATCH THIS SHOW. BINGE THIS SHOW. TELL YOUR FRIENDS, please AMC, for the love of God, and for the love of Bruce Campbell, keep this show running for 7 seasons like Mad Men, would you?
Great show! It's a wonderful example of a show that has a big impact despite being a little show.
I loved "Casual" on Hulu because the characters were relatable, this is the same kind of show. I also grew up in a Lodge environment, so I find the show fascinating because of all the idiosyncrasies of the Lodge and it's odd members.
I think the most fascinating part of the show is the dark vs. light aspect taken on by the main character Dud and his sister. When the show starts you might think dud is just another California loser. But it's interesting to watch him reveal why he's making the choice to stay optimistic when he has no reason to be. His sister takes the less optimistic approach, grounded in her debt and contempt for their missing (dead?) father, whom disappeared during a surfing trip off Long Beach.
The ensemble cast is amazingly cast. Every character has a purpose and adds to the plot and humor of the story. Some of the best casts are smaller roles that the actors were able to really make the most of. The highlights include Brian Doyle-Murray as a pipe saleman who takes all the credit from Ernie and gives to an undeserving but beautiful employee appropriately named "Beautiful Jeff", as well as a great multi-episode cameo by none other than Bruce Campbell.
Lodge 49 finds humor in the dark side of life while still treating it and the audience with respect and intelligence. It's well written characters and the actors engaging performances keep leading you back to the lodge.
At one point Ernie says people "always go looking for unicorns when we’ve got rhinos. A rhinoceros is a fascinating animal. All this fascinating stuff right here in front of us. Screw unicorns, man.”
We have Lodge 49, and a great rhino it is.
Lodge 49 is a lovely little show, wonderfully written with a deep, capable cast (David Pasquesi is another standout) and a welcome sense of quirky optimism and dark humor. It uses Long Beach and the ocean itself as characters; it confronts age, philosophy, dreams (both failed and yet to be realized), capitalism, hope and whimsy in ways that few series tackle.
The shaggy-doggedness of the story line is impressive given the paucity of plot. As if striving to keep calm enough to meditate, Lodge 49 achieves a freakishly leisurely pace. It’s slow to develop and quick to linger on sadness and frustration. There’s a warmth in all this dawdling, as if its ingratiating characters are extending fellowship.
Lodge 49 ends up wasting its enticing and peculiar premise in a light, plodding story. It’s the kind of freshman entry that could grow into something special, but you’d have to have Dud’s availability and demeanor to get there.
Too much of Lodge 49 feels almost defiantly undercooked, like it’s trying too hard to capture a laidback SoCal vibe and purposefully avoiding structure and momentum. With so much television out there that even critics can’t keep up with all of it, there’s just not a compelling enough reason to check into Lodge 49.
This has some My Name Is Earl baked into it, an a sprinkling of The Big Lebowski, but don't let that get you too excited, it's more boring than both. What this show did surprise me with, is in the charterers writing, which is (baring the metaphysical aspects) as close to real people living real lives in real situations, as you will see ever on Television. I binged all the the episode in a day. I'd more than likely watch a next season should they put on out, though I'd have to say it's doubtful they will.
The show is mainly about a sympathetic looser named Dud who is a former surfer but after getting bitten in the foot by a snake in Nicaragua can't surf anymore.
He has become a slacker sleeping in his car or, illegally, in apartments that are up for rent.
Since he has no steady income he is in debt to the local pawn shop and is constantly trying to get some money from somewhere (e.g. on the beach with a metal detector) to pay it back.
He often crashes at his sister's apartment. She works at a local diner trying to pay off the debt of their father who died a year ago surfing/diving.
Or better, most likely died since his body was never found.
Dud can't accept his fathers death, often having daydreams and seeing his father while looking into the water of a swimming pool.
One day, he digs up a ring on the beach and tries to sell it at the pawn shop.
It isn't worth anything but at least he is told that it's a membership ring for a local lodge.
One day he accidentally ends up in front of it, so he wants to give the ring back. Since Dud is curious about the interior of the lodge, the man in charge, Ernie, shows him around.
Dud decides to become a member and sells a watch, probably from his father, to pay the membership fee.
All the members he encounters are likeable and relatable and you become invested in their lives.
Dud and Ernie, though very different in character and age, become friends.
There is a main plot-line about the succession of the old leader of the lodge but some of the members get their own little stories.
One other plot-line involves Duds sister getting a chance to move up to corporate and become an executive.
You get the feeling you're part of a bigger story about people being in a not so great place moving forward slowly, growing and developing.
There are some twists and turns in later episodes you won't expect and one you might expect, making the trip a bumpy ride with characters having setbacks, one involving self sabotage.
So the personal development of the main characters moves forward slower than you expect.
Since you are invested in the characters and like them, it's an entertaining watch.
However, what I didn't like about the show is, that towards the end, other characters get more screen time showing you their stories leading to too many plot-lines and making the show feel scattered.
Another issue I have with the show is the season's finale.
I think at best, you'll be ok with it, but I don't think you'll like it.
I find it disappointing and unsatisfying because it leaves too many things unresolved.
If the network decides to pick up the show for a second season, fine.
But if not, which has happened often enough and you watched the first season, you might come to the conclusion that you've wasted your time.