Review: Jeff & Some Aliens “Jeff & Some Childlike Joy & Whimsy”

Does a notable guest star fair well in this week’s episode?

JAS-Childlike-hero
Courtesy: Comedy Central

Spoilers Below

Nostalgia remains a major trend in current pop culture. With shows like Stranger Things, and films like Turbo Kid and It Follows, what’s old is new again. While certainly several factors contribute to the popularity of such works, whimsy plays a major part. In Jeff & Some Aliens “Jeff & Some Childlike Joy & Whimsy,” Jeff celebrates his friend’s birthday. In their youth, Jeff and his friend Michael went by DJ Noodles and Sauce respectively. When Sauce and Noodles get invited to rap at a music festival in Sweden, Jeff revisits his youth.

Jeff discovers old rap videos he made with his friend Michael, aka Sauce, are hugely popular in Sweden. But Michael has moved on. He’s career-focused, and cringes at the nickname Sauce. The origin of “Sauce” however is admittedly disgusting. “It’s like you’re stuck in seventh grade,” Michael criticizes of Jeff. Enter Jimmy, Ted, and Sammy. The alien trio posit that Michael is missing his BX47 which allows for childlike joy and whimsy. Jeff concocts a plan to force feed Michael BX47, which works. But maybe a bit too well.

Where Jeff is traditionally the party animal, the roles get a bit reversed. Jeff finds himself the comparatively responsible one when Michael and Jeff venture to Sweden. The neat dynamic gives Jeff a sense of his maturity or lack thereof. Well, only so much. It’s enough to motivate Jeff to alleviate the drastic immaturity BX47 afforded Michael. But not quite to the point where Jeff is poised to change his personality. Rather than Jeff asking why everyone is so lame, Michael begins asking why Jeff is lame. However later when told he needs surgery at a Swedish hospital, Jeff counters that he merely needs to rock. Once again, the roles reversed to their original spots.

It’s hilarious to see Jeff and Michael acting like middle schoolers. They play certain games commonly experienced in the middle school lunchroom, recount old stories from their childhood, and party pretty hard. Michael even busts out itching powder. However during their concert, Jeff and Michael launch into new material: “But being young forever, would really, really suck,” they sing. “Because if you fetishize your youth to the point that it stunts your development you might find that your friends move on to have successful lives, leaving you alienated and alone.” It’s a poignant song and funny, compounded by the lack of any rhythm.

There’s a great subplot with Jimmy, Sammy, and Ted complaining that Jeff only talks to them when he needs something. And they’re kind of correct. However, a box of Swedish gifts assuates their anger. A relevant, touching, and funny episode, “Jeff & Some Childlike Whimsy” comments that while youth and nostalgia are fine, there’s too much of a good thing. Hilariously, there’s even a commentary on socialized medicine and US healthcare.

SCORE
9.5/10