The boys are back.
Trailer Park Boys hasn't been on Canadian television since 2007, save for a few specials and movies. But no one in the US even knew or even cared about their antics. Enter Netflix, who acquired the show as a property, presumably on the cheap. This is where I discovered Trailer Park Boys and I'm glad I'm did, since it's one of the funniest mockumentary shows ever made. Trailer Park Boys is older than The Office, the UK version in fact. It's certainly not the first mockumentary style show but it's definitely one of the first popular ones, and it's influence is reaching if truncated by it's mainly regional success. It's cult popularity relies on it's Canadian identity, touted by many Canadian celebrities in particular rock stars such as Our Lady Peace, Snow, and even Rush (which is a major endorsement for Canucks). Through seven seasons, three movies, and a multitude of specials the trio of Julian, Ricky, and Bubbles (played by John Paul Tremblay, Rob Wells, and Mike Smith) scheme and make trouble for themselves and their superiors. One could say they are even this generation's Larry, Moe, and Curly. And after 7 years they've come back.
A lot has changed at Sunnyvale Trailer Park. Julian has opened his own bar, even if his liquor licensing is dubious. Ricky seems to have acquired enough drugs to not need any quick schemes. His daughter, Trinity, is even all grown up now. Even Bubbles is going legitimate. He's planning on opening a bed and breakfast for people who own cats. Even their antagonists seemed to be in fairly good terms. Mr. Lahey is retired and still drunk as usual but he doesn't seem to be actively thwarting the boys. He's more concerned about his on/off relationship with Randy, who has shacked up with another assistant in Donald, a welcome newcomer to the zany world of Trailer Park Boys. Even Sam Losco is happily married to Barb where they manage the trailer park. But unfortunately what goes up, must always come to shit. Barb and Sam's relationship goes south after she finds out he was cheating on her (with a dude of course), and she decides she is going to sell the trailer park. Julian convinces her otherwise but they need Lahey's 1% share so Losco doesn't sell it to recurring villain Cyrus. Throughout the season, the trio concocts a system of money-making schemes including turning Julian's bar (renamed The Dirty Dancer) into a sleazy strip club with help of Sarah, J-Roc, and his crew as well as making hash honey oil from Ricky's stash of marijuana . Meanwhile, Lahey schemes with George Green to undermine the boys once and for all by pretending to help them in order to catch them doing illegal activities. In the end, the trailer park is saved but at a hilarious price. Every episode is stacked with references to previous episodes and there are some really surprising cameos by past guest stars and characters.
Trailer Park Boys is an incredibly subversive show and it is especially hilarious to see how rural and urban caricatures sometimes collide. But there are also real social issues that are discussed here. Everything from sexual promiscuity, family dynamics, drug abuse, and homosexuality is explored in this show and in fairly positive terms. There is real heart to these characters even if some of them are stupid, rude, and/or loutish. I think that's what makes Boys special in that all of these characters are highly relatable. If you've never seen the show, I implore you to give it a chance. There's a lot of great stuff to be had even if you're not into weed and shit jokes.
Afterthoughts
- Corey re-appears after taking a long absence, but no sign of Trevor unfortunately. Apparently, both actors left after the 6th season because they were being treated poorly by the producers
- The show returned w/o it's original writer/showrunner Mike Clattenburg but there doesn't seem to be a creative change. That's probably because Tremblay, Smith, and Wells write the show now
- Don (and Donna) might be my favorite new side character in the show. Every line he says just floors me.
- I feel like Ricky has gotten even dumber and Bubbles has gotten even smarter. For example, Ricky can't tell that a goldfish is dead and Bubbles builds a complicated oil condenser in a very little period of time
- The appearance of a semi-famous rock musician at the end is the most Mary Sue thing ever but it's fitting for who it actually is and and works perfectly
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