No one embodies social anxiety quite like Tim Robinson.
The comedian has proven his skill at turning deeply troubling situations into awkward comedy. Take the movie Friendshipin which Robinson’s Craig experiences first-hand the dangers of being the outsider in a group session. Or view the drawing I think you should leavewhich features a number of characters making a major social faux pas, then doubling down on it in hopes of convincing the people around them that everything is okay. (It never works out for them. Example: The much popular hot dog car drawing.) Yes, these characters are often exaggerated and obnoxious, but they also hold mirrors of our fears and embarrassments, turning them from simple caricatures into characters in which we see parts of our worst selves.
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This trend carries over to HBO Al-Kursi Companyco-created by Robinson and Zach Kanin (I think you should leave). Al-Kursi CompanyThe series’ main character, Ron Trosper (Robinson), starts the show as a fairly ordinary guy, which is a bit watered down by Robinson’s standards. However, his rapid descent into the wild world of conspiracy theories reflects all-too-familiar sentiments about obsession, especially in our internet age.
what Al-Kursi Company on?
Sophia Lillis, Lake Bell, Will Price, and Tim Robinson in “The Chair Company.”
Credit: Virginia Sherwood/HBO
Ron Trosper should enjoy his life both professionally and personally. He is in a loving marriage with his wife, Barb (Lake Bell). His daughter Natalie (Sophia Lillis) is about to get married, and his son Seth (Will Price) is a high school basketball star. At work, he was assigned to head a major project: the construction of a new mall in Canton, Ohio.
However, when Ron has a humiliating accident at work, all those accomplishments fly out the window. Suddenly, all he can think about is a certain incident and the evil forces that may have conspired against him.
Al-Kursi Company It is a surreal story of obsession.
Tim Robinson in The Chair Company.
Credit: Sarah Schatz/HBO
Although I can’t reveal the details of Ron’s accident, suffice it to say that this is the moment onlookers will be appalled, and then refrain from mentioning it again in order to be polite. But for Ron, it’s a moment he’ll relive again and again. Do you know the feeling when an embarrassing high school memory accidentally resurfaces from your subconscious? Ron’s experience is like this, only the memory never disappears.
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But although a terrible memory may cause intense grief for you or me, it has the potential to send Ron into a complete detective spiral. He delves into obscure corporate websites, investigates property deeds, and even encroachments on abandoned buildings. These scenes are a perfect example of Robinson and Kanin’s ability to escalate the emotions involved – in this case, embarrassment over a horrific past memory – to absurd levels.
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Robinson and Kanin I think you should leave Painting sensibilities appear at various points along Ron’s journey as well. A visit to a men’s clothing store leads to a heated discussion about a members’ club that seems so exclusive. One of Ron’s co-workers is obsessed with throwing an unclear “bug” party. At one point, there is a lengthy debate about getting soup on one’s sleeve. Each part builds on Ron’s search for answers, but also provides hilariously bizarre details about Ron’s spiraling world Al-Kursi CompanyThe overall ridiculous picture of anxiety.
Al-Kursi Company He plays into the fears of life online.
Sophia Lillis in The Chair Company.
Credit: Sarah Schatz/HBO
while Al-Kursi Company It does not focus explicitly on the Internet, but it still talks about the fears or inconveniences that arise from being connected to the Internet today.
One of the biggest examples comes in the first episode, when Ron tries to investigate the mysterious furniture company Tecca. Their website doesn’t offer much in the way of contacting them. The phone number listed on their site goes to a broader furniture company, and when Ron tries to get an email address from the site’s assistant bot, it directs him back to the unhelpful contact page. The frustrating spin of it all calls to mind customer websites that are deliberately blocked, but there are elements of dead Internet theory — which says most online activity is machine generated — too. There is an institutional void in these locations reminiscent of ghost jobs and recruitment scams, and this void only serves to anger Ron further.
elsewhere, Al-Kursi Company It exploits ideas of online privacy, from tracking someone’s location to stealing their identity. But the biggest connection to life is online Al-Kursi CompanyDepicting the over-emphasis on conspiracy theories, Ron’s detective work has come to resemble detective work fueled by the armchair misinformation of online conspiracy theorists. naturally, Al-Kursi Company It hints that Ron might be onto something, but that doesn’t change the fact that his frantic search for answers has alienated him from his family and co-workers, in the same way that Conspiracy theories can break up families.
These parallels to online life add substance to what is already a strange and strange ride, filled with classic Robinson panicked screams and an unforgettable cast of seedy side characters. The result is sure to be a treat for Robinson fans, and one that introduces one of his most sadly relatable characters to date.
Al-Kursi Company Premiering Sunday, October 12 at 10pm ET on HBO and HBO Max, with new episodes weekly.