As of January, Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen are continuing to explore the alternative universe and cultural unaffectedness of Portland, Ore. in the third season of "Portlandia." Much of the comedic appeal of "Portlandia" lies in stellar performances by Brownstein and Armisen as they seamlessly move from character to character, enacting sketches that most viewers stongly identify with strongly even after the episodes are over. That seems to be the primary goal, at least, as the Brownstein?Armisen team is obviously far too cool for punch lines.
The third season continues to attract a growing variety of fans from varying demographics. One of the reasons for this fast?growing popularity lies in the characters that Brownstein and Armisen enact - Peter and Nance, Nina and Lance, Candace and Toni and versions of Carrie and Fred themselves. "Portlandia" produces a role for several circumstances and ages and gives viewers of every demographic something to laugh about and identify with.
In essence, the show seems to be centered on comedic intentions, but also with the goal of viciously over?representing the concept of an "alternate" culture. "Portlandia" is an extended joke of minute details. Over the course of its three seasons, it has presented a heightened, exaggerated and hyperbolized view of Portland's whole?food loving, locally grown glasses sporting urban youth.
Watching the episodes, one cannot help but note that, now three seasons old, "Portlandia" is fitting into a sort of comedy routine that proves to be consistently pleasing. The show spotlights human flaws as being far too niche?centric and puts a comedic spin - fairly accurately - on our obsession with the most banal baggage that we carry around with us. While "Portlandia" gives us the comedic escape from everyday reality that we desire from a pseudo?reality show, the series does have moments that are simply too farfetched or overplayed.
Not every sketch works, and as the show enters its third season, the recurring tagline skits like"We can pickle that!" and "Put a bird on it!" are getting old and the characters, instead of remaining the caricatures that Brownstein and Armisen made them out to be, are slowly beginning to develop into real people through the storyline. While these characters have become more sincere, in some ways their real?life counterparts have forgotten to embrace the understatement of their satirical roles.
The show remains unique in the fact that each skit is fundamentally a recycled story?line with a new ending. However, it struggles with the danger of seeming tired and used after simply a few episodes. This may dissuade those who no longer have the patience to appreciate the parody or delicate commentary.
"Portlandia" is nevertheless innovative and provides the perfect comedic respite after a grueling Sunday of homework. With each season, hopefully the characters will grow while simultaneously retaining the aloofness that is representative of the ever?so?original "hipster" culture of Portland, or the embellished, over the top "Portlandia." Brownstein and Armisen know their audience well, and it seems unlikely that they will let minor comedic slip?ups determine the outcome of the rest of the show. That simply wouldn't be "the dream of the '90s," you see in Portland.
