Even as a Huge ‘Seinfeld’ Fan, This Offensive Episode Is Hard To Watch
Editor’s Note: The following contains the topic of self-harm and suicide.Seinfeld is an offensive TV series, and it’s also one of the best sitcoms to ever exist, no question. Seinfeld is supposed to be offensive and cross boundaries, although today it’s tame compared to shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. When Seinfeld came out in 1990 (its bizarre pilot episode debuted in 1989), it was during an era of predictable sitcoms. You know the type: a family has some lighthearted drama and hijinks, leading to everyone making up with a hug and lessons learned in thirty minutes or less.
That wasn’t Seinfeld. Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Kramer (Michael Richards), and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) are a**holes. No one was learning anything here, no matter how often the foursome got their comeuppance after getting into trouble due to their selfish behavior. They were awful people, yet we loved them, even if George was relieved to accidentally kill his fiancée, or Jerry was refusing to give someone mouth-to-mouth after a drowning. However, even if you are a huge Seinfeld fan, there’s one episode that is really difficult to get through: Season 3’s “The Suicide.” Just the title is enough to make you cringe.
‘Seinfeld’ Made Light of Some Serious Issues
Seinfeld may be one of the most popular sitcoms in TV history, with audiences tuning in because they loved seeing something that was not only funny but wildly unpredictable, but that need to push the envelope also caused the Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld co-created series to go too far in its search for laughs. For example, Season 9’s “The Puerto Rican” Day, which includes scenes such as Kramer stomping on a burning Puerto Rican flag, was considered so offensive that it was pulled from syndication.
Other dark episodes of Seinfeld weren’t banned, even if they were deemed as broaching a subject that should never be used as a joke. In Season 3, “The Alternate Side” has Elaine dating an older man named Owen (Edward Penn), who has a stroke, leaving Elaine to take care of him when she wants out. The stroke is a device for physical comedy, causing even Jerry Seinfeld himself to regret it years later. In Season 9’s “The Merv Griffin Show,” Jerry is so excited that his new girlfriend, Celia (Julia Pennington), has a toy collection that he drugs her so he can play with them.
Season 5’s “The Bris” went for a double whammy, as not only was Jason Alexander disgusted by how much of a stereotype the Jewish mohel is, but the subplot deals with a suicidal man jumping out of a hospital window, landing on George’s car. The man is dead, but it’s played for laughs as George gets irked that the hospital won’t pay to have his car fixed. “The Bris” sadly wouldn’t be the last time that Seinfeld treated suicide as a joke.
What Happens in the ‘Seinfeld’ Episode “The Suicide”?
After an awkward first few seasons, Seinfeld was coming into its own in Season 3, as the writers began crafting interconnecting stories around the lead characters. Episode 15, “The Suicide,” does this well, but it all revolves around a plot about a man who has just attempted to kill himself and is near death. Written by Tom Leopold and directed by Tom Cherones, “The Suicide” begins with Jerry in the hallway outside of his apartment talking to his next-door neighbor, Gina (Gina Gallego). She seems to flirt with Jerry a little bit (who later admits to George that he finds her sexy), until her grumpy boyfriend, Martin (C.E. Grimes), comes out, ending their conversation. George tells Jerry that Martin didn’t seem too pleased with Jerry’s flirting, but their day goes on with other adventures.
That night, however, Jerry is woken up by banging on his door. He opens it to find a frightened Gina asking for help because Martin just purposely overdosed on pills in an attempt to take his life. Later, Martin is in a coma in the hospital, which Jerry makes fun of. Gina reveals that Martin tried to kill himself because of his jealousy over other men talking to her, which caused Gina to tell Martin that she wanted to break up. Gina then flirts with Jerry, wishing out loud that Martin was dead. Seinfeld is attracted to her, but he’s also uncomfortable that Martin might hear. Gina doesn’t care, wanting to kiss Jerry right in front of Martin. Jerry can’t do it though, because he “respects a good coma.” The whole scene is done with several outbursts of laughter from the studio audience.
‘Seinfeld’ Made a Joke Out of Mental Illness
If that’s not awkward enough, Kramer is upset that Martin has his vacuum cleaner, and he might not get it back. Jerry talks to his neighbor, wondering how long he has to wait to ask Gina out, before getting sidetracked about Dr. Jack Kevorkian and assisted suicide. It leads to an absolutely awful line of dialogue, as Jerry says, “There’s no tall buildings where these people live? They can’t wrap their lips around a revolver like a normal person?” Oof. And the audience eats up, laughing all the way through it.
Jerry and Kramer continue to debate coma etiquette and if Jerry is allowed to be with Gina. Meanwhile, George feels like he’s being haunted by Martin’s spirit, even though he’s still alive. With Martin in a coma, Jerry and Gina go for it, kissing in the apartment as Gina swoons. The fact that a man tried to end his life means nothing to them. All that matters is the question of what Jerry will do if and when he wakes up. Jerry is afraid of being seen out with Gina, who couldn’t care less, leading to them being spotted by his arch-nemesis, Newman (Wayne Knight). After Kramer screams at a comatose Martin about his vacuum cleaner, “The Suicide” ends with Newman being paid off (with cake) not to talk about Jerry and Gina, before changing his mind and telling Martin everything when he wakes up. This leads to Martin choking Jerry out for more laughs. Having survived, Martin and Gina get back together and buy a house, leaving Jerry behind.
This Risky ‘Seinfeld’ Episode Ends With Very Grim and Harmful Jokes
You could argue that “The Suicide” isn’t the most offensive Seinfeld episode at this point. It’s another example of someone in the series making everything about themselves, only to get taken down at the end. But then comes the after credits ending, when Jerry, as customary in most seasons, is shown performing stand-up at a club.
Here he goes into a routine about suicide, as Jerry questions why those who survive a suicide don’t attempt it again, because their life hasn’t got any better. “Now they’ve found out there’s one more thing they stink at.” Jerry offers suggestions of more effective ways to commit suicide, concluding that “There’s nothing more rewarding than reaching a goal you sat for yourself.” There are a lot of things wrong with “The Suicide,” like no one showing any interest in Martin’s mental well-being, but the worst sin of all is joking that those who survive are failures. Seinfeld is a classic sitcom, but this episode is not an example of its greatness.
