[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season 12 Episode 10 “No Lessons Learned…” — as well as pretty much all of Season 12.]
As several characters reminded viewers throughout Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12, Larry David infamously bunged up the finale for one of the biggest sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld. Now, almost three decades later, with Curb officially coming to a close, it’s David’s second chance: Will he stick the landing or pen another episode of television fated for listicles titled “Worst Series Finales of All Time?” Luckily, “No Lessons Learned” accomplishes the former, and in typical David fashion, it does so by digging in its heels, admitting no fault, and doubling down on David’s 1998 decision-making.
Eagle-eyed viewers (like ourselves), might have seen this coming from the beginning of the season. The setting of a trial was just too perfect of a set-up. Then, of course, there’s Episode 10’s title, invoking the oft-repeated mantra of the Seinfeld writing team: “No hugging, no learning.” Well, in “No Lessons Learned,” there’s definitely no hugging, and there’s certainly no learning, as Larry himself makes extremely clear early in the episode. “I’m 76 years old, and I have never learned a lesson in my entire life,” he tells a trouble-making kid with a cheery “ho-ho!”
So, yes, the episode loosely follows the conceit of the Seinfeld finale. Larry’s on trial, and as part of it, a host of people he has previously wronged take the stand to testify against his character. Familiar favorites like Mocha Joe, Mr. Takahashi, and the now-grown girl from the legendary Season 2 episode “The Doll” all speak to Larry’s pettiness alongside flashbacks. Hell, even recent guest star Bruce Springsteen calls in to tell Larry he can go fuck himself.
The callbacks and references don’t stop there, as there are passing mentions of numerous standout moments (the “c*nt obituary,” hiring a sex worker to use the carpool lane, the “pant tent”) as well as the return of series-long runners (like the Larry stare-down). It gets a tad clip-showy, something the Seinfeld finale is often criticized for, but there’s enough going on in the periphery of the trial to make the fan service not only palatable but, atconctually, quite enjoyable for long-time fans.
With an extended runtime of one hour, all of Curb’s familiar faces get a chance to shine. Leon (J.B. Smoove) catches up on Larry’s past work, acutely calling Seinfeld a “fuck documentary”; Jeff (Jeff Carlin) royally screws up his anniversary gift; Susie (Susie Essman) gets some good, profanity-laden tirades in; and the late Richard Lewis has yet another relationship (with guest star Allison Janney!) ruined thanks to Larry.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)