Workaholics: “Menergy Crisis” (Episode 5.04)
Whenever an episode of Workaholics separates one of the three guys, it has the possibility of becoming overwhelmed by the worst tendencies of the individual. Anders can be too cocky at times, seemingly believing that he’s better than his other two friends, while Adam acts like a kid in middle school who just hit puberty. Yet with Blake, there isn’t really that dark side. If anything, he’s too innocent and comes off as the group’s heart. “Menergy Crisis” places Blake as an unexpected antagonist and in doing so, creates one of the most adorable and fun episodes in quite some time.
Adam, Blake and Ders have created a band called Menergy and have written a song called “Best Friends,” but when the song gets into the recording process, it becomes abundantly clear that Blake just cannot sing at all. As Anders says, it sounds like life leaving something, like a child’s nightmare. So Adam and Ders kick Blake out, just as an office party gives Menergy their first opportunity at super stardom. Or to perform in TelAmeriCorp’s parking lot. Instantly, Blake takes matters into his own hands, suggesting to Alice that their other band, The Wizards, perform, taking over that band as his own. “Menergy Crisis” quickly becomes about two dueling groups fighting over that prime real estate of the parking lot.
“Menergy Crisis” finally brings us back to the office and it’s a welcome return. As fun as it can be to watch them wrestle, go to college or engage in swim meets, this show started at the office and it feels almost like home returning to that setting. Since it’s been so long, we gladly get at least one fantastic moment from each of the supporting characters we rarely see anymore. Montez dancing to “Best Friends” is hilariously awkward while Bill’s on-the-nose proclamation that the three are singing a song about being best friends forever while they’re currently fighting is classic Bill.