Portlandia: “Dead Pets”
(Episode 5.10)

The books close on Portlandia’s fifth season with this week’s “Dead Pets.” The episode’s arc—which follows a singular storyline like “The Story of Toni and Candace” (episode 5.01)—is indicative of the season overall: It starts off with a bang and loses a little steam toward the end. But even during its weakest sketches, “Dead Pets” still offers moments of social satire, political commentary and zinging one-liners that make Portlandia one of the more culturally relevant sketch comedies around.
Bryce Shivers (Fred Armisen) and Lisa Eversman (Carrie Brownstein) open the episode with a commercial touting their new-ish taxidermy business. (They introduced it in an earlier episode this season.) Bryce and Lisa have moved beyond putting birds on things and now ask people to invest in their dead pet business. “There’s something for the taxidermy lover of all ages,” Lisa says, as Bryce is seen in the background covered in blood and hack-sawing away. The sequence doesn’t end when the commercial does, however, as the store is vandalized. The “stuffed” animals are taken away and the storefront is set ablaze. It’s a shocker because it’s one of the few times a serious crime happens in Portlandia.
The public demands answers, and it’s up to the Portland Police Department to solve the case. Though they have no leads or evidence, the chief has an idea: “Let’s round up the weirdos. I’m sure one of them did this for some weird ass reason.” In a humorous exchange, the chief brings in a special agent (Brownstein) to help the force learn about “weirdos,” their antisocial tendencies and how they differ from other subgroups, such as dorks.
In the meantime, the city is on edge with the criminals on the loose. Toni (Brownstein) and Candace (Armisen) even install an alarm at their Women and Women First Bookstore. When the technician tests the alarm, the women are disconcerted by its piercing shriek. They ask to record something more personal for the alarm, but he tells them it’s impossible. Toni has a great comeback for the alarm guy: “My body, my voice, my alarm, my choice.” It’s feminist, it’s funny and it’s ridiculous. In other words, it’s perfect Portlandia.