Running Wilde – “Into the Wilde” – Review

Summer vacation is over and fall has arrived, which means only one thing according to Steve Wilde: fall vacations.  In an effort to get closer to Emmy, Steve plans a “family” vacation for himself, Emmy, and Puddle.  Unfortunately their plans are interrupted by the arrival of Emmy’s fiancé, Andy, fresh off a garbage barge from South America.   Andy is thrilled (at first) that Emmy is staying with Steve Wilde, as he thinks she’s infiltrated the enemy.  He makes an elaborate plan to kidnap Steve and use the ransom money to buy back the tribal lands he and Emmy have been trying to protect in South America.  In true sitcom fashion, these plans go awry when Andy gets sick mid-kidnap from some medical waste he used as a pillow on the garbage barge, but not before he’s had time to mail a ransom letter to Steve’s father. A ransom letter that, sadly, Steve’s father decides to just let slide so his abduction insurance premiums don’t rise.  Of course it all works out in the end and everyone is relatively happy, except Andy, who’s been left in the woods wrapped in packing paper.   I’ll let you watch to figure that one out.

What this episode was really about was Steve’s lack of family and friends.  He really has no one who cares about him, and that really strikes home for him when he learns his father has no plans to report him missing.  Luckily for him, that happens at about the same time as Emmy realizes she’s staying with Steve because she likes him and considers him a friend. So we’re one step closer to the inevitable tryst between Steve and Emmy, because she’s at least admitting that she likes him now.  That gets a big yay from me! I like the idea of Steve and Emmy together, and I’m rooting for them.  I think they balance each other out. 

This was a cute episode, and I’m happy to report it has only reinforced my love for all things Will Arnett.  He’s a hilarious character actor, and this role is perfect for him.  No one else could quite pull it off.  I was also happy to see David Cross appear as Andy. It’s like a mini Arrested Development reunion!  All-in-all I give this episode a solid B+ and hope that everyone else liked it too so the show sticks around.  It’s still just too early to tell.