When Dave came out, many people thought that it was just another comedy show starring a celebrity as themselves — but towards the end of season 1 and into season 2, it became so much more. Heading into season 3, Dave is already one of the best comedy shows on cable, but the first few episodes of this season show that it may be the single best.
In this new season of Dave, we follow rapper Lil Dicky (also known as Dave Burd) as he has finally achieved all of his dreams — or at least he thinks he has. To no one’s surprise, Dave still goes through a series of hilariously awkward interactions, and it one-ups all of the craziness we have seen in previous seasons.
The way that they develop Dave’s character arc in this season is extremely effective, even if it is a bit more conventional than previous seasons. Now that Dave has finally earned his place in the spotlight, season 3 follows him as he attempts to cope with his fame, interacting with even more famous celebrities, as well as the fans and people from his past that he may or may not have outgrown.
Even in just the first three episodes, there are plenty of celebrity and musician cameos that will have fans rolling with laughter. Episode 3, “Hearsay,” is built around a celebrity cameo that is so wild it rivals Doja Cat and Kareem Abdul Jabar’s cameos from season two. But this rap legend is only the tip of the iceberg of who we will see throughout the rest of the season.
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Furthermore, it will be exciting to see where this season takes some of its supporting characters. Although episode 1 and 2 are very Dave-centric, episode 3 again gives GaTa an amazing chance to shine. Season 2 of Dave went a long way in making the show darker and more profound, and season 3 seems to be continuing down that path.
There’s usually at least one episode per season where the show dials up the tension to the point of almost feeling like a thriller — just think of “Prison” or “International Gander” — and that comes early this season with episode 2: “Harrison Ave.” In “Harrison Ave,” we follow Dave et al. as they film a music video set in Dave’s hometown, and it’s the most stressful, awkwardly funny half hour of television you will see this year.
Season three also boasts some awesome music, which is fitting, given that the part of Lil Dicky’s career that these episodes are based on is when he became a more “serious” musician. There is still the trademark absurdity and comedy that defines his songs, but they’re also musically ambitious and extraordinarily catchy.
Dave is still one of the funniest, most engaging comedies on television right now, and the beginning of season three delivers on more of what fans have come to love about the show. Burd and co. clearly have not run out of ideas yet, with plenty of ways to keep things fresh.
Dave premieres on FXX on April 5 at 10pm ET/PT, with new episodes airing subsequent Wednesdays at the same time. Three out of ten episodes reviewed.
Rating: 10/10
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