Ep 4. James Ellison Funeral

In Party Down season 2 episode 4, titled James Ellison Funeral, the catering crew is on their way to organize a memorial service for a wealthy financier, James Ellison. But as they get there, they realize that the event is not at all what they expected.

For starters, the group is met with hostility from James' ex-wife, who has a history with Ron and refuses to let him serve at the event. To make matters worse, the deceased's girlfriend, Sheila, is nowhere to be found, leaving the group to improvise and come up with creative solutions to keep the guests happy without any guidance from her.

The episode also delves into the personal lives of the Party Down crew. Henry is dealing with a recent break-up and is uncomfortable around his ex-girlfriend who is attending the event. Ron is struggling with some personal financial issues and looks to Henry for guidance. Casey is trying to make a good impression on another caterer who she hopes will give her a job opportunity. And Kyle, true to his character, is busy trying to impress the famous guest, Uda Bengt.

As the episode progresses, tensions rise, old wounds are reopened, and new problems arise. Henry and his ex-girlfriend get into a heated argument, Ron reveals some personal truths to the guests, and Casey's attempt at impressing the guest caterer backfires. Even the deceased's daughter is starting to show signs of distress and the Party Down crew is doing its best to keep things running smoothly.

One of the strongest points in this episode is the way it handles the grieving process. We see a range of emotions being expressed by the guests and the crew alike – from sadness and sorrow to anger and blame. The show does a great job of depicting how different people cope with loss in their own way, and how it can be a complicated and painful process.

Overall, Party Down season 2 episode 4, James Ellison Funeral, is a well-written and emotionally charged episode that delves deeper into the personal lives of the crew members. The awkward and unpredictable situation they find themselves in makes for some great comedic moments, but it's the more poignant moments that really hit home. It's a testament to the show's ability to balance humor and emotion with grace.