Portlandia Season 1 Episode 1
Portlandia
Season 1

Ep 1. Farm

  • TV-14
  • January 21, 2011
  • 22 min
  • 7.4  (566)

In the first episode of Portlandia, titled "Farm," viewers are introduced to the quirky, offbeat humor and satirical commentary that the show's creators, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, have become known for.

The episode begins with a montage of picturesque shots of the Pacific Northwest, accompanied by soothing nature sounds and folksy music. From there, the focus shifts to a trendy Portland restaurant, where a couple is shown perusing the menu and asking the waiter a series of increasingly specific questions about the origins of their food. The scene is a send-up of the farm-to-table movement, which places emphasis on local, sustainably-sourced ingredients - something that Portlandia both celebrates and gently skewers throughout its run.

From there, we are introduced to a variety of oddball characters and scenarios that make up the fabric of Portlandia's world. There's a group of cyclists who take their devotion to "bike culture" to new heights (or lows, depending on your perspective), a pair of feminist bookstore owners who only sell titles by female authors (and refuse to carry Jonathan Franzen's latest novel, much to the chagrin of a hapless customer), and a man who is getting a tattoo of a bird on his arm - even though he has a phobia of birds and can't stand to be in the same room as them.

All of these vignettes are connected by the overarching theme of the episode, which revolves around the idea of "putting a bird on it." The phrase refers to the tendency of Portlanders (and trendy hipsters more broadly) to add a bird motif to everything from tote bags to coffee mugs to wallpaper. The joke is that this obsession with birds is both arbitrary and ubiquitous - you can't escape the bird trend, no matter how hard you try.

As the episode unfolds, we see the absurdity of this pervasive bird fixation played out in a variety of ways. At one point, a graphic designer adds a bird to a poster for a musicians' union, despite the fact that there is no logical reason for it to be there. At another, the feminist bookstore owners unveil their latest product: a line of bird-decorated tote bags that they hope will help them pay the rent.

Despite the show's tendency towards absurdist humor, there are moments of genuine warmth and heart throughout the episode. One standout scene features a couple who have moved to Portland from New York, hoping to escape the stress of city life and reconnect with each other. As they wander through a beautiful park, they rediscover the joys of simple pleasures like picnicking and playing catch. It's a sweet, affecting moment that speaks to the show's underlying ethos of celebrating the peculiarities and idiosyncrasies of life in the Pacific Northwest.

Overall, the first episode of Portlandia lays the groundwork for what would become a beloved cult hit. With its sharp satirical edge, offbeat sense of humor, and affectionate portrayal of Portland's bohemian quirks, the show announced itself as a unique and singular voice in the TV landscape. Whether you're a diehard fan of all things Portland or just looking for a good laugh, "Farm" is a great place to start your journey into the wonderfully bizarre world of Portlandia.

Description
Watch Portlandia - Farm (s1 e1) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Portlandia, Season 1 Episode 1, is available to watch and stream on IFC. You can also buy, rent Portlandia on demand at Apple TV Channels, Amazon Prime, Philo, Amazon, Vudu, Microsoft Movies & TV, IFC, Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    January 21, 2011
  • Content Rating
    TV-14
  • Runtime
    22 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.4  (566)