Ep 5. Squiggleman

In the fifth episode of Portlandia's third season, titled "Squiggleman", Fred and Carrie present a variety of sketches that poke fun at the quirky and unconventional residents of Portland, Oregon.

The episode opens with a sketch that parodies the local DIY culture of Portland, as Fred and Carrie attempt to build a birdhouse from scratch. Despite their best efforts, the birdhouse ends up looking more like a pile of scrap wood than anything remotely resembling a house for birds.

In another sketch, Fred and Carrie try to outdo each other with their impressively weird Halloween costumes. While Carrie dresses up as a disembodied head sitting on a platter, Fred shows up in a bizarre "Squiggleman" costume that defies explanation.

Later in the episode, the focus shifts to Portland's music scene, as Fred and Carrie attend a concert by a local band called "Catnap". However, the show quickly devolves into chaos as the band members argue with each other on stage and the audience starts throwing objects at them.

One of the standout sketches of the episode takes place at a local feminist bookstore, where Carrie and guest star Kumail Nanjiani engage in a game of "vagina conflict resolution". The sketch hilariously highlights the exaggerated PC culture prevalent in Portland.

Overall, "Squiggleman" is a solid episode of Portlandia that effectively showcases the eccentricities of Portland's residents and culture. Whether you're a long-time fan of the show or just looking for some quirky comedy, this episode is sure to deliver plenty of laughs.