Strangers with Candy Season 1 Episode 2

Ep 2. A Burden's Burden

  • TV-14
  • April 14, 1999
  • 22 min
  • 8.0  (135)

Jerri Blank, the ex-junkie and inappropriately sexual schoolgirl, has returned to high school after a stint in prison, but she is now deeply immersed in the strange and twisted world of high school politics. In the second episode of Strangers with Candy, entitled "A Burden's Burden," Jerri finds herself in a rather awkward position. Jerri is enrolled in a course on African American culture and history, and when the teacher assigns a project about slavery, Jerri is initially less than enthused.

However, Jerri discovers that one of her ancestors was actually a slave owner, and she becomes obsessed with uncovering her family's murky past. Jerri becomes determined to right the wrongs of her ancestors and even goes so far as to personally apologize to the descendants of the slaves who her family owned.

Meanwhile, Jerri's stepmother Sara is embarking on a new career as a motivational speaker. Her speeches, however, are less than motivational. Instead, they mostly consist of Sara rambling about her own personal issues and problems, leading to a sort of mass group therapy session. Jerri becomes embarrassed by her stepmother's behavior and decides to intervene, but things don't go as planned.

The episode explores themes of guilt, shame, and the burden of history. Jerri is wracked with guilt over her family's past and becomes obsessed with making amends. However, her attempts to apologize to the descendants of the slaves only serve to make things worse. Jerri is forced to confront the fact that she cannot simply erase her family's past and move on.

Sara, too, is struggling with feelings of guilt and shame. Her failed marriage and subsequent breakdown have left her feeling like a failure, and she is desperate to find a path forward. Her attempts at motivational speaking are an attempt to rebuild her self-esteem, but instead, they only serve to lay bare her own insecurities.

The episode is full of the quirky, offbeat humor that Strangers with Candy is known for. Jerri's bizarre attempts to make amends are both cringe-worthy and hilarious. Sara's self-absorbed speeches are both funny and sad. The show is a satire of high school culture and American society at large, but it also manages to explore deeper themes of identity, history, and trauma.

Overall, "A Burden's Burden" is a strong episode of Strangers with Candy that delves into some complex themes while maintaining the show's signature humor and irreverence. It's a reminder that, even in the midst of all the wacky hijinks, there are real emotions and issues at play.

Description
Watch Strangers with Candy - A Burden's Burden (s1 e2) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Strangers with Candy, Season 1 Episode 2, is available to watch and stream on Comedy Central. You can also buy, rent Strangers with Candy on demand at Paramount+, Amazon Prime, Amazon, Microsoft Movies & TV, Google Play, Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    April 14, 1999
  • Content Rating
    TV-14
  • Runtime
    22 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    8.0  (135)