3rd Rock from the Sun (TV Series) Two-Faced Dick (1999) User Reviews

Aliens can Act

[ZTrainExpress · 9/10 · 25 February 2012]

Okay let's all admit that Seasons 1-3 were nothing short of iconic television theater - far beyond the average sitcom fair.

But this one was a great episode that started out seeming like it would be gimmicky. But really John Lithgow and Kristen Johnston out-do themselves by essentially playing each other. It was a far fetched plot that was played to perfection by the whole cast. In the same vane you have to include Jane Curtain and Wayne Knight, who serve as the perfect foils to the switched gendered cast members. Curtain just keeps showing her comedic acting skills through completely bizarre scenarios, taking it seriously so that the comedic effect is enhanced.

The ridiculous business with the "bad-asses" at the restaurant. that's another story. The whole premise of Harry working in the restaurant this season just feels like forced jabs at new plots. The scenes with the bikers just weren't very funny and the payoff just didn't, well, pay off.

That's okay though. As long as the A-plot is perfect and the B-plot is sub-par, that's more than enough for me.

Long live 3rd Rock!

Kristen Johnston 10/10

[hjorose · 9/10 · 31 March 2023]

Kristen absolutely perfectly embodies Dick's character in this episode, from his mannerisms to his cadence, and in doing so shows up John Lithgow's not quite as up to scratch depiction of the goofy but forceful Sally. Every series should have an episode like this so that actresses can use them to show their worth and earn equal (or in this case greater!) pay, which I suspect was not the case as it rarely is. John's performance relies a little too much on playing a simpering woman, which is a shame as this is a series that doesn't generally negatively stereotype women. Kristen more than makes up for John here though.