TV Review: Trailer Park Boys S10 E01, “Freedom 45?”

By Tyler Hodg

If you’re not a fan of Trailer Park Boys, then you can frig off.

The Sunnyvale crew is back for a tenth season, and third as a Netflix original, proving the little show that could, still can.

In “Freedom 45?,” life is generally positive for all in the park. Jim Lahey is exiled and no longer a shareholder of the community, and Julian has carte blanche to run the area his—and the residents’—way.

Compared to past premieres, very little goes on in the latest episode. This may possibly be a reflection of the positive state of the park, but for viewers, it comes across as a boring start to the season. Like most premieres, the majority of screen time is spent on a “where are they now” segment, except this one is without any real explanation of the whereabouts of major characters such as J-Roc, T, or Lahey.

This is due in part to the fact that there have been so many residents introduced over the years, that it’s impossible to get to everyone. The inclusion of new townsfolk has become an issue for a lot of viewers, but thankfully, the first installment doesn’t introduce anyone else into the mix.

In fact, many elements of previous seasons have made a return. Bubbles has gone back to his past profession of collecting shopping carts, the camera crew has become a character once again, and for the first time in a while, baby Randy is referenced (did anyone remember that was even a thing?).

The reappearance of those key story pieces is interesting, as the show has generally moved away from any pre-Netflix themes since becoming a part of the subscription-based juggernaut. “Freedom 45?” feels more like a classic episode than not, but still doesn’t match the magic of early seasons, mostly due to the high production value brought on by the network.

One thing that remains untouched throughout the entire series is the essence of the main characters. Ricky, the best/worst grandparent, is in true form, and easily the most noteworthy member of Sunnyvale in the episode. Between using his grandson’s little fingers to pack a joint, and “banging Lucy so hard” the end of their trailer blows off, the character is the avenue for the most memorable and hilarious moments.

Despite the show—and this episode specifically—often being about very little, there are still unanswered questions from the previous season. Where is Lahey, and why did he and the freshly-shaven chest Randy part ways? Where did all the seniors go after Julian took control of the park? These are all valid conundrums untouched within the premiere.

Trailer Park Boys has a good track record, and regardless of this episode’s lackluster content, there is no doubt that big moments will occur this season. With Tom Arnold and Snoop Dog set to appear as guest stars, what could possibly go wrong?