What’s your most relatable Curb Your Enthusiasm gripe?

In the fantastic pilot episode, “The Pants Tent,” Larry meets his wife’s friend (Robin Ruzan) at a movie theater, and, on the way to his seat, a woman (Sofia Milos) sighs and makes an annoyed face when he has to scoot by. Now, I would never get in a shouting match with a stranger for a subtly dickish move like that. But—and this was the beauty and brilliance of Curb, especially early on in its run—Larry gets to say and do what we all wish we could. He knows he’s in the right and he will speak up about it, even if he burns bridges in the process. As someone who pays to sit in aisle seats on planes so as not to put anyone out and half-whispers “I’m sorry” on repeat while getting to my seat at a ball game, I a.) couldn’t agree with Larry more here (surprised scoffers at events are, indeed, the worst), and b.) wish I could act like this man just once. [Tim Lowery]

No joke, I’ve thought about this episode almost every time I’ve gone to the doctor’s office over the past two decades. Like Larry’s doctor, mine takes patients in the order in which they signed in, not the order of their appointment. Larry has an appointment for 11:30, guest star Marissa Jaret Winokur has one at 11:45... so he should get to go first! But per the office policy, she gets called in before him. Of course, Larry being Larry, he pushes a valid complaint past the point where you can still be on his side. Later in the episode, he returns to the office and encounters Winokur again, nearly tackling her in the hallway to ensure he gets to sign in first. Little does he know, his complaint actually led to a change in the policy, so she still gets seen before him. “So apparently it’s not about the policy at all, it’s more just about you going first?” the fed-up nurse (played by Abbott Elementary’s Lisa Ann Walter) asks him. “Exactly,” Larry answers in the most Larry way possible. [Cindy White]

In this episode, Larry opens the door on Halloween to two teen girls dressed in normal clothes asking him for candy. They say they’re 13 (an obvious lie) and insist that they’re dressed up as “my sister” and “a teacher.” Don’t get me wrong, I love Halloween. I love it so much, in fact, that I, like Larry, object to teens showing up at my door without a costume expecting candy. It’s not the age that’s the problem; it’s the lack of effort and creativity. If you’re a full-grown adult in costume and you show up at my door, I’ll happily give you candy from the good bowl. (Yes, I keep two separate bowls by the door because of this episode.) [Cindy White]

Whomst amongst us has not lived in fear of being the most problematic person at Ben Stiller’s birthday party? As a person who views any gathering of more than roughly four people as an ordeal to be survived, not savored, Larry and Cheryl’s visit to the Starsky & Hutch star’s festivities is Curb-as-horror-movie for me at its best. Sure, we might not all be David-foolish enough to go swinging a too-sharp skewer around as a golf club—partially blinding our very famous host in the process—but the conundrum presented by a “no gifts” birthday party is universal. (And Larry is right: Notice how Stiller can’t come up with a good answer when asked why he puts “No Gifts” on the invite if he actually wants and expects gifts. Get his Greenberg ass, Larry!) [William Hughes]

It’s not even controversial anymore to be on Larry’s side with this one, another gem from“ Ben’s Birthday Party.” It’s all a part of the freedom to infect/freedom from infection dichotomy, with Stiller asserting his right to potentially pass on a cold as he sees fit. And honestly, it’s a bad look. Heck, I’ll go a little further: don’t make anyone shake your hand—sneeze or no sneeze. It’s 2024. We don’t force hugs, we don’t demand eye contact, and we don’t shake people’s snotty hands (and risk our health) to spare some feelings. [Meredith Hobbs Coons]

Everyone knows someone who, innocently or otherwise, misjudged a friendship. Granted, few would want to overstep those bounds with Larry David, a notorious crank who seemingly keeps everyone a couple of rungs below himself. Unfortunately, no one in Larry’s circle has faced his wrath more than Little Orphan Marty Funkhauser (played by the late great Bob Einstein). After Larry is caught stealing flowers from Marty’s mother’s roadside grave, Marty threatens, “If you weren’t my best friend, I would take my bare hands and pop your head off your neck.” Larry, unmoved by Marty’s offense or threat, chuckles as he corrects the record: “He’s not my best friend.” While we rarely have the opportunity to tell someone that we’re not actually “best friends,” Larry’s shifting focus and sincere surprise when Marty explained how he saw their relationship is as hilarious as it is human. As is the case sometimes, Larry says the thing we wish we could. [Matthew Schimkowitz]

Hey, don’t take away my comfort person so you can play social matchmaker at your party! Who does that even serve? If I make a buddy because of some strategy like this, do they get to take credit for that friendship from then on? (Sounds annoying.) Sometimes the whole reason I’m even there is to hang out with that one familiar person in a new context; sometimes I need them as a crutch before I ease into “peopling.” I don’t even care who gets to sit by the “best” people. My person is the best person. Let me keep them. Which is all to say: I absolutely get Larry’s objection to Susie splitting up the couples to force mingling. [Meredith Hobbs Coons]

Surgery is expensive—even if you’ve got Seinfeld money, apparently. And knee surgery can lay a person out for a long time, potentially interfering with a burgeoning, very important spite store business. As Larry’s late mother would say, “Get a second opinion! Are you stupid?!” Plus, it’s unprofessional as hell for a doctor to get all pouty (in this case, one played by Girls’ Alex Karpovsky) with a patient who questions their medical recommendations, even if they end up being right in the end. Larry pursues that second opinion, and that’s exactly what he should do. And with these two jokers he ends up with, hell, I’d even explore a third. [Meredith Hobbs Coons]

Who calls someone they just met by their nickname? In this instance, I actually feel seen by Brooke (or Brookie), not L.D. My name is Meredith, and there are some folks who have called me Mere since I was a little kid—among them, my immediate family, parents’ friends, and friends I met when I was, like, four. If new people try to call me Mere, though, that’s way too familiar. You’re not my mom, New Person! It seems manipulative, like they want something from me. Now, I won’t make a fuss about it—I’ve fully let people call me Marilyn before—but I do write them off in my mind. [Meredith Hobbs Coons]

This one just happened in this week’s episode, when Larry won’t call McCrabb (Matt Berry) to let him know he has exposed him to COVID until he reads McCrabb’s manuscript. I run into this all the time with the creative people in my life, and I could definitely see myself pulling a Larry and putting off something as urgent as a COVID call until I’ve fulfilled my duty to read scripts/listen to albums/test homemade lotions, etc. Now, don’t get me wrong. I see it as an immense privilege to have a family and social circle that includes so many creative people. I’m just saying, if you’ve given me something to scope out, you might not hear from me for a while. [Meredith Hobbs Coons]