If you’re looking for laughs and searching for stories in song, Schmigadoon! episode 2×03 on Apple TV+ is sure to deliver. Titled “Bells and Whistles,” the third episode of the musical comedy series epitomizes the genre and continues to deepen the characters and stories developed in the first two episodes, creating a beautiful balance of entertainment.
There’s certainly no shortage of entertainment in 2×03. The episode contains several humorous lines, moments, references, and musical numbers. After all, Topher (Aaron Tveit) and his commune friends sing an entire song trying to convince Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) to join their way of life and get naked. If that doesn’t grab your attention, we’re not sure what will.
While the first two episodes of the musical comedy were very much dark and dreary, “Bells and Whistles” literally gets brighter. Josh has escaped and traded a dull jail cell for an outdoor commune. They dance, sing, and get high off bread to ease their minds and troubles away. It’s a stark contrast to where Melissa is in Schmicago, running into orphans and butchers in an attempt to solve the murder her husband has been accused of. That contrast is present throughout the entire episode and sets “Bells and Whistles” apart from its predecessors.
Basically, Josh is literally high on life in “Bells and Whistles” while Melissa is playing detective to exonerate him. Scary, intimidating men sing of their vulnerabilities to show there’s more than meets the eye. And Melissa sobs because she’s worried about Josh, while Josh’s lawyer Bobbie (Jane Krakowski) jokes the whole time because she’s uncomfortable. By juxtaposing these opposites, Schmigadoon! allows each side to shine and provide a depth and complexity that wasn’t as present in season one.
The songs and musical numbers in 2×03 don’t seem as plentiful or as long as others in the season so far, which we found to work well with the pace of the half-hour show and where we’re at in the season. Besides Topher’s song about getting naked, the music mostly works to move the story along instead of setting a scene. (But if Topher wants to keep singing about getting naked, we know people won’t mind.)
Even when new characters are introduced in the episode, we quickly learn how they fit into the story or at least get a glimpse of what’s to come. And it makes sense with a six-episode season. There isn’t much time to waste.
Then there’s Bobbie’s showstopping number in the courthouse during Josh’s trial. At first, it may seem like it’s all for show, but it actually gives us a good look at not only how Bobbie has gotten to where she is but also that things may not be so different in Schmicago from Schmigadoon after all. Bobbie doesn’t have a compelling argument for Josh, an alibi, or any other reason or proof that he didn’t murder Elsie. So how did she convince the jury to not acquit him? Sequins, sparklers, the male gaze, and all that jazz — literally.
The jury are unsurprisingly all men — or appear as such — and are simply so amazed and entertained by Bobbie’s theatrics that they simply side with the lawyer and find Josh not guilty. When considered alongside other things revealed in this episode — such as the complicated relationship and web of lies between Jenny Banks (Dove Cameron), Mr. Blight (Alan Cumming), and Octavius Kratt (Patrick Page) — it’s clear there’s a bigger story at play here. And thank goodness there is, because Josh was cleared of murder much sooner than we thought he would be and we want more.
New episodes of Schmigadoon! season 2 are available on Apple TV+ every Wednesday.
