RUNNING WILDE “Into the Wilde” Review

Steve’s plan to take Emmy and Puddle on a family vacation is interrupted by the arrival of Andy, Emmy’s fiance, at the Wilde estate in “Into the Wilde”. Andy has his own plans for Steve involving a poorly planned kidnapping.

I like RUNNING WIDLE, but I fear for it. It feels like Arrested Development, but with less mockumentary style. The basic jist of the show is a string of amusing miscommunications centered around two people in deep self-denial. Numerous shows have used this formula to great effect. So I fear for it, like I did Arrested Development. If it makes it to the end of the first season, I’d be surprised.

In this episode, Steve and his buddy, Fa’ad, play a rousing game of “Hide and Seek (and I didn’t tell you I was hiding)” while discussing Fa’ad’s fall vacation plans. Puddle earns herself an easy $500 by being nosy and winning the game. Later, Emmy becomes angry that Steve is going on a sudden vacation and the two argue themselves in going together.

All’s going well for the two when Andy, Emmy’s fiance, shows up fresh off a three-week trip on a garbage barge. Andy wants to use Emmy’s connection to Wilde Oil to get back at the corporation. After an accident with a water hydrant, Andy hatches a scheme to kidnap Steve without actually kidnapping him. He invites Steve out to a forest retreat, which Steve accepts because he’s going to cozy up to Andy to impress Emmy. I found that scene to be particularly funny, especially with Fa’ad and his personal lipreader spying from afar. As they leave, Andy sends a ransom letter to the Wilde family. A plan which Puddle approves because she wants Andy arrested and out of the picture.

In the end, Steve and Emmy truly like each other and never stopped despite all the years of their separation. We’ll see how long they can stay apart before they give in (and the show ends) or someone does something that damages the relationship (and the show ends). Until then, I’ll enjoy as much Running Wilde as I can get.