After a long winter hiatus, the doors of the East Hollywood DMV have finally reopened. The midseason premiere, "Hot Gurlz," proves that while the lines at the DMV are long, the social climbing is even longer. Here's my recap and review.
Colette feels FOMO after being excluded from the "Hot Gurlz" group chat, highlighting her concern about being left out or missing out on belonging. She learns Ceci controls the group and is told she lacks "Hot Gurl" energy. To prove herself, Colette flirts with the maintenance man on a ladder.
The flirtation works, but the "handsome man" is Ceci’s cousin, Miguel (Eddie Ramos). When he climbs down the ladder, Colette sees he is shorter than her. Despite her height insecurities, she gets an invite to the group chat. To avoid losing her "Hot Gurl" status, Colette follows Vic’s advice to act like a "stage-five clinger." Ironically, Miguel dumps her first—not over her fake wedding talk, but after seeing her "weird feet" during lunch.After a petty showdown where Colette roasts Miguel’s height, Ceci actually respects the savagery. The roast proves Colette has the "mean girl" edge required for the chat. Welcome to the group, Colette.
Meanwhile, Gregg follows through on his threat to sue the DMV over his broken office chair. Barb is in a full-blown panic, eventually interrupting Gregg’s meeting with HR. The stakes reach absurd heights when HR offers Gregg a $100,000 settlement, on the condition that Barb be fired. In a rare moment of "found family" loyalty, Gregg turns down the six figures to save Barb’s job, settling for a brand-new, functioning chair instead.
Noa deals with the return of Brent (Mark Feuerstein), the obnoxious "Real ID" stickler from the pilot. Brent attempts to pay his fees with a literal barrel of pennies. Vic saves the day with a stroke of genius: he drops a single Canadian penny into the barrel, forcing Brent to either hunt for the needle in the copper haystack or give up and pay with a card.
While the "Short King" jokes were funny, the resolution depended heavily on characters being mean to each other. It fits the "Hot Gurlz" brand, but made Colette harder to root for. Her attitude shift hints at insecurity and a desire for approval. Her willingness to roast Miguel for social points shows she’s struggling to find her place, often at the expense of kindness. This raises questions about how far she'll go to belong and if her new persona might backfire or harm relationships later. The group chat’s influence could pull her away from genuine connections, setting the stage for future growth or setbacks.
Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.
What did you think of the episode? Now that Colette is officially a "Hot Gurl," do you think this new social status will finally help her get over Noa, or is she just one group-chat leak away from a disaster? Leave a comment.
Meanwhile, Gregg follows through on his threat to sue the DMV over his broken office chair. Barb is in a full-blown panic, eventually interrupting Gregg’s meeting with HR. The stakes reach absurd heights when HR offers Gregg a $100,000 settlement, on the condition that Barb be fired. In a rare moment of "found family" loyalty, Gregg turns down the six figures to save Barb’s job, settling for a brand-new, functioning chair instead.
Noa deals with the return of Brent (Mark Feuerstein), the obnoxious "Real ID" stickler from the pilot. Brent attempts to pay his fees with a literal barrel of pennies. Vic saves the day with a stroke of genius: he drops a single Canadian penny into the barrel, forcing Brent to either hunt for the needle in the copper haystack or give up and pay with a card.
"Hot Gurlz" exemplifies why DMV is a Monday night favorite. It balances government frustrations with high school social drama, offering a fast-paced, hilarious return that reminds us of the lovable crew. Amid legal drama and text wars, the East Hollywood branch is thriving. DMV stands out among workplace comedies for its sharp mix of relatable chaos and authentic relationships. It humorously explores public service chaos and the universal need to belong, from offices to group chats.
Vic’s Canadian penny trick is a petty, authentic "life hack.' It was a staff win. Tim Meadows and Molly Kearney's chemistry is the show's heart. Gregg choosing Barb over $100k was a sweet, grounding moment amid cynical humor. Harriet Dyer’s physical comedy shines as Colette’s awkward attempts to look "hot' are hilariously cringey.
The episode could have delved deeper into the group chat's emotional dynamics, which sometimes felt like surface-level hijinks rather than character growth. Some punchlines worked better than others, and a few jokes felt repetitive. For example, the shoe jokes during Colette's date, like "I can't believe you're still wearing those clown shoes in 2023," lost impact after multiple mentions and were dragged. A slower pace might yield better character-arc payoffs. Despite these issues, the episode’s energy and sharp writing kept it entertaining.
While the "Short King" jokes were funny, the resolution depended heavily on characters being mean to each other. It fits the "Hot Gurlz" brand, but made Colette harder to root for. Her attitude shift hints at insecurity and a desire for approval. Her willingness to roast Miguel for social points shows she’s struggling to find her place, often at the expense of kindness. This raises questions about how far she'll go to belong and if her new persona might backfire or harm relationships later. The group chat’s influence could pull her away from genuine connections, setting the stage for future growth or setbacks.
Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.
What did you think of the episode? Now that Colette is officially a "Hot Gurl," do you think this new social status will finally help her get over Noa, or is she just one group-chat leak away from a disaster? Leave a comment.
You can catch DMV Mondays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS and streaming the next day on Paramount+.
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