When the bank account hits zero and the next deposit is forty-eight hours away, the East Hollywood DMV crew shows that the struggle is real. In an episode about side gigs' desperate world, we see how far this team will go to make ends meet. Here is my recap and review of "Payday."
The primary arc of the episode finds Barb launching a questionable new business venture: selling high-end hand gloves. Ever the optimist, Colette jumps in to help, and for a fleeting moment, the two, along with Ceci, find a beautiful new outlook on life through the lens of luxury accessories. However, the dream quickly dissolves into a dermatological nightmare. The gloves turn out to be a total scam, leaving all three women with severe, aggressive hand rashes that serve as a painful reminder that if a side hustle seems too good to be true, it probably is.
While the "Glove Trio" is busy itching, Gregg discovers that Noa isn’t exactly suffering through the same pre-payday drought as the rest of the staff. His attempts to intervene in Noa’s financial comfort eventually pull Vic into the fray, interrupting their own side gig: assembling a complex bunk bed for a client. The tension between Noa’s "truth" and Vic’s working-class grit creates some friction, but the two eventually find common ground. Of course, this wouldn't be DMV without a physical gag to close the deal; the moment they see eye-to-eye, Vic decides to test their handiwork by jumping onto the top bunk, leading to the predictable, splintering collapse of the unfinished furniture.
"Payday" might not be remembered as one of the standout episodes, but it works well as a fun, light-hearted filler, the kind of episode that keeps the season moving smoothly with its focus on the characters. Although the story was pretty simple, it gave the cast some valuable bonding time. This was an enjoyable episode that leaned on the cast’s charm to make up for a somewhat weak plot. It’s the kind of episode you can enjoy while watching, even if it doesn’t stick with you afterward.
Watching Colette, Barb, and Ceci suffer through the consequences of a pyramid scheme provided some great physical comedy. While the story didn’t necessarily advance their character arcs, the chemistry among the three actresses remains a highlight of the show. Similarly, any pairing that puts Gregg, Vic, and Noa in the same room is bound to produce comedic gold, regardless of how solid the actual script is. Tim Meadows’ dry delivery of "the payday struggle" remains one of the most relatable aspects of his character.
The biggest issue with "Payday" is that it felt a bit stagnant. The glove scam was funny, but watching the characters simply suffer from rashes for twenty minutes felt a bit one-note. Additionally, the bunk bed storyline felt like a missed opportunity for some sharper dialogue regarding the wealth gap between Noa and the others. It was a pleasant enough distraction, but it lacked the narrative bite that the show’s best episodes possess.
Overall, I give this episode a 6.5/10.
What did you think of this week's episode of DMV? With Vic’s handiwork literally crashing down around him, do you think he and Noa will ever find a side hustle that doesn't involve power tools, or is the East Hollywood DMV destined to be a revolving door of failed business ventures? 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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