Season 1 Episode 3 - Bringing Down the Haus
This wee’ks episode finds us at a kitschy German Restaurant in Arizona that looks like a sad banquet hall inside and out.
Will Rose’s nephew Gunner be a successful manager? Her husband is convinced that he is lazy and a terrible manager. We feel like this should be the end of the debate - no need for mystery diners here. Yet here we are. Only time will tell... oh no wait there in the preview is Rose telling Gunner she is disappointed in him, so I guess we can’t trust him. SPOILER ALERT.
Gunner claims the restaurant is slammed, but it’s borderline empty. He throws our mystery diner, Deanna right into the “deep end”. Deanna is not afraid to stand up for herself and calls out Gunner for not training her. Gunner is taking a nap in the backroom. Cool, guess the sting is over.
Nothing says “Germany” like a wooden american flag and a gigantic inflated pretzel. It makes me and my husband feel like we are back on our honeymoon in Germany, just like Rose promised.
Gunner can’t win here. He’s damned if does, damned if he doesn’t. Apparently enforcing coupon expiration dates is ridiculous.
Chris of supply guy fame is here! He is going to try to push some Sapporo on Gunner even though the restaurant only serves German beer. Gunner agrees to take two cases after being offered a buy one get one free deal. Gunner takes the second case for himself. Okay come on! Chris the new supply guy said he could do whatever he wants with it, it’s not exactly stealing!
Gunner then tells Deanna she doesn’t need to report her tips -- ehn we buy that that is something restaurants do all the time but don’t want to admit on film.
The most powerful part of the episode is when we return to one time mystery diner Danny (who tried to pass off the expired coupon earlier this episode). Danny loves his job and when interviewed gives us all the details on how skilled Mystery Diners really are. His job is to be a complete asshole and push Gunner over the edge. He successfully does this by sending back a 75% eaten dish and wants a new meal (you know, after trying to use an expired coupon). That is the real stealing, Charles! Gunner rightfully calls Danny out but apparently the Customer is King as slimebag Willy used to point out. Enraged, Danny starts to talk back and gets himself kicked out. The owners are appalled at this, apparently believing that Danny can bully Gunner as much as he wants and their manager should just keep pumping him full of free food.
Overall, Gunner is incompetent as a manager, but we aren’t convinced he is a criminal. He probably is even okay with some supervision. We actually feel a little bad for him. Overall, pretty believable episode.
Oh no! It’s Gunnar with an A? I’m not going to go back and change all that.
5 out of 5 Chris the new Supply Guys!
