Unveiling the Most Controversial Episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm

After a long wait, the final season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm is finally here. Creator and star Larry David has captivated audiences for 110 episodes with his shocking and daring exploration of taboo subjects. While some of the show’s jokes may not be made today due to fear of backlash, many of them still hold up thanks to Larry’s unique and skewed perspective on a constantly evolving culture. Despite his offensive behavior on the show, Larry has managed to avoid concentrated backlash in real life.

As we reflect on the past 11 seasons, there are several episodes that still stand out as particularly bold and shocking. Here are 10 of them:

Season 1, Episode 10: “The Group”
In this episode, Larry attends an incest survivors group with his ex-girlfriend Lucy. To fit in, Larry fabricates a false abuse story, leading to a humorous and uncomfortable confrontation with the real innocent uncle Leo.

Season 3, Episode 8: “Krazee-Eyez Killa”
Larry accidentally gets involved in hiding the infidelities of his rapper friend Krazee-Eyez Killa. The controversial moment comes when Larry uses the N-word multiple times while repeating Krazee-Eyez Killa’s affectionate epithet for himself.

Season 4, Episode 9: “The Survivor”
Larry invites a Holocaust survivor to his vow renewal ceremony, hoping to bond with another survivor. However, things take a hilarious turn when the survivor turns out to be a young reality TV contestant, leading to an inappropriate argument over who suffered more.

Season 5, Episode 4: “Kamikaze Bingo”
Larry’s comment about his father being a coward for surviving World War II leads to a dishonored Japanese art dealer attempting suicide. The episode ends with a revenge plot involving a motorized chair.

Season 5, Episode 7: “The Seder”
Larry befriends his new neighbor Rick, a convicted sex offender, and invites him to his Passover Seder. The decision sparks controversy among the neighbors, highlighting Larry’s empathy and the discomfort it causes others.

Season 5, Episode 9: “The Korean Bookie”
When Jeff’s dog goes missing, Larry suspects his Korean bookie of using the pet in a dish for a friend’s wedding. Larry’s assumption reveals the underlying racism in his thinking.

Season 6, Episode 8: “The N Word”
Larry accidentally says the N-word multiple times after overhearing it in a hospital bathroom. The episode explores the consequences of his words, with various Black characters overhearing him and reacting differently.

Season 7, Episode 1: “Funkhouser’s Crazy Sister”
In this dark episode, Jeff betrays his wife by taking advantage of Marty Funkhouser’s sister sexually. To cover it up, Jeff suggests she is making it up, leading to her being sent back to a mental institution.

Season 7, Episode 6: “The Bare Midriff”
Jerry Seinfeld and Larry take issue with their assistant’s midriff-exposing shirts, displaying kneejerk disgust that stems from fatphobia. In the end, Larry ends up hanging from his assistant’s flesh after almost falling off a building.

Season 8, Episode 3: “Palestinian Chicken”
Larry becomes an unlikely champion of the Palestinian community in L.A. after frequenting a Palestinian chicken restaurant. His newfound allegiance isolates his Jewish friends and leads to a humorous and controversial ending.

As season 12 of Curb Your Enthusiasm begins, viewers can expect more of Larry David’s uncancellable and boundary-pushing humor.