Better Off Ted centers around the ridiculously evil corporation Viridian Dynamics. Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington) is a handsome, chipper, eminently likable middle manager who optimistically tries to maintain his team's humanity in the soulless corporate atmosphere. Portia de Rossi plays Ted's boss, Veronica, a steely power suit-wearing executive who gleefully buys into the company's worst excesses. Ted's underlings are goofy scientists Phil and Lem (Jonathan Slavin and Malcolm Barrett). Rounding out the ensemble is ineffectually rebellious cubicle monkey Linda (Andrea Anders), who is Ted's will-they-won't-they romantic interest.
The show lasted for only two partial seasons, a total of 26 episodes. Most episodes are fairly amusing and the show maintained a fairly even level of quality, so this is a show where I'm comfortable recommending that you watch the whole thing if you like one or two tester episodes. The first couple of episodes tended to be a bit harsher and more satirical with later episodes mellowing into more absurdist humor. There's not a lot of continuity, so you can pick up anywhere
. The Key Episodes I'm recommending are basically my picks for the best or most memorable episodes in my opinion.
Key Episodes
1x8 You Are the Boss Of Me Bosses overstepping boundaries with their employees is the theme of this episode in which Ted joins Phil and Lem's after-work medieval fight club, and Linda regrets trying to befriend the terrifying Veronica. Although the groupings in this episode ignore one of the central relationships of the show--Ted and Linda's Sam and Diane relationship--this is a great episode to get to know the characters: Ted's effortless skill at everything, Phil and Lem's nerdy pathos, Linda's overeager friendliness, Veronica's chilling core of pure evil.
1x12 Jabberwocky Ted gets into a jam after making up a top-secret project to divert funds to Linda's green initiative, and he and Veronica find themselves roped into giving a presentation on the suddenly-hot new "Jabberwocky project."
2x10 Lust in Translation This is just a good all-around episode, with sharp, on-point writing that provided me with numerous status messages. Ted tries to mix business and pleasure when he dates a potential German investor. Trouble is, he can only communicate with her with a hastily-thrown-together translation device with Phil's voice. Meanwhile, Veronica becomes overly competitive when playing a bagel-tossing game Linda made up.
Bonus Episodes
Like I said, most of the episodes are pretty solid, so if you like the show, just watch from the beginning--it's not that long. That said, here are some other memorable episodes.1x2 Through Rose Colored Hazmat Suits Veronica gives Ted's eight-year-old daughter a lesson in business, and a biohazard scare forces Ted and Linda to confront their feelings for each other.
1x4 Racial Sensitivity The company's new, cheap motion detectors don't register black people, and the company responds in typical tone-deaf fashion by deploying white people to follow around black employees.
1x10 Trust and Consequence A mystery of sorts: an investigation into a faulty product reveals that somebody on the team is responsible. Features flashbacks to Linda's first week on the job.
1x13 Secrets and Lives A new facial recognition search software reveals a secret which threatens to undermine Veronica's authority. (I wouldn't watch this as your first episode, since the humor hinges on Veronica acting out-of-character.)
2x1 Love Blurts In an effort to save in future insurance money, the company starts a dating service where it pairs off genetically compatible employees. Ted and Linda make a pact to ignore the company's suggested dates, only to be tempted by seemingly perfect mates. Phil is glum when the company's offer to him is a free vasectomy.
2x6 Beating a Dead Workforce Ted is disturbed when the company literally works a man to death and Veronica gives a stirring, pro-work speech at his funeral.
