The Engagement (Seinfeld)

"The Engagement" is the seventh-season opener (along with the 111th overall episode) of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It aired on September 21, 1995.

Plot

George breaks up with a woman after she beats him in a game of chess. When he tells Jerry about it at Monk's, they both realize that they have done nothing with their lives and decide they are going to make some changes. However, Kramer warns Jerry against marriage. Jerry decides to remain with his singles lifestyle, unbeknownst to George.

Elaine comes in and tells Jerry and Kramer that a barking dog is keeping her from getting a good night's sleep. Kramer says he knows someone who can "fix her problem". They go to see Newman. After seeing Newman's clear dislike of dogs, Elaine becomes unsure, saying she can't allow a dog to be hurt. Kramer assures her they will merely kidnap it and relocate it to the countryside, where it will be happier. Later that night, Elaine, Kramer and Newman rent a van and prepare to steal the dog.

Contemplating his life, George visits the pier and watches various couples who are happy together, kissing, playing with their babies. George shows up at the door of his old girlfriend Susan Ross and asks her to marry him. The next day, George visits Jerry to tell him the news that he and Susan are engaged.

George eagerly inquires how things are with Melanie, but Jerry confesses they broke up; it irritates Jerry that she eats peas one at a time. George is angry as he and Jerry had a pact to change their lives.

Jerry goes to George's apartment and asks if he is ready to go see a movie (Firestorm with Harrison Ford), but George tells him Susan wants to see a different movie (The Muted Heart with Glenn Close and Sally Field). George is already showing signs of regret about his engagement.

At the theater, after the movies, Susan is weeping about the ending of The Muted Heart, while George looks as though he didn't enjoy it. George sees Jerry and his friend Mario Joyner passing them and enthusiastically talking about Firestorm.

Newman returns to the van with the dog (a Yorkshire Terrier) and Elaine is surprised that it is so small. They try to get it to bark to verify if it is the right dog, but with all the attention, the dog doesn't want to bark. Kramer drives them far away from the city, before finally stopping near Monticello. He gets out and leaves the dog at a random doorstep, but it rips off a piece of his shirt (with a tag from Rudy's vintage shop) before he can let it go.

Back home after the movie, Jerry calls George to inform him that a New York Yankees game is being rerun if he wanted to watch it, but Susan wants him to come to bed and watch an episode of Mad About You that she taped. George looks dismal at the prospect.

The dog finds its way back to its home and owner, carrying the piece of Kramer's shirt, and Elaine is again woken up during the night by its barking. The next day, Jerry tells her the news of George's engagement. With the shirt scrap as evidence, police officers visit Kramer and place him under arrest for dognapping. When they knock at Newman's door, he says with aplomb, "What took you so long?" The subplot ends with Kramer, Newman and Elaine sitting in the back of a police car. Elaine decides to make some changes with her life.

The episode ends with George and Susan watching TV. Susan looks happy whereas George looks clearly upset about the engagement.

Critical response

Linda S. Ghent, Professor in the Department of Economics at Eastern Illinois University, discusses the issues of property rights, externality, and incentive in this episode.^[1]

References

External links

• The Engagement at the Internet Movie Database

Seinfeld episodes Season 1 "The Seinfeld Chronicles" "The Stake Out" "The Robbery" "Male Unbonding" "The Stock Tip" Season 2 "The Ex-Girlfriend" "The Pony Remark" "The Jacket" "The Phone Message" "The Apartment" "The Statue" "The Revenge" "The Heart Attack" "The Deal" "The Baby Shower" "The Chinese Restaurant" "The Busboy" Season 3 "The Note" "The Truth" "The Pen" "The Dog" "The Library" "The Parking Garage" "The Cafe" "The Tape" "The Nose Job" "The Stranded" "The Alternate Side" "The Red Dot" "The Subway" "The Pez Dispenser" "The Suicide" "The Fix-Up" "The Boyfriend" "The Limo" "The Good Samaritan" "The Letter" "The Parking Space" "The Keys" Season 4 "The Trip" "The Pitch" "The Ticket" "The Wallet" "The Watch" "The Bubble Boy" "The Cheever Letters" "The Opera" "The Virgin" "The Contest" "The Airport" "The Pick" "The Movie" "The Visa" "The Shoes" "The Outing" "The Old Man" "The Implant" "The Junior Mint" "The Smelly Car" "The Handicap Spot" "The Pilot" Season 5 "The Mango" "The Puffy Shirt" "The Glasses" "The Sniffing Accountant" "The Bris" "The Lip Reader" "The Non-Fat Yogurt" "The Barber" "The Masseuse" "The Cigar Store Indian" "The Conversion" "The Stall" "The Dinner Party" "The Marine Biologist" "The Pie" "The Stand In" "The Wife" "The Raincoats" "The Fire" "The Hamptons" "The Opposite" Season 6 "The Chaperone" "The Big Salad" "The Pledge Drive" "The Chinese Woman" "The Couch" "The Gymnast" "The Soup" "The Mom & Pop Store" "The Secretary" "The Race" "The Switch" "The Label Maker" "The Scofflaw" "The Highlights of 100" "The Beard" "The Kiss Hello" "The Doorman" "The Jimmy" "The Doodle" "The Fusilli Jerry" "The Diplomat's Club" "The Face Painter" "The Understudy" Season 7 "The Engagement" "The Postponement" "The Maestro" "The Wink" "The Hot Tub" "The Soup Nazi" "The Secret Code" "The Pool Guy" "The Sponge" "The Gum" "The Rye" "The Caddy" "The Seven" "The Cadillac" "The Shower Head" "The Doll" "The Friar's Club" "The Wig Master" "The Calzone" "The Bottle Deposit" "The Wait Out" "The Invitations" Season 8 "The Foundation" "The Soul Mate" "The Bizarro Jerry" "The Little Kicks" "The Package" "The Fatigues" "The Checks" "The Chicken Roaster" "The Abstinence" "The Andrea Doria" "The Little Jerry" "The Money" "The Comeback" "The Van Buren Boys" "The Susie" "The Pothole" "The English Patient" "The Nap" "The Yada Yada" "The Millennium" "The Muffin Tops" "The Summer of George" Season 9 "The Butter Shave" "The Voice" "The Serenity Now" "The Blood" "The Junk Mail" "The Merv Griffin Show" "The Slicer" "The Betrayal" "The Apology" "The Strike" "The Dealership" "The Reverse Peephole" "The Cartoon" "The Strong Box" "The Wizard" "The Burning" "The Bookstore" "The Frogger" "The Maid" "The Puerto Rican Day" "The Chronicle" "The Finale" Indicates two-part episode