The gossip going around about writers boycotting (which Chappelle himself denied) cast a pall over the episode, because I saw people saying oh they quit and he sure showed them. That's one of the many downsides of chasing controversy with a host pick. 

I didn't want the show to have a bad episode, because I have a lot of fondness for the show, but I did go in expecting a dead vibe, due to how lethargic and forced the promos felt. 

I was surprised at just how strong the episode was, especially as there were no outside writers on most of the pieces. I guess Dave may have helped (as @SHD mentioned he had fairly light roles all night, but I felt his presence much more than I did the last time he hosted), but still, this episode had some strong concepts, well-executed, less padding, less incoherence, more energy. Black Heaven and Barber Shop were two of my favorite sketches of recent seasons, and Update also had a great deal of verge due to Marcello and Sarah (Sarah getting a spontaneous applause break at one point was oddly sweet). Other than the monologue and maybe the House of Dragons sketch, there wasn't anything I didn't enjoy. 

The downside is this goes along with a monologue that was queasily compelling to watch but also left me uncomfortable, and so many questions hanging in the air about cast use. Was his presence the reason we barely saw Cecily, Chloe or Bowen most of the night? Or why some writers didn't get pieces on? I was very happy the newer cast members got so much focus, but if they only did because of longtime names stepping back out of disgust, then it casts something of a pall. 

I was also curious about the Please Don't Destroy short, as there were rumors they weren't going to be around either. They were, yet we saw none of them with Dave, and instead Molly got a showcase, using their pronouns, dressed in male attire, I thought this piece was fine, but I wondered if it was a message to viewers to try to contrast the rest of the night. 

I'm glad the show is starting to trust its younger cast more, and trying to let on some different material. This was one of the better episodes of the last 3-4 years. I just wish we didn't have all the baggage and all the people hurt along the way. 

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