DMV Season 1 Episode 7 Recap: Randall Park Drops Into DMV
- Je-Ree
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
After six straight episodes of surprisingly consistent laughs, DMV hits its first real speed bump with “There Is No I in DMV.” Even with the much-promoted guest appearance from Randall Park as Beau, the golden-boy manager of the North Hollywood branch, this episode doesn’t land with the comedic punch the show has delivered so far.
Randall Park’s Guest Spot: Fine, But Not Funny
Randall Park is an actor I usually enjoy, but his appearance here feels… just fine. He plays Beau competently, charismatic, polished, and perfectly pleasant but not in a way that ever got me to laugh out loud or even chuckle. For an episode built around his character’s hype, the guest spot ends up feeling more like a novelty than a comedic asset. I’m hoping DMV doesn’t start relying on bigger-name guest stars at the expense of the show’s tone, because this week’s outing suggests it’s a risk.
Barb’s Leadership Crisis (and a Familiar Setup)
The episode opens with Barb attempting some classic “team-building” to spark enthusiasm at her own branch after learning how well North Hollywood is performing. Her exercises flop instantly. But when she sees Beau gracing the cover of the internal DMV magazine 10-2 and starring in a commercial, she drags the whole crew, minus Ceci, who’s noticeably absent this week, on a field trip to uncover the secrets of North Hollywood’s success.
What follows is a fairly standard set of workplace-tour jokes: the rival office that seems too perfect, employees who are suddenly insecure or starstruck, and Barb spiraling into self-doubt before (predictably) finding her voice again. The beats work, but they feel familiar.
Subplots: Mixed Results
Colette continues trying to impress Noa by becoming a “rule breaker” like his girlfriend Mary, a character beat that has potential but doesn’t go anywhere new. Meanwhile, the office crew mistakes a shiny new copier at North Hollywood for their own delivery, steals it, and then learns (too late) that their actual copier was delivered separately. Cue the breaking, panicking, and inevitable returning of the nicer machine.
It’s classic workplace chaos, but again: not particularly fresh. The strongest subplot actually comes from Noa, who spends the episode trying to register his van. He notices that North Hollywood’s stellar numbers come from cheating the system by shuffling customers to different windows after five minutes, a believable and amusing DMV-world cheat that feels like the most inspired joke of the episode.
A Strong Final Beat
The episode does land its ending: Barb finally earns back her team’s respect when she stands up to Beau. It’s a solid character moment for her and hints at future growth, even if the road there felt formulaic.
If you’re a Randall Park fan, this episode will probably work better for you, he’s front and center and the show clearly enjoys playing with his charm. But for the rest of us, “There Is No I in DMV” is a so-so, skippable outing in what has otherwise been a fun, surprisingly consistent freshman season.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ — not bad, just bland.
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