Tim Robinson is back, and his new show The Chair Company is proving that the comedy mastermind behind I Think You Should Leave hasn’t lost his absurdist edge. In the second episode, “New Blood. There’s 5 Rons Now,” Tim Robinson co-creator and star ventures deeper into a hilariously dark conspiracy that showcases everything fans love about his unique brand of uncomfortable comedy.
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Tim Robinson’s Hero’s Journey into Darkness
What makes Tim Robinson’s latest creation so compelling? The Chair Company, co-created with longtime collaborator Zach Kanin, follows Ron Trosper—a character played by Tim Robinson with his signature mix of desperate intensity and awkward vulnerability. Episode 2 reveals that he is crafting something more ambitious than sketch comedy: a genuine hero’s journey wrapped in absurdist humor.
The episode explores Ron’s descent into a shadow world of flip phones, handguns, and rowdy cafes after a simple chair incident spirals into conspiracy. It’s classic Tim Robinson territory—taking minor inconveniences and blowing them hilariously out of proportion until they consume his character’s entire existence.
The Chair Company Episode 2 Essentials
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Show Title | The Chair Company |
| Episode | Season 1, Episode 2: “New Blood. There’s 5 Rons Now” |
| Creators | Tim Robinson & Zach Kanin |
| Star | Tim Robinson (as Ron Trosper) |
| Network/Platform | Paramount+ |
| Genre | Dark Comedy, Mystery |
| Notable Cast | Glo Tavarez, Joseph Tudisco |
| Key Elements | Conspiracy thriller meets absurdist comedy |
| Previous Work | I Think You Should Leave (Netflix) |
Why Tim Robinson’s New Show Feels Different
While Tim Robinson remains the comic force audiences recognize from I Think You Should Leave, The Chair Company represents a significant evolution. Instead of self-contained sketches, he now inhabits a continuous narrative where his character’s neuroses compound episode after episode.
The darkness that always lurked beneath his comedy now takes center stage. Ron Trosper encounters Mike Santini (Joseph Tudisco), a grimy criminal who represents everything Ron suppresses—the id beneath his phone-call politeness and put-together TV news appearances.
Tim Robinson’s Comedy of Contrast
What makes him such a unique comedic voice? The second episode masterfully demonstrates his gift for jarring contrasts. The relative quiet of Ron’s suburban existence crashes against the chaos of his conspiracy investigation. A visit to Jan’s Cafe—the “rowdiest lunch spot this side of the Grouch diner from Follow That Bird“—features food-throwing patrons and kitchen fires that create genuine disorientation.
His fans will recognize familiar elements: the Dan Flashes-style obsession (this time with complicated-patterned shirts from Tamblay’s), the commitment to absurdly specific details, and the way minor irritations become existential crises. When Ron transfers a phone photo to his desktop by smacking his phone against his monitor, it’s the kind of strange, delightful detail that defines his comedic sensibility.
The Fictional Universe Only Tim Robinson Could Build
Throughout his career, he has created memorable fake businesses—Dan Flashes, Coffin Flop, Baby of the Year—and The Chair Company continues this tradition. Episode 2 introduces Salisbury, Erebus, Rivers Allster Clothing, and Tamblay’s, each contributing to the weird, fully-realized world only Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin could imagine.
The episode’s soundtrack—featuring the ludicrously profane Wazy Wayne’s (played by I Think You Should Leave director Andrew Fitzgerald and comedy genius Conner O’Malley)—exemplifies his gift for non-sequiturs that somehow feel perfectly wrong for every situation.
Tim Robinson Shows His Range
Despite the darkness, he proves he can deliver genuine heart. Ron’s conversation with his future in-law about wedding venues reveals unexpected tenderness—though even this scene features awkward testing of loose patio stones before the emotional breakthrough.
Tim Robinson makes Ron simultaneously sympathetic and frustrating. Lines like “I’m just glad it’s stupid wedding stuff that I don’t care about” feel like accidental honesty, yet we see Ron genuinely cares deeply about his daughter’s happiness. It’s this push-and-pull between honesty and dishonesty where his comedy truly lives.
Why Tim Robinson’s Approach Works
The genius of Tim Robinson lies in his POV—showing how someone can blow unrelated minor inconveniences catastrophically out of proportion. A lead pipe attack, complicated shirt patterns, and wedding venue deposits all carry equal weight in Ron’s anxious mind.
He has conditioned viewers to question everything in his fictional universe. When Mike introduces himself, we immediately wonder if that’s even his real name. This paranoia mirrors Ron’s own spiral, making us complicit in his descent.
The Cinematic Evolution of Tim Robinson
The Chair Company showcases Tim Robinson’s growth beyond sketch comedy. The show’s cinematic technique—from sound design that makes everyday noises feel ominous to visual contrasts between Ron’s safe world and the conspiracy’s chaos—demonstrates taking his comedy into prestige TV territory.
The opening scene’s alarming household sounds and unknown jogger create genuine unease before any jokes land. He proves he can build sustained tension alongside absurdist comedy, a combination that shouldn’t work but absolutely does.
What’s Next for Tim Robinson?
As Ron continues pushing into unknown darkness despite obvious danger (and intimidating texts seemingly sent from his own closet), His viewers are along for the ride. The “weird little hero’s journey” that Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin are crafting benefits from its protagonist’s inability to stop making messes.
Whether he is creating fake companies, directing actors in uncomfortable scenarios, or building narrative comedy that rivals prestige dramas, he remains one of contemporary comedy’s most distinctive voices. The Chair Company proves that he isn’t just a sketch genius—he’s a storyteller capable of sustaining his unique comic vision across long-form narrative.
Bottom Line
Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company represents the comedian’s most ambitious project yet. Episode 2 demonstrates that he can maintain his absurdist comedy sensibility while telling a genuinely engaging mystery story. The darkness that always existed in his work now has room to breathe and develop, creating something simultaneously hilarious and unsettling.
For fans who’ve followed Tim Robinson from Saturday Night Live to Detroiters to I Think You Should Leave, The Chair Company rewards that loyalty while attracting new audiences. He has created a show that respects both comedy and narrative structure, proving he’s not just a comedian—he’s an auteur with a vision as weird and wonderful as a haunted barn wedding venue.
As Tim Robinson continues Ron Trosper’s journey into conspiracy and chaos, one thing remains certain: we’ll be laughing uncomfortably the entire way.
Watch Tim Robinson in The Chair Company streaming on Paramount+. Revisit his earlier work I Think You Should Leave on Netflix. Check The A.V. Club for detailed episode recaps and comedy coverage.
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