User Reviews

Some of the earlier episodes of this season felt like they belonged in season 2 or 3 based on how they looked and the absurdity of the storylines but this was one of the installments that started to move the series forward into a whole new era. Say what you will about whether this type of show could be made today but the end result is a brilliant look at the social ineptness of this group and the impact it has on those around them. The racial storylines are funny and yet they also ring true. Jerry's comment about "I some asks me where Israel is" speaks to both the sometimes absurdity of the PC culture that began in the 90's and has grown 100 fold today, and the somewhat ignorance of the characters.

Really the way the storylines unfold in this episode and just another example of the brilliant writing and storytelling of this show. Might be one of the best episodes of the series.

My God, what a great episode. The Cigar Store Indian is without a doubt one of the strongest episodes of the season. It may be one of the best episodes that connects and relates every single story in a suitable and seamless way (taking into consideration how different they are to one another).

Jerry's is the main story line here and it may be the funniest. From getting the Indian to him trying to avoid the "racist" phrases, it's funny throughout. This is the one that connects the four stories.

George's storyline is just as good as Jerry's. Again, having him back into his parents house is a golden idea and it is a big part of why Season 5 rocks. The chemistry between the three of them is beyond believe. Here George has the house for himself and decides to bring a girl over (a girl actually very different from the type that usually appears in Seinfeld, but with a fully realized personality) and having the both of them in George's parents house creates comic gold.

Elaine story is maybe the weakest but it does a big deal in tying the other stories together. It links her with Jerry through Winona, it ties her with George through the TV Guide and it connects her with Kramer through the coffee-table book. The only thing that I don't like about her story is the freak of the subway. It adds nothing to the story and resolve into nothing.

Kramer story is actually the only one that will continue through the season. Being serious, the idea of the coffee-table book is gold. A lot of times, the other three members of the gang have their own story and Kramer just bounces around these and on this episode he kind of does but in a way that couldn't feel more effortless. Elaine gives him the Indian so that connects him to Jerry and then he sells it to Mr. Lippman and that connects him back with Elaine. The way this things tied up is incredibly real.

To sum up, a fantastic episode that reminds us of what Seinfeld is able to accomplish and what an astounding set of characters it has in its power.

All the famous things that you are aware of starts from this episode. Pitching Kramer's famous idea the coffee table book about coffee tables. The guy who meets Elaine in the Bus and in later episodes a strange mannequin who looks a lot like Elaine starts to appear in all stores and this guys turns out to be the maker of the mannequin. And in this same very episode, Jerry likes a native American woman who is a friend to Elaine and she gets offended by the gift that Jerry brings to Elaine, the Indian man! And following some of the conversations that Jerry has with this woman: Jerry: "I though we'd eat at the Gentle Harvest" Winona: "OO I love that place but it should be so crowded. Can we get a table?" Jerry: "Oh, don't worry i made reser.." Winona: "You made what?" Jerry: "I uh I arranged for the appropriate accommodations"

Jerry: " And then.. Knick tickets, floor seats." Winona: " How did you get these?" Jerry: " Got 'em on the street from a scal.." Winona: "From who?" Jerry: "One of those guys" Winona: "What guys?" Jerry: "You know the guys that sell the tickets to the sold out events"

And Georgi has an affair with a lady from the antique store where Jerry bought the gift to Elaine. George sleeps with the lady in his parent's bed and they find the condom wrapper when they come back and listen to Frank Costanza here: "What is this? A prophylactic wrapper? We're gone one week and you turn our house into Bourbon street. You want to live here, you respect the rules of this house. You're GROUNDED!!"

This is a hilarious episode with another tightly intertwined set of story lines.

Being ahead of its time, this show anticipated the culture wars and arguments about "woke" culture. Jerry is clearly shown to be insensitive about Native American issues - and he apologizes for it - but the show also questions if sometimes people are too hyper-sensitive and seek to be offended - such as the Chinese mail man.

It was also great to see George so uncharacteristically self confident with a new girlfriend - plus the origins of Kramer's coffee table book and Frank's TV Guide collection.

Just a gutsy, funny program.

Season 5, Episode 10, "The Cigar Store Indian"

An excellent season 5 episode, though it lacks a bit in theme or memorable central storyline, "The Cigar Store Indian" has some of the show's funniest moments.

Most of all it stands out for being the first Seinfeld episode to address racism (this is a show that has in recent years often been blamed or racism itself) in a hilarious, almost disturbing manner, almost ahead of its time in its deconstruction of PC which was quite prevalent at the time. George's scenes are all hilarious too, and of course this is the origin of Kramer's famous "Coffee table book".

The best episodes of this program are the ones where they have several different story lines that are interconnected. This is one of the best in that regard: The travels of the cigar store Indian itself, the travels of Frank Costanza's TV guide, Jerry's attempts to go out with Elaine's Native American friend, George's seduction of the woman from the furniture store (kasha?), Kramer's coffee table book, and the Queensboro Plaza gyros. Several of the minor characters, most notably the TV Guide fanatic -- one of the best guest characters ever, are very funny. I think I've seen every episode of Seinfeld, most many times, and this one is near the very top of the list.

The hypersensitivity of minorities is mocked, which would be funny, if it wasn't true to life. And that's where things get depressing. Joe's storyline was cute, but nothing to roll on the floor laughing, either. All in all, it's a pretty skip-able episode.

Let's see if the crazies in question, who are clearly triggered by my comment. And prove me right with their reaction (how easy it is to manipulate inferior species...) will show how psychotic they are, with more downvotes on a loop.