Ep 5. The Apartment

Jerry and George are discussing their latest schemes when Jerry receives a phone call from a woman named Tia, whom he met at a party. Tia informs Jerry that she is very interested in him and would love to come up to his apartment. Jerry is ecstatic until he realizes that his apartment is a disaster that would not impress any woman.

With a passionate interest in keeping the apartment clean, Jerry had refused to let a tenant named Raquel move in with him, despite Elaine's recommendation. To compensate for the damage he caused, Jerry is forced to reluctantly allow Raquel, who has an affinity for working out naked and walking around the apartment, stay with him on a temporary basis.

Meanwhile, Elaine convinces Jerry to go through with a DNA test for a skin cream she has been using. Kramer, who also uses the skin cream, starts showing side effects, causing Jerry to get paranoid about the cream.

In the meantime, George feels left out of the group as he has no significant other to share these life events with, so he begins to concoct a plan to sneakily stay at Jerry's the night before Tia's visit.

The tension mounts as Jerry obsessively cleans his apartment, Raquel continues to walk around in the nude, Kramer's dermatitis worsens, and George prepares to sneakily spend the night.

The episode culminates with Tia's arrival at Jerry's apartment, which is now spotless after a night of obsessive cleaning, George's attempt to hide in the apartment, and Kramer's distressing skin condition.

Seinfeld's second season's fifth episode, "The Apartment," is a hilarious, high-energy experience. It highlights the everyday struggles of maintaining one's home and relationships, with an emphasis on comedic tension and hilarious misunderstandings.

This episode also delves into the nature of cleanliness and hygiene, as Jerry's obsession with keeping his apartment clean leads to his allowing a stranger to stay with him temporarily. The episode demonstrates that cleanliness is not always the most important thing in life, but hospitality and healthy communication are.

Overall, "The Apartment" is a quintessential Seinfeld experience that features all the hallmarks of the series, including quirky characters, memorable catchphrases, and absurd yet relatable plotlines. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in comedic television and classic 90s sitcoms.