Ep 7. The Checks

Jerry Seinfeld and his friend Elaine are seen at the bank, waiting in a long line to deposit a check. Elaine is always complaining about the slow-moving line, while Jerry tries to calm her down by telling her that they have no other option but to wait it out. As they finally reach the teller, Jerry receives a large sum of money from NBC as part of a settlement. With a lump sum of money in hand, Jerry decides to lend Kramer some money, which sets off a chain reaction of comedic events.

Meanwhile, Elaine is excited about an upcoming trip to Europe with her current boyfriend, David Puddy. However, Elaine has never really thought about their financial situation and how to handle expenses while on the trip. David Puddy is seen as a laid back and easygoing person, who doesn't seem to care much about financial planning. During dinner, they talk about their plans for the trip and Puddy casually mentions that he has saved some money by buying a "discount ticket." Elaine is deeply troubled and disconnected by this revelation, as she realizes that they have different priorities when it comes to finance management. She becomes concerned about what their differing attitudes regarding finance could mean for their future together.

Later, Jerry encounters Newman, his arch-nemesis from across the hall, who has just received a windfall payment after a skiing accident. They exchange pleasantries, but Jerry becomes agitated when Newman shares that he will spend his funds on a different category of expenses that he believes Jerry will disapprove of. Newman winds up using his newfound wealth to finance his gourmet food habits and purchase a luxurious new mail delivery truck.

Elsewhere, Kramer is eager to spend Jerry's money when he gets it. After hearing about Jerry's settlement, Kramer suggests that they pool together their money and invest in a pizza restaurant. Although Jerry is hesitant about spending his funds on a risky business investment, Kramer convinces him that the investment will pay off in the long run. They visit the potential location of the restaurant, an old, run-down pizzeria on the Upper West Side, which Kramer envisions as a "diamond in the rough." Jerry still doubts the viability of the investment, but goes along with it after Kramer offers to take on the majority of the work.

Throughout the episode, the audience sees the characters' personalities through the lens of their attitudes towards money. We see Jerry as largely conservative when it comes to spending, whereas Newman is impulsive and indulgent. Elaine is practical and level-headed about her finances, while David Puddy seems apathetic about financial planning. And finally, Kramer is shown as a gambling man who's always willing to take risks when it comes to money.

All of these attitudes play out in comic fashion in the final act of the episode. As Jerry and Kramer move forward with their pizza restaurant idea, they quickly realize that the cost of renovating and reviving the old pizzeria greatly exceeds their initial estimates. As they add on expenses like pizza ovens and storage space to their project, the cost balloons further, leaving the two of them deep in the red. Meanwhile, Elaine debates whether or not to continue her relationship with David Puddy, unsure whether their differences in how they handle financial planning can be reconciled. The final scene shows all of these conflicts come to a head in typical Seinfeld fashion, in a hilarious and over-the-top way.

Overall, "The Checks" is a familiar and delightful episode of Seinfeld that explores the comedic potential of people's attitudes towards money. While the episode is certainly lighthearted and never takes itself too seriously, it offers a rare insight into the characters' personalities and priorities beyond their many eccentricities. Fans of the show will surely appreciate the heightened comic sensibility that defines the Seinfeld experience.