It is the 60th and 61st overall episode of the series and was written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor, with producer Steven Wright receiving a story credit for "Part 2".
The series follows Louie, a fictionalized version of C.K., a comedian and newly divorced father raising his two daughters in New York City.
According to Nielsen Media Research, "Part 1" was seen by an estimated 0.44 million household viewers and gained a 0.2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, while "Part 2" was seen by an estimated 0.51 million household viewers and gained a 0.2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Louie arrives at his rest stop, which is a poorly managed motel, so he reprimands Doug for not picking a better place to stay.
After performing in Atlanta, Louie prepares to board a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina but discovers that he accidentally lost his luggage.
Kenny tries to defecate in the upper tank of the toilet to gross Louie out, but he slips and slams head-first into the floor.
Louie rushes him to the hospital, but Kenny has suffered a severe brain injury and ultimately dies.
In April 2015, FX confirmed that the seventh and eighth episode of the season would be titled "The Road", and that it would be written and directed by series creator and lead actor Louis C.K., with producer Steven Wright receiving a story credit for "Part 2".
"[8] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "Fun, wistful stuff that may tie in thematically to whatever we get in Part 2, but that functioned just fine in the interim.
Club gave the episode an "A–" grade and wrote, "Sometimes Louie gets bleak by following a monologue off to some inescapable fact of life.
"[11] Randy Dankievitch of TV Overmind wrote, "Regardless of its lack of dramatic thrust, the opening chapter of 'The Road' still makes for an intriguing watch, if only to try and suss out the important threads next week's season finale may touch on.
I doubt the second part is going to throw any major curveballs and will just be a continuation of Louie's tour and all the little things that happen (or don't) on it.
"[15] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "Season 5 has a lot of isolated episodes and storylines – some wickedly funny, some sad, some both at once – even as it draws this larger picture of where Louie is at this moment in his life.
"[17] Danielle Henderson of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "By the time 'The Road Part 2' begins, it's well established that Louis C.K.
In the fifth season of the series, we've seen Louie at war with his body, his mind, his children, his girlfriend, his job, strangers, acquaintances, and the Midwest at large.
"[18] Randy Dankievitch of TV Overmind wrote, "I'll continue to be fascinated by the subtle touches of C.K., those that come to the surface in the climatic moments of 'The Road, Part 2,' then fade into the background, closing on the serene image of Louie telling his daughter a tall tale about the story of the man in the old-timey picture hanging on the kitchen fridge.
If it's true that artistic genius can only imitate itself, Louie will be constantly compelled to match its own high standard.