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Original poster

Depressing comedies

135 replies

Floogal · 05/12/2021 10:31

As the title suggests, can anyone think of any programs that were supposed to be funny, but we're actually sombre?

I remember in the 90s, there was the Brittas Empire. Couldn't enjoy it as there was an abusive gay relationship, woman who kept her kids locked up in cupboards and scruffy Colin. Also Gordon meant well but most people seemed to dislike him.

Also loved men behaving badly and game on. But depressing to think of Mathew's acrophobia, Mandy's husband dying and poor Martin having his heart broken. Also Dorothy was pretty abusive to Gary

OP posts:

AnnieSnap · 05/12/2021 23:12

There is always some comedy in real life, including in the darkness. I can’t think of a subject that could be used for a funny comedy that didn’t have shade as well as light in it. I’d be up for knowing about any purely funny shows.

crummyusername · 05/12/2021 23:24

I love The Thick Of It but it’s also so intensely cynical, it’s sometimes hard to watch.

HunkyPunk · 05/12/2021 23:46

I think ‘Ever Decreasing Circles’ had quite a sad undercurrent to it, although it was a great comedy.

midsomermurderess · 06/12/2021 00:38

There is also quite a bit of casual homophobia and misogyny in The Thick of It which wouldn't really go down well now. Although on the whole it still stands up as very funny.

Dumpling89 · 06/12/2021 06:04

@devildeepbluesea

I'm not sure I can think of any comedy that doesn't have a sad or black streak a mile wide. It's what makes them 'real'.

Anyone remember Roger and Val Have Just Got In, with Dawn French and Alfred Molina? The most beautifully written comedy about the first half hour after a couple gets in from work. Over the course of the episodes you find out they lost their baby and have never really dealt with it.

Agree. This show was under the radar and very fleetingly broadcast. It was excellently written with a hard hitting subtext.

lollipoprainbow · 06/12/2021 07:38

There's a difference between dark comedies and depressing I think. Nighty night was very very dark as was league of gentleman. I agree that ever decreasing circles had depressing elements.

the80sweregreat · 06/12/2021 17:31

The first series of ' nighty night' was well done.
The second series was just awful!
It wasn't an easy watch.

JustDanceAddict · 06/12/2021 17:51

@OhMyCrump

Mrs Brown's Boys.....I find it depressing that anyone finds it funny.

😂

the80sweregreat · 06/12/2021 18:04

Mrs browns boys is just awful !!
I don't know anyone who watches it at all.
Why do they make it , for each other ?

TheWeeDonkey · 06/12/2021 20:17

I remember that Victoria Wood sketch and yes it was really sad.

Rising Damp and Steptoe and Son also really depressed me.

RodneyIsDave · 06/12/2021 20:40

Miranda … she loves Gary who treats her like shit and doesn’t want to be with her the way she is. She finds love with the news reporter then Gary pops back up and says I love you, she dumps the kind news reporter who loves her for her and gets with Gary. Bloody annoyed me.

AmandaHugenkiss · 06/12/2021 20:44

We’ve been watching Outlaws which is very funny, but also quite dark and occasionally very stressful. I can’t watch too much as it makes me giggly anxious if that makes sense!!

Skysblue · 06/12/2021 20:48

Basically all the comedies on BBC! If I want to laugh I watch something American.

mama4321 · 06/12/2021 21:34

I love the 1994 Christmas Special episode of the Brittas Empire where they all meet up in the future at new year. It was just a perfect ending to the show where everything came right because of and not despite all that had gone on before. It's called In the Beginning.

Recently rewatched ever decreasing circles. I remembered it as being very funny, but actually it was just very sad.

PriamFarrl · 06/12/2021 22:18

Yes, I love Ever Decreasing Circles but the main relationship is really quite sad.

But I like that. If it was all brightly coloured and a laugh a minute I couldn’t relate to it.

A film not a series but I did have an argument a while ago about Rita, Sue and Bob Too. I said that although it has funny parts and is a very dark comedy it’s not a laugh riot smutty Carry On type film.

the80sweregreat · 07/12/2021 06:49

So many other writers / actors have followed in Victoria Woods footsteps with the happy / sad , think about it comedy she tended to write.
There were a few times in the Outlaws I thought this too : plus Diane the community officer was just Gareth from the office , only the female version !
Afterlife was wonderful for this too.
Although I did cry more than laugh at that one.

Onandoff · 07/12/2021 06:55

Yes. Martin and Ann not very happy. Martin insecure, uptight, depressed.

One Foot in the Grave also could be sad.

absolutelynotfabulous · 07/12/2021 07:06

One Foot is very very funny but also very very dark. It's my favourite comedy I think, even more so than OFAH.

I used to find Mrs Brown hilarious but I think it's past its sell by now.

Has anyone mentioned Til Death yet? So cringingly unfunny and depressing. Brave of the writer to present us with such an unsympathetic character.

midsomermurderess · 07/12/2021 12:39

Him and Her is pretty bleak. The rather feckless couple in that grotty beds-sit and her, what actually does seem to be narcissist, sister. The episode/s where the sister marries are brilliant but really quite stressful.

AdrienneNiR · 07/12/2021 12:44

@A580Hojas

I haven't actually watched Motherland but I keep seeing clips of it on the internet.

It looks about as funny as a pile of sick. Stressed, snappy woman, arguing with everyone, sighing heavily down her nose, default mode sarcastic. I just can't see the appeal in it at all, it makes me feel on edge just looking at the clips.

I love Motherland and find it very funny.

helpadvicewhateverneeded · 07/12/2021 13:02

I don't think you can say that the Royle Family lived "in squalor". Many millions of people grew up in a similar vein - including myself - and there's no way I'd say I lived in squalor, we were working class, not paupers.

MrsMoastyToasty · 07/12/2021 23:12

Big Bang Theory. I find the constant references to Sheldon's obvious autism totally unfunny.

greatape · 08/12/2021 06:25

@midsomermurderess agree with him and her. That last series set on Laura's wedding day was pretty bleak. The dad and how he was constantly I appropriate with Shelly, the bullying that Laura did to everyone and her constant crass behaviour. The mum getting drunk and the dad constantly putting her down

But that bullying was then tempered by her devastation at finding out that he was having the affair with Graham and still going through with the ceremony. She was so insecure about being less pretty and loveable than Becky but it manifested in the worst way. And Becky understood and tolerated it because she loved her sister (and was too lazy to say no)

And the fact Paul was trapped by Laura - he hated her but he loved his kids.

Steve and Becky were cute and in love but they were so lazy. Steve's reaction to her pregnancy was so so lovely but at the end all I could think of was how would that baby be raised in the bed sit with parents who were so laid back they barely functioned.

I did love that Becky was the total slob though. Refreshing to see a young pretty female character as the one with the grim personal habits.

icelolly99 · 08/12/2021 09:05

Anyone watched Back to Life? Written by and starring Daisy Haggard. (She was also in Episodes)

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/12/2021 09:09

@IWasHotInTheNineties

Afterlife with Ricky Gervais

I wouldn't describe that as a comedy, drama more like.

Butterflies for sure!

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