6 TV 'Comedies' That Are Ridiculously Depressing
Crying with laughter.
People generally expect a good laugh when tuning in to a TV comedy, and sitcoms are generally known as easy, lightweight viewings. This is actually a misconception, since more often than not TV comedy shows, especially British ones, are ridiculously depressing. Believe it or not, though, that is a very good thing.
Whether it's a cartoon, a satire, or a sitcom, TV comedy is a fine medium for showing how ridiculous and painful life can be. Comedy films often do this as well, but TV comedies, with more time to develop the situations and usually a more intimate vibe, arguably do tragicomedy better. Although the general stereotype is that British comedy is downbeat while American comedy is more upbeat, that is actually an outdated view and US comedy is often just as depressing, to great effect.
Sad comedies are, on the whole, excellent but they aren't always as easy to watch and if any viewers have problems with embarrassment comedy, these following shows aren't for them. That being said, these shows can also be comforting. If you think your life sucks, these comedies should make you feel better; at least you're better off than some of these characters...
Spoilers Ahead.
6. The Office
The Office is a fantastic and hilarious sitcom, but thinking about its core narrative of a bunch of nobodies working a boring job with their lives going nowhere, this is quite a sad show. This tragicomic vibe is perfectly symbolized by the lead character of David Brent (Ricky Gervais).
Was there ever a more tragic comedy character than Brent? A boss who believes he's hilarious, kind and beloved when he's actually annoying and despised by his employees, a man who dreams of being a rock-star but hasn't got a chance; much of the comedy of The Office revolves around us laughing at his mistakes and self-delusion.
While insufferable, Brent isn't an entirely bad person and is largely depicted as a tragic figure, so there's plenty of sympathy for him. The other three leads - Gareth (Mackenzie Crook), Tim (Martin Freeman) and Dawn (Lucy Davis) - don't fare much better and also have lives that are going nowhere. Essentially, this is a comedy about people trapped in an endless cycle of meaningless mundanity, so The Office works as a sad commentary on daily life as well as a hilarious comedy.
In the end, Tim and Dawn finally get together and things seem to be looking up for Brent, but that's more or less the only bit of relief the characters are allowed. Sadly, the recent David Brent movie showed things never really improved for Brent and this makes the show even sadder in hindsight.