There is absolutely nothing else like it

ametaphysicalshark

I'm about to state an obvious fact: "The League of Gentlemen" is among the best television shows of all time and without question one of the most unique. The latter point even those who dislike "The League of Gentlemen" must admit is valid.

Much has been said about "The League of Gentlemen", and I'm not sure I can add anything to all that has been said. So allow me to repeat some important things others have said:

-The acting on the show is utterly brilliant and completely convincing, and for the most part it's the same people in makeup. It's not even like a traditional sketch comedy group in that "The League of Gentlemen", if it wants to, can make you feel horrified, thrilled, amused, or genuinely involved in a dramatic situation. The writing (which is done by the League and hence by the actors) is only part of this resounding success, as without such a tremendously talented group of actors this show could have been a flop.

-The humor is an acquired taste. It's pitch black and on occasion a bit horrifying. There are several moments where I, a person very proud of my sick, macabre sense of humor, found myself laughing at things I was genuinely disgusted by. So far in all my television viewing I have never come across anything that can create that sort of feel except for "The League of Gentlemen". Somehow, through the genius of the writing team, this show can make you feel disgusted and horrified but still have you giggling like a schoolboy. Take the choir boys attacking Herr Lipp in the Christmas special, and later in the same episodes Papa Lazarou's astonishing surprise appearance, which is really quite disturbing, but so unexpected and well-executed that one can't help enjoy it. The 'special stuff', Papa Lazarou's wives, Pop, Dr. Chinnery, the Joke Shop... The list goes on and on when it comes to disturbing, macabre hilarity.

-The atmosphere created on "The League of Gentlemen" is incomparable. The cinematography, production values, and especially the direction by Steve Bendelack are of a standard television has rarely achieved, and create a completely unique and special quality.

-Yes, the third series is different. No, it's not bad. No laugh track, less emphasis on humor... Sounds like this little thing known as 'progression' to me. The League of Gents moved on past repeating the trademark 'ARE YOU LOCAL?', 'special stuff', Benjamin Denton, and other jokes which had essentially been perfected in the second series (which, in my opinion, is the most perfect full season/series of any television comedy I can think of). It's a brave new direction and while the first three episodes of the third series are probably my bottom three episodes of the entire show (still good, though), it naturally took the LOG a while to work the new direction out and perfect it, and perfect it they did. The final three episodes of the third series and consequently of "The League of Gentlemen" are absolutely, utterly brilliant from start to finish, in particular the final episode, which attracts some undeserved hate for some bizarre reason. I consider the final episode of "The League of Gentlemen" to be among the most demented and thoroughly enjoyable half-hour episodes of television I have ever had the good fortune of seeing. From Papa Lazarou's most memorably bizarre and surprising appearance (yes, more surprising than the Christmas special) to the "Don't Look Now" homage, to the brilliant payoff in the final montage for viewers who followed the third series in order, it is just a perfect television episode and a fitting finale.

To sum up everything I said above in a nutshell, "The League of Gentlemen" is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish and while the third series takes some getting used to, don't give up on it- the payoff is more than worth it. The tremendous talent that went into writing, acting, producing, and directing this show is almost as frightening as Papa Lazarou in the shadows growling at the Vicar with his trademark "Hello Dave".

Series average (average of ratings for all episodes): 8.84/10.

Final overall rating: 10/10, wish I could give it more.

score /10

ametaphysicalshark 16 July 2008

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1911752/