I have heard a lot of things about Letterkenny over the years, and its opening scene in the very first episode has been thrown around the Internet for its silliness to the point where I think that's the only thing I have actually seen from it prior to watching through it yesterday night. I got curious, I admit. But I wasn't aware that this was initially a creative little YouTube series that some people had made, making little skits of rural life in Ontario, Canada. That's ultimately the general premise of this show, it's one that pokes some fun at the cultural elements and stereotypical lifestyles that are found within the area of Ontario, mostly with the perspective of a small farming town. With rural life you tend to get those stereotypes of what people are like, but Letterkenny both takes advantage of those stereotypes while also somewhat subverting them. It's a pretty weird, creative show that doesn't really go anywhere or say anything. To say it's something more than a world salad would be a lie, but I can't say I really mind that. I do enjoy stupid humour, I do enjoy quick, witty jokes that come and go. And scenarios that are often cartoonish and exaggerated for effect. I love shows like Trailer Park Boys in which you have unrealistic scenarios surrounding a group of characters that are ultimately harmless in the grand scheme of things, generally quite likeable.
Letterkenny takes place in, well, the small town of Letterkenny. It's known for being a bit of a small farming town with a bit of a meth problem. The town's few characters consists of a blatantly gay priest at the local church, a group of techno goths which are always found outside some place dancing out in public and doing meth (it's pretty much just them that are creating and taking it all), and a few farmers which seem like the most normal people there. I watched through the entirety of the first season which is six episodes in total, and each one felt like the show was starting to get its footing. Incredibly weird, there's no doubt. And at times I was questioning what I was wasting my time on, but the more I watched, the more it started to find a little bit of appeal. These weird characters are of course intentionally played out as total freaks, showcasing Letterkenny as this almost nightmarish location full of rural fools. What makes the show interesting is how it subverts those expectations every now and then. There will be a 'bit' where the characters are sitting out in the open by a produce stand and just talking, and their conversations will dive into the strangest topics. With stern Canadian accents, and generally flat delivery, these characters come out of nowhere.
These characters will dive into the weirdest stories of the past and bring up something that's most certainly totally made up, but it'll spring the characters into life as they end up discussing something somewhat related to the subject but in great detail. Here's an example: a story on some kid once accidentally ripping open his balls and having to show his mother to prove it had happened. That alone is a stupid story, but it leads the characters down into what is almost a biology lesson as they start intelligently and confidently discussing the anatomy of the organ. Down to the very specifics of how everything works. This sort of humour isn't utilised all the time, it's not overdone, but when it does come out, it works quite well. It's mixed with humour that relies a lot on word play as well, and that works about half the time where it gets a little tiresome, or just doesn't feel all that creative. I should probably add that sometimes there are bits of actual narrative in this show. Yep! This show actually has some aspects of narrative and character development, weirdly. Though it doesn't particularly lead anywhere, it's more just something that serves as a bit of filler to give the humour side of things a bit of room to breathe.
This is where the show might utilise certain groups of characters a bit more than others, and it's often enough always featuring the weird techno goths. Their use is always fun, especially when they're randomly throwing out word growls in some metal fashion and really ramping up their subculture. Standing out massively compared to everyone else in the show that otherwise looks normal. These methed-out weirdos are probably some of the most fun in the show which how they spring up out of nowhere and always find a way into things. Next up is probably the main two characters on the farm, one of which is always having to fight a stranger for the title of being the strongest person in Letterkenny. Yeah, that's the sort of show this is so far. It's so stupidly weird.
I am hoping that the second season picks up a bit more though, this one definitely did have that low budget, weird YouTube series feel to it, and I think as time passes it might grow into something with a bit more attention and production value to iron out the weakpoints.
Interesting article and best wishes to all of us.
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True, the style of comedy can be quite strange and specific, but that's what makes it so appealing to many. The way they play with rural stereotypes and subvert them gives it an original touch. Good review!!!
I'm curious about whether it finds its footing more as the seasons progress.
@namiks, I'm refunding 0.040 HIVE and 0.013 HBD, because there are no comments to reward.