Are you local? (League of Gentlemen, The)

Member Name: hewhoisme

Product:	League of Gentlemen, The
Date:	13/08/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The writing, the acting, the characters

Disadvantages: It might be a bit too dark for some tastes

The League of Gentlemen is the comic masterpiece of Jeremy Dyson, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith , based around bizarre, and often disturbing, inhabitants of Royston Vassey, a fictional town based in the rural backwaters of Northern England.

Although each of the three series has it's own storyline, it is usually fairly fragile and only plays as a back drop to the weird and not particularly wonderful residents of the surreal little hamlet, and the morbid mishaps they invariably get involved in. The first series starts with the arrival of Benjamin Denton, who was roped in to a short stay at his aunt and uncle's whilst on his way to a camping trip. Not unsurprisingly escaping from Mr and Mrs Denton, a pair of raving obsessive compulsives with a toad fixation, does not pose as an easy task, and Benjamin finds himself indefinitely trapped in what appears to be a village full of serial killers, talkative transvestites, and a well meaning but highly lethal veterinarian. Each series is based on a similarly unique story line, ranging from the Great Vassey Nosebleed Epidemic to an incredibly sinister travelling circus, all of which ties into the sardonic nature of the program brilliantly.

Part of the charm of the show lies in the creators wonderful portrayal of the Vassey locals, who vary from the hopelessly inept to the downright psychopathic. Such examples include the pig-nosed serial-killing proprietors of the "local shop" Tubbs and Edward, the depressingly bad, and often terminal, services of Mr Chinnery the vet, and Hiliary Briss the butcher, seller of "special stuff." And then of course there's always Papa Lazarou, a creepy blackfaced circus ringmaster who steals wives, and is probably the msot prolific, and geniuely terrifying, of the characters. He also calls everyone Dave.

Admittedly the League of Gentlemen is not for everyone as the humour can be incredibly dark and is much in the same vein as the equally excellent Psychoville, the freaky foursome's most recent show. Whilst the atmosphere is undoubtedly ominous the twisted surrealism of the characters is a joy to behold, and the intelligence and wit of the writing makes it stand out as a landmark in British comedy. In my opinion the League of Gentlemen is a must watch, but then again, I've always been a bit wierd.

Please remember, this is a local review, for local people. There's nothing for you here.

Summary: Simply unbeatable