Netflix Presents: The Characters

I watched the 1st episode, most of the 2nd, and the beginning of the 3rd, then just skipped to Tim Robinson's episode (I'm a fan of his other show I Think You Should Leave) because this show felt mostly unbearable to watch. I'm pretty sure I didn't really laugh until Tim Robinson's episode. Most of these comedians don't fare as well in the format of the show, and their ability to make a character automatically funny is lacking. And that's a pretty important ability on this show, because the jokes are largely not present. So it ends up being a parade of dislikable characters. It's a shame. Tim Robinson does a good job in his episode (though the first skit took a little longer than I would like to get off the ground). It's just a form of comedy that not every comedian can pull off, and this show proves that.

All the episodes are very different and very creative. About half I didn't really laugh at (Downs after the opening sketch, Berlant, Dr Brown, most of Rothwell), but the others either amused or at least engaged me. They're all worth at least sampling though.

I'm honestly really shocked that this is rated so low on here. As a lover of sketch comedy, I found these skits quite entertaining. so many really funny performances by really talented comedians here. I've even rewatched the whole series multiple times. Yes the characters are cringe and awkward, but that's the whole point, they are supposed to be. I just don't think a lot of people got this. I love it.

The only episode worth watching is the Tim Robinson one, and even that is kinda mediocre, compared to his I think you should leave series. Rest are just terrible.

I'm going to try to keep this short, so I'll just say that I think the show is very lacking. For a comedy it lacks laughs, and it seems to mistake awkwardness/absurdity with humor. Those things can be funny, but just showing a bunch of arrogant and self- absorbed characters being arrogant and self-absorbed isn't funny in itself. The episodes just kinda drag on and the characters being played are so unlikeable that it's hard to smile at, let alone laugh.

Someone in the message boards said it best when calling it cringe comedy, but not in a good way. For me it just came off a lot as ironically pretentious.