Hunderby

If you are a fan of 19th Century Gothic movies (e.g., Rebecca, Jane Eyre) or Jane Austen period dramas you must see this show. Along with great writing and comedic acting, this show combines a wit and satire and love for the genre that is just wonderful. I can't recommend this show more highly. There were moments I laughed so loudly I thought my downstairs neighbor would come up to see if I was OK. Impeccably done with a deadpan humor that is unique and sidesplitting. As an American I am new to Julia Davis' writing AND acting, it is COMEDY GOLD. I also very much appreciate the feminine perspective. Every actor in this show deserves accolades but Rufus Jones' Dr. Foggerty deserves a special mention. The use of classic music in just the right amounts was also brilliant.

I'm an American who loves Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, Charles Dickens, Daphne du Maurier...the kind of books (and movies) that helped create the tropes this show mocks relentlessly and hilariously.

You get such tropes as: the perfect and incomparable dead wife, conniving housekeeper, huge terrible secret, clueless vicar, physically wretched but eternally optimistic and naive character, deformed villain, straight man with curiously close male servant - the list goes on and on. The show isn't "cruel," it's making fun of the stereotypical characterizations gothic novels loved to use to create tension. And some of those characterizations were based in really messed up ideas from the 1800-1900s, like that ugliness was an external reflection of evilness or bad character, or that virginity was the most important attribute in a wife (who cares who she is as a person?). It's making fun of the ideas in those stories that are abhorrent or cliche to us now.

In the first episode, Helene is set to marry a much older pastor, and he tells her that if she wasn't entering the marriage as a virgin, he would of course have to stone her to death by his own hand 😔. I laughed out loud and was hooked from that moment.

But it's probably not funny if you don't know the stories it's mocking, because satire relies on familiarity with the subject matter. It's "dumb" humor in the vein of Scary Movie, Walk Hard, Hot Shots, Robin Hood Men in Tights, Blazing Saddles, etc. The jokes are rooted in all the OTHER media you've watched and the stereotypes they're built on.

If you've ever wished Young Frankenstein could have a baby with Wuthering Heights, this one's for you.

Oh my! Fell into this by accident and could not stop laughing! Anyone, ANYONE familiar with Elizabethan, Gothic writings will appreciate the antics which ensue. Excellent writing and directing. Where this gem came from I don't know, however the entertainment value is high as this sort of drama is usually heavy and dry.

The character development is superb, the cinematography and set design immaculate to the period. The actors are at the top of the game.

Upon initial viewing I thought the story to be a serious one reminiscent of "Moll Flanders"... very cruel etc. However once realizing it was comedy, relaxed a bit as the sight gags and use of language grew increasingly ridiculous and fun.

Am savoring each episode once discovering there is but one season.

Julia Davis does "Rebecca" proud in her writings and personification of Elizabethan era dialogue and characters.

Thanks HULU.

Was gutted that sky didnt renew this for a third series, it's a fantastically twisted comedy from the great Julia Davis, everything she does is superb in my opinion. It's wonderfully witty an expertly written with a very adept cast.

I could see shades of Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Tom Jones, Wurthering Heights, and several others. I'm sure there were others that I just haven't read, so could not appreciate the spoof.