Historical Comedy is a distinct genre to those of us who partake in it, but there is surprisingly little discussion and cohesion behind these titles online: most often you will be directed to famous period comedy movies, old classics, or the same lukewarm titles (and we can’t all be fans of Drunk History).
But what about folks who follow the new releases, but still appreciate that tasteful touch of historical knowledge mixed in with the witty and quirky comedy associated with iconic British sitcoms? This little list, my friends, is for you.
This entry is the oldest among the shows on the list (worth pointing out, since we are focusing on newer releases), but it did manage to last for 6 years and span 5 seasons for a good reason, and it might just be that refreshing combination of the everyday modern struggles of three young men, seeking romance, satisfying employment, and social status, all in the context of Ancient Rome.
In a way, you could compare the premise of the show to A Knights Tale, though Plebs really challenges itself to stay within the bounds of the mundane, as opposed to any of the more familiar heroic adventures, aiming for a peculiar but delightful feel of a modern sitcom set in a different time period.
Don’t let the official synopsis and trailers fool you: the show has its share of silly moments, but it still offers some of the most heartfelt character explorations and LGBTQ romances in the historical comedy genre. The show, and its core romance plot, is all about opposites: a wealthy landowner abandoning his life of luxury to become a pirate (a “Gentleman Pirate”, to be more specific), and finding himself amidst some of the most successful no-nonsense pirates, like Blackbeard. Or, well, so it would seem.
See, we also picked Our Flag Means Death for its excellent job subverting some of those traditional pirate tropes, portraying a lot of these hardy sailors as quirky and often incompetent individuals with relatable internal and interpersonal issues: everything from awkward arguments and ironic misunderstandings, and all the way to the deep exploration of personal insecurities. The show really is a trip, and it’s bound to be quite a meaningful one.
You might notice a trend of “relatable” situations and characters on this list, but what if we throw in some morbid, dark Norwegian humor? Norseman is one of the most authentic experiences in the historical comedy genre, but it’s not for the gentle souls: the lives of Norsemen characters are brutally unforgiving, but this contrast only intensifies the delight of the kind of mischief they keep getting themselves into.
Also, and this might feel like an aside (it’s not, this is important), but you might not expect the kind of a difference an authentic spoken accent can make for the atmosphere of a show like this; if you are sticking around for the three seasons, it will grow on you very, very quickly.
Now let’s take to a different extreme with The Decameron and its explicitly adult themes (and some dark humor on top of that). It has a bit of a narrower appeal because of this, and its reviews started off on a shakier foot because of the title’s connection to Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th-century work (it’s much looser than some audience members might expect), but that’s exactly what guided our hand at placing it higher on the list.
Let’s give this show the credit where it is due: The Decameron does an excellent job developing its risque themes in the “lockdown” context of the Black Death. It surpasses that chocking “cozy” feel associated with the Renaissance Festival kind of medieval shows (which tend to feel obnoxiously anachronistic even if you expected them to be). Instead, it takes the full risk and allows itself to dive right in and go crazy, and that’s exactly what makes it so refreshing. For daring to go there and remain clever, it will hold our spot #2.
In the end, it’s the more classic ensemble sitcom that ended up winning our #1 spot. And, really, you don’t need anything all that morbid or explicit for a show to stick: sometimes it’s just a young couple inheriting a crumbling country estate, which ends up haunted by a motley group of ghosts from various historical periods (and only one living person who can see them).
Each ghost comes with its own quirks and a backstory, and the show handles plenty of fun setups that give spotlight to every character, as well as explore their relationship as strangers stuck together and unable to interact with pretty much anyone but themselves, their understanding of human society complicated by the unstoppable passage of time.
Surprisingly enough, even with such a simple premise, the show managed to consistently entertain many of its fans for the span of five seasons with its clever setups, witty interactions, and charming comedy. It’s for this achievement (and for just how darn easy the show is to enjoy), that it takes the top spot on our list.
And there you have it, fellow appreciators of historical comedy! What picks on our list have surprised you? Did we miss something that would fit very well with the other titles? Let us know in the comments below!
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