With Taika Waititi revealing more details about season 2 of HBO Max's Our Flag Means Death, one of the most successful new period comedies of recent years, now is a great time to be a fan of shows that use the past as a basis for hilarity. Until the second season is finally released, there is plenty of time for fans to sink their teeth into some of the other amazing period comedies out there.
For some help deciding which ones are worth giving a try, the period TV fans of Reddit give a ton of great suggestions, both old and new, of some extremely funny period comedy shows.
The Durrells In Corfu (2016–19)
Although perhaps a lesser-known period comedy-drama of recent years, one show managed to win over Reddit user Fuzzyfrosie who says simply "The Durrells in Corfu" as their recommendation. A British series based on the memoirs of naturalist Gerald Durrell, the series takes place in the 1930s on the Greek island of Corfu.
Centered around the misadventures the family gets into whilst on the island, it utilizes its exotic setting and time period to charming effect whilst keeping up plenty of laughs. If Our Flag Is Death didn't provide enough proof of the comedic potential of real people in the past, then The Durrells in Corfu also does a great job.
Blackadder (1983–89)
Whilst Mr. Bean is Rowan Atkinson's most iconic role, anyone who's watched this classic British show will know he's just as good when playing the cynical antihero Blackadder. Redditor Here_for_tea_ makes the case for the show, stating, "Blackadder is one of my favourite comedy series of all time," a sentiment that many echoed.
Each season of Blackadder takes in a different time period, from the Middle Ages to World War I, but features the same cast that includes other British legends like Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Full of sharp jokes, over-the-top insults, and one of the most surprisingly touching endings in comedy history, there's a reason why the show remains so widely loved.
Jeeves And Wooster (1990–93)
When looking for great comedies set in the past, it turns out it doesn't hurt to look slightly further back at least to the shows of previous decades. Redditor YouNeedSomeSunshine did just that, asking, "Have you seen Jeeves & Wooster? One of my favorites." Starring a legendary comedy pairing in Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, the show was always likely to be hilarious.
Set in the high society of the UK and US in the early 20th century, every interaction is an opportunity for misadventure and clever wordplay for the pair, who play a young gentleman and his more sensible valet. Being a slightly older show, the only downside of Jeeves and Wooster is it's difficult to find on streaming services.
Norsemen (2016–20)
Since many period comedies use the relatively recent past as a setting rather than taking on the limitations of a more distant era, Norsemen immediately stands out for its 8th-century Norwegian setting. Redditor Limberpuppy makes the case for the Viking-based series, putting forward, "Norsemen on Netflix. The first 2 seasons were really good."
Although the third prequel season isn't as favorably reviewed, that's still plenty of hilarious Viking strife to enjoy in the village of Norheim, and, thankfully, all of the Norwegian show is available in English. Sadly canceled after 3 seasons, it still managed to leave a huge impression on a lot of its fans.
Another Period (2015–18)
Though it only ran for 3 years, Another Period was an American period comedy with a lot of fans including MIArular who describes it as "a pretty funny parody show... about a Newport (Rhode Island, US) family and their staff." Created by and starring Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome, the series is a sitcom spoofing Kardashians-style reality shows but in an upper-class historical setting.
It may sound jarring but it makes good use of the concept and, luckily, hearing hilariously anachronistic lines for its Downton Abbey-style setting never gets old. It's also packed full of jokes, all of them directed at the show's pretentious upper-class stars. It may not be historically accurate but it didn't need to be and it managed to gain a strong fanbase before it was canceled in 2018.
Miracle Workers (2019–present)
One period comedy that won fans very quickly was this TBS anthology series, which was a favorite of Redditor sleepy_pickle though they admitted they "just started watching Miracle Workers". With three seasons based on the writing of novelist Simon Rich and already covering the Middle Ages and the Oregon Trail, there's plenty to be excited about for anyone hooked in by the show's outlandish premise.
The first season is centered on Craig and Eliza, two low-level angels played by Daniel Radcliffe and Geraldine Viswanathan, who must pull off a miracle to prevent Earth's destruction. Although the characters change each season, the star-studded ensemble cast helps give the show a consistent feel. With season 4 on the way, plenty of comedy fans are already excited about where the show will go next.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–present)
A series about a 1950s New York housewife who accidentally discovers she has a talent for comedy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel quickly became one of the best Amazon Original shows after its release. Its fans include ashtronomica who said of the series, "The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel is very good. It's more a dramedy though."
With the higher budget that comes with being an Amazon flagship, the show is able to nail its setting to an extent that could rival even the most serious period dramas. The performances, especially Rachel Brosnahan as the central character Midge, are all top-notch and, though the comedy does indeed take a backseat to drama at times, it has no shortage of funny moments that helped it win a ton of fans.
The Great (2020–present)
Drama and satire blend perfectly in this darkly funny period show from Hulu loosely based on Catherine The Great's rise to power in 18th-century Russia. Redditor _CrystalCritter_ sings the show's praises, describing The Great as "a funny and Great historical drama," a sentiment that many fans agreed with.
Centered on her plot to kill her husband, the despised Peter III, the show features a star-studded cast of talent that manages to somehow pull off even the most absurd of lines. Taking a very liberal approach to the historical events it's based on, The Great only improved over time thanks to some superb writing, leaving many fans eagerly awaiting season 3.
Ghosts (2019–present)
Although not technically a period show as it's set in the modern-day, Ghosts' cast of deceased figures from throughout history meant it was still a highly recommended show by Redditors like thebutterfly0. After admitting period comedy might not be quite the right category for it, they make a compelling case for why it's still worth consideration: "The period actors in BBCs Ghosts are hilarious!"
Both the BBC version and its more recent CBS counterpart for the US make fine use of their wacky cast of anachronistic characters for maximum comedy effect. Even though the overall setting is a contemporary one, so many of the best jokes come out of how the ghosts themselves deal with and usually misunderstand the modern world, and it turns out to be a winning formula.
Derry Girls (2018–22)
Taking on the relatively recent history of history of Northern Ireland during the final years of The Troubles, Derry Girls is one of the best comedy series of recent years. One Redditor was particularly effusive with praise for the series, writing, "Derry Girls is soooooo good. Legit in my top 5 shows of all time," a sentiment that many others agreed with.
Based on the experiences of creator Lisa McGee who grew up in Derry during that period, the series focuses on a group of teenagers and the misadventures they manage to find themselves in. Though the portrayal of 90s Northern Ireland feels unerringly real, what shines through is the character in a show that managed to charm audiences for 3 great seasons before coming to a memorable conclusion in May.