How should I describe The League of Gentlemen? One might say that they are the kings of dark comedy, but that doesn't quite do their work justice (and had I heard that description originally I might not have watched, since I'm not a huge fan of dark comedy). Some have described them as a cross between Monty Python and David Lynch, which might be more accurate but still doesn't adequately capture their style. Perhaps it is best to just say that they are delightfully and darkly different, with an expert mix of comedy and horror, with some excellent acting and storylines thrown in...

Who are the League of Gentlemen, and what's all this about Royston Vasey?

The League of Gentlemen is made up of 4 young men. League members Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, and Reece Shearsmith all write and perform, while the fourth member, Jeremy Dyson, writes and makes the occasional cameo. They met in college and bonded due to their love of old horror films. They later formed a sketch-comedy troupe, performing in British comedy clubs. They started winning prestigious awards for their work, and were eventually snatched up for radio and eventually television success. Critically acclaimed, they've won nearly every European comedy award that exists (including the BAFTA, the British equivalent of an Emmy, for best comedy for their 2nd season/series).

The League has apparently founded a genre all of their own, with a unique blend of sketch-comedy, dramatic storytelling, and a healthy dose of horror. Instead of simple comedic sketches, the characters' stories are all intertwined with each other against the backdrop of a quaint British town called Royston Vasey -- mixing and mingling to create incredibly robust characters and plots. The 3 members who perform come from acting backgrounds, and as such they throw themselves into their characters with incredible gusto and skill that is not often found in regular comedy. The show is a comedy, but not in the conventional sense. Watch it and you will probably find yourself laughing at stuff you never really thought of as funny before.

Royston Vasey is not your average town. The characters (and there are A LOT of them, typically all played by the same 3 actors) are unique and often quite weird (in fact, some are downright grotesque). Fan-favorites include Tubbs and Edward Tattsyrup (murderous owners of the "Local Shop", who only want to sell their "precious things" to local people), the Dentons (who breed toads and who obsessively battle against "the microbe and the germ"), Dr. Chinnery (a vet straight out of "All Creatures Great and Small"; a sweet man who unfortunately manages to kill every animal he tries to cure), Barbara (the town's cab driver and pre-operative transsexual), butcher Hilary Briss (whose "special stuff" is a mystery meat concoction that is very addictive), and my favorite, Pauline Campbell-Jones (a "restart-officer"/social worker who berates and belittles her "job seekers", especially intelligent-guy Ross).

More Personal Thoughts/Opinions:

When I first caught the show, quite by accident, when it was airing on Comedy Central a few years ago (with each episode cut and pasted around to accommodate America's need to show a commercial every 5-to-10 minutes) I must admit that I wasn't immediately won over. The humor is very dark, which is not something I usually go for. It was a bit confusing to me because I wasn't starting some of the storylines at the beginning. I also initially thought that Ross (from the Pauline storyline) and Benjamin (from the Dentons storyline) were the same person (well, in real-life they are played by the same person, but on the show they are actually two different characters -- I just happened to catch it when the two storylines crossed), so that had me thrown as well. Still, something about it totally intrigued me, and I continued to think about the show until I could catch another episode. What really won my husband and me over at first was the Pauline storyline (and I developed a crush on Ross, but that's another story), followed by a bizarre fascination with Tubbs and Edward, and a longing to see Benjamin make it out of Royston Vasey with his sanity intact. When we discovered that all of the original, uncut episodes were available on DVD we jumped at the chance to see them in-order and the way they were intended to be watched (sans commercials). Watching the shows in chronological order definitely helps.

The gents somehow manage to expertly combine truly frightening moments, comedic moments, and genuinely dramatic moments. It really is hard to describe exactly what the show is -- just plain "comedy" doesn't quite fit, but neither does "drama". Maybe "dramedy"? The show's production values are also very impressive. I don't expect to see such beautiful shots or broad, sweeping vistas on a "sketch comedy" show. The music is also great and much above what I would have expected. As I mentioned before, the acting is really top-notch -- it is easy to forget that these same 3 guys are playing everybody because they are so convincing in their various roles (and the make-up/prosthetics help a bit too).

The gents, without their wigs, prosthetics, and false-bad teeth, seem like such nice, normal chaps. They come off on the commentary track as a bunch of fun-loving, jovial guys who just like to make each other laugh -- not at all the kinds of guys who could come up with such twisted stuff. It makes me like them (and their show) all the more.

Of course, some references are very British and may not make sense to people from other countries (however I've found this usually doesn't diminish one's viewing pleasure). I'm personally a huge Monty Python fan and also count Fawlty Towers as one of my all-time favorite shows, so I'm always game to see good British humor. The League are definitely not Python, but they are hysterical in a darkly different way.

The stories are not only funny but also usually quite clever (of course you have the more slapstick or gutter-humor thrown in as well). The stories are all interwoven in witty, intriguing little ways -- and be sure to keep your eyes open whenever something is going on in the street because there are bound to be other characters in the background doing things you might miss. I probably wouldn't like it so much if they weren't so skillfully intertwined. We've discovered that multiple viewings help one uncover even more cleverness, because you pick up on lots of things you couldn't possibly have known the significance of the first time though.

The commentary track (voiced by all 4 members of the League of Gentlemen and occasionally the director, Steve Bendelack) is fantastic and actually one of my favorite things on the disc. I love hearing them make each other laugh, reveal the ideas behind the characters, and egg each other on ("Oh, look at your face there!"). It's great fun to be able to laugh along with them, plus it often makes you appreciate each episode even more as they point out quick references or stuff occurring in the background that you might have missed. In this day of highly-paid, pampered, spoiled actors and actresses who fight over face-time and don't want to be in the scene unless they are featured, it does my heart good to see these guys playing even the tiniest of bit parts themselves and being there on set even when they aren't filming the particular scene -- basically pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into every aspect of their show. You can tell that they are great friends with each other and that this show is their labor of love.

It is sometimes hard to hear everyone on the commentary track, mostly when all of the guys are talking at once about something. Other times they refer to inside jokes that they cannot share with the audience (which leaves me wanting to know more).

I should warn again that this isn't your average comedy, and it will not appeal to everyone. There is indeed stuff that possibly crosses the line... stuff that might leave you a bit uncomfortable.

There are also 2 more series/seasons after this one, as well as a live show and a Christmas special -- all of which are available on DVD in the UK, but unfortunately they're not available here in America (my husband and I have a multi-region DVD player, so we purchased them all from http://www.amazon.co.uk). Hopefully America is just a bit behind and the rest of the DVD's will come out here eventually. I only like the guys more with each passing year, as they are willing to take chances, try new things, and keep the show fresh. Even more fantastic characters await in the later seasons (Herr Lipp, Pam Doove, Reenie and Vinnie, and especially Papa Lazarou)

I personally find the show to be very addictive. Once I start watching I simply don't want to stop until I've watched the entire series.

Disc Specifics:

The aspect ratio is 1.78:1 and 16x9 enhanced. It looks really lovely, and even the darkly-lit scenes look great.

The audio sounds great and is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo.

Each episode is right at 30 minutes in length (because they don't have to leave time for commercials during their shows like American comedies do). Total running time is 174 minutes.

The disc is not rated, however our later seasons' disc are rated for people age 15 and up.

The Episodes:

Episode 1: Welcome to Royston Vasey - The first show of the series, it sets up many stories to come. We are introduced to Pauline and her "job seekers", meanwhile businessman Geoff wants to hear the "mau mau" joke. We meet a "normal" person, Benjamin Denton, who is visiting with his Aunt and Uncle as he waits to get together with an old friend for some hiking. Unfortunately his friend makes a stop at the local shop...

Episode 2: The Road to Royston Vasey - Surveyors from a construction company are preparing to build a new road that will make Royston Vasey less isolated. Tubbs and Edward "deal" with the surveyors, while Pauline toys with Ross and her other job seekers. Rich lady Judee Levenson brags to her cleaning lady, Iris, while butcher Hilary Briss serves up his "special stuff" to select clintele.

Episode 3: Nightmare in Royston Vasey - Edward, in desperation, finds a new way to halt the new road's progress. Benjamin feels very uncomfortable when asked to drink "aqua vita" at his relatives' house, and Ross gets a bit of revenge on Pauline during a role-playing exercise.

Episode 4: The Beast of Royston Vasey - Road-construction workers attempt to learn more about what they've uncovered. Performance group Legz Akimbo arrives in Royston Vasey to educate the local kids about "issues". Benjamin baby-sits the Denton's eerie twin girls.

Episode 5: Love Comes to Royston Vasey - Mike gets married and Geoff Tipps delivers the most disturbingly bitter best-man speech ever. The Dentons attend a funeral. Former band-mate Les McQueen pines for his long-lost life with band Creme Brulee. Benjamin has a misunderstanding with Barbara.

Episode 6: Escape from Royston Vasey - Tubbs and Edward's estranged son returns and they discover his ties to the new road. Pauline finally gets what is coming to her. Geoff gets upset (or does he?) when his friends pretend that they forgot his birthday. Benjamin attempts an escape...

Special Features (Precious Things):

The special features are nice (although there are a lot more extras on the later seasons' discs) and are all titled in local "Royston Vasey" terminology. The special features sub-menu is accessed by selecting "Precious Things" from the main menu.

This isn't necessarily a "feature", but be sure to answer "Yes" to the "Are you local?" question at the beginning of the disc, or else you'll be sent off into DVD-la-la-land for a while...

Local People takes you to some still-screens with text and pictures that give some funny extra-information on many of Royston Vasey's occupants.

Local Gossip allows you to turn on the commentary track for each episode. The commentary is fantastic, done by each of the gents talking about the why's and what-if's of the particular scenes, and generally goading each other and making themselves laugh.

Missing allows you to play a variety of outtakes (and is a play on the humorous "Missing" signs seen throughout the episodes). For each scene an introductory text is displayed, explaining why the scene was cut or edited in the final product. The scenes included are:
   * Painting in the Shop - the special effects needed to add the local shop to the scenery in the opening titles
   * Shop and Policeman - an extended version of the policeman in the Local Shop (from episode 1)
   * Babs at the Booth - cab driver Barbara meeting Al and Richie at the magazine stand (also interesting because we hear Barbara's real voice, rather than the one dubbed for her on the show)
   * Pop - The Director's Cut - the full-length version of the scene featuring Richie, Al, and Pop (which was probably one of my least-favorite "sketches" until I saw the original ending here, which redeemed it a bit).
   * Tortoise Climax - the unaired final bit in the ongoing tortoise story.
   * Judee's Return - a deleted scene of Judee's return from Antigua.
   * Judee on the Sunbed - another deleted Judee and Iris scene (which was later included, slightly different, in season two).
   * Calliper Box - Vasey's blind photographer mistakes a little boy for a charity-box (which makes more sense when you see the original charity-box, which is shaped like a little boy).
   * Charlie, Stella and Tony - Tony meets Julie's mom and dad (Tony eventually becomes a different kind of character in the series)
   * The Denton's Wake - further Benjamin mind-play after the funeral.
   * Pauline's End - a scene depicting Pauline leaving her classroom for the last time, it was ultimately cut for time.

Special Stuff is another text-and-picture based series of screens that give a history of The League of Gentlemen. Divided into two sections ("Stage & Radio" and "Television") it is full of nice-to-know details.

NOTE: There is also a long & annoying BBC commercial at the beginning of episode 1 that cannot be chapter-skipped (although you can fast-forward through it). None of our other League DVD's have this "feature", so it might just be on the American release... it totally grates on my nerves.

Recommendations:

As much as I adore it, I really cannot recommend The League of Gentlemen - Complete Series 1 to everyone, as I know that some people will find it offensive and unfunny. I, however, absolutely love it, as does my husband. If you are a comedy or horror fan who likes a good laugh, this may be the series for you.











Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age