If you’re going to have a drug of choice, you could do worse than Britcoms. At worst, they may stop you from making it through (ha - to) Ulysses, but in the evenings, in moderation, or as sleep aid, why not? A guide for where to begin.
Keeping Up Appearances: When I would watch this show in my youth, I always felt bad for Hyacinth. Everyone hates her! But now, as I get older (if not quite Hyacinth years old), I get it. She simply doesn’t care. She cares about her status in hierarchies, so she does care what others think, immensely. But does she want to be well-liked? Not particularly. It’s simply not on her radar.
This is up there among all-time most rewatches, and was on constantly (sorry family) while I nursed my then-newborn. It’s incredibly repetitive, but somehow always manages to one-up itself. The best scene in all of television very well might be when Richard thinks Hyacinth has gone and bought a manor house (they can’t afford a second home to begin with, but she has notions), when it’s instead that she bought a tiny as in uninhabitable attic apartment in a converted estate. You see poor Richard climbing the last of many, many staircases, and he says, “We’re like bats!”
Waiting For God: Much like murder mysteries calm by reminding of death but keeping it at arm’s length, a show set at a nursing home, but where none of the main characters ever die, and where they only even ever have health scares, taps into… something. Also between Jane, Diana, and plot specifics to be explored at later dates, it is the best-written and also most feminist work of art ever, or ever put on Britbox.
Fawlty Towers: John Cleese is problematic now, I know, I’ve read about it on Twitter. I can live with this (esp not knowing exactly why; please don’t tell me), and will recommend “Gourmet Night” and “The Psychiatrist.” The other episodes are mostly almost as good as those, with the exception of the almost uniformly unfunny “The Anniversary,” and “The Germans,” which, apart from every part involving the moose’s head, is more culturally iconic than actively funny. The problem with this show is that it’s too funny, even in rewatch, so good luck falling asleep to the sound of the Shih Tzu biting Polly.
Alternates:
As Time Goes By: So bad it’s good (as sleep medication). I continue to hope Judi Dench earned a ton from the role.
Absolutely Fabulous: First few seasons (and movie) only. Same problem as Fawlty Towers though — too funny. Also not available on the streaming service I use.
The Vicar of Dibley: I adore Dawn French but find the subtext of every ep being the vicar’s good-person-ness a bit grating. And the Hugo-Alice love story is as the kids say cringe. But Owen and the other village men are good. Very possible to fall asleep to the opening credits.
I have Brit Box now. I guess these would be your first recommendations to a person who's new to British Comedy, so will take a look. I have a question - have you watched The Cafe? I ask because it's the first show I chose and I'm really enjoying it even though I'm not entirely sure why; it's so understated and every episode is the same. I guess it's just like life.