It all comes down to escalation.
Also, Rays fake I.D.
pseudonym is Phil McCracken.
Just in case you were worried that this is a dry college thesis on comedy.
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Thats the struggle in writing about good comedy.
Explaining why something is funny benefits virtually no one.
Its a visceral interaction with art.
Remember the recurring joke about Charlotte Van Der Tunts incestuous family?
Thats what opens Jane Doe a strong start if there ever was any.
Archer, brilliant dick that he is, immediately recognizes this as a set up to blackmail.
Oh and the aforementioned prostitutes?
Dont worry about them.
Theyre living their best life with Pam, knitting sweaters.
The situations in Jane Doe consistently escalate.
Each new moment builds on the previous.
Archer is adamant that he is to wear the concussed cops uniform and lead the bandmates around.
Archer announces that he gets to wear the next one.
No sooner after he does, the group encounters a tall, skinny cop and Archer mutters Damn it.
We cut to the tall, lanky band member wearingthatoutfit.
This kind of physical comedy seems so simple on paper.
Shows just have to remember funny things they did previously and then repeat them in a slightly different way.
Still few shows are as consistent and as creative asArcheris.
And Jane Doe offers a helpful assist to the traditionalArchercomedic method by giving its characters clear missions.
Charlotte just wants to enjoy the whole experience.
Charlotte is beyond the MVP of Jane Doe.
When Archer comes to rescue her, she is justscreaming.
How many years have I been in here?
Like 30 minutes, Archer says.
Charlotte (and the Cheryl that precedes her) is a fantastic character because shes just so earnest.
Its obviously funny that Charlotte is just a trademark crazy person.
But for an audience its also just plain fun to experience the world along her.
Im gonna want a rematch, Pam says.
Me too, Charlotte gasps as she feels herself up.
Though I would kill to see Aisha Tyler just do an entire set of syphilis-related humor.
Ultimately the best part about Jane Doe is what it represents for the future.
Jane Doe does logical and satisfying comedic escalation so well.
Rating:
5 out of 5
