Season 2 of "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" picks up right where Season 1 left off: our old friends Control, Tony, Peter, and John are back, as are the vox pop crowd. Season 2 features the same witty wordplay, gleeful slapstick, and excellent rapport between the actors. In this season, Stephen and Hugh also do a brief introduction (in character as "themselves") before the sketches begin. These introductions mark the start of Stephen's trademark finger quotes.
With that said, this is the weakest episode in season 2. The episode begins with some moderately amusing sketches, the first three of which aren't particularly funny to audiences outside Britain. ("Substitute Genitals" is funny to everyone, however.) Then, the "Freddy" sketch sets the stage for something different: an 11-minute ensemble piece. Hugh and Stephen play multiple roles alongside six other actors. In my opinion, the jokes are thinly spaced. The "Freddy" character seems too reminiscent of Basil Fawlty, and doesn't really do justice to Hugh's talents. The sketch isn't funny enough to justify the huge amount of time spent on it.
The sketches are: Intro: MBE; Dominic Applegard; The Rhodes Boysons Hour; Substitute Genitals; Freddy the Reluctant Terrorist; Scifi Geeks; French Singer/Further Adventures of Freddy/Know-it-all Moron/Keith Bennett/Paul Eddington; Outro: Life Imitates Art/Comedic Timing.
With that said, this is the weakest episode in season 2. The episode begins with some moderately amusing sketches, the first three of which aren't particularly funny to audiences outside Britain. ("Substitute Genitals" is funny to everyone, however.) Then, the "Freddy" sketch sets the stage for something different: an 11-minute ensemble piece. Hugh and Stephen play multiple roles alongside six other actors. In my opinion, the jokes are thinly spaced. The "Freddy" character seems too reminiscent of Basil Fawlty, and doesn't really do justice to Hugh's talents. The sketch isn't funny enough to justify the huge amount of time spent on it.
The sketches are: Intro: MBE; Dominic Applegard; The Rhodes Boysons Hour; Substitute Genitals; Freddy the Reluctant Terrorist; Scifi Geeks; French Singer/Further Adventures of Freddy/Know-it-all Moron/Keith Bennett/Paul Eddington; Outro: Life Imitates Art/Comedic Timing.
