A Review: History of Swear Words (NSFW)(No spoilers)

Where has this show BEEN? No, really, Netflix has been around for years, why are they just now getting around to this series of delightful 20 minute episodes, each devoted to a curse word. 

I have seen almost all of them.

Episode 1: FUCK - here we are presented with the show’s premise: we follow a curse word through history, from when it is coined to modern day, noting when the meanings change. Professors and bookish types say FUCK very seriously and shamelessly. 

Episode 2: SHIT - at this point the novelty and humor of bookish types saying SHIT wears off and is surpassed by the humor of how the show just goes there, “there” being over the top. An embarrassment of cursing. 

Episode 3: BITCH - I was waiting for this one, because first it was a bad word, then we took it back, then some women said we don’t want it, thank you, get that word away from me. It was more philosophical than the previous ones, but it does have the best delivery of any joke of the entire series.

Episode 4: DICK - In case you didn’t know, men love their DICKs, and it shows. They love them, and they love the word. Evidently men and their dicks have little conversations on the regular, did you know? Also, there’s a nice bit with resentful narrator Nic Cage.

I have not seen the last two episodes, PUSSY and DAMN, and I really don’t know why they sign off with those two, unless they are going from least acceptable to most (even though I think they posited that SHIT was more shocking than FUCK, my stars no. Not here in Missouri. FUCK Trumps SHIT any day.)

And where, you say, are the two C words? Whither CUNT and COCKSUCKER? The big guns? I can only guess there will be a season two.

Comments

[Lisa]

The hubs and I just saw the trailer for this and can’t wait to see it. You’re “review “ makes me even more excited to see it!

[KC]

(I have not watched this show, but your description made me wonder whether you'd watched any of Drunk History, and if so, whether you enjoyed it.)

[Lisa]

I LOVE Drunk History! So fun! You not only get to learn something you might not have known, but get to laugh at a totally drunk celebrity fall out of their chair and face plant on the floor. I have to say though, my favorite part is watching the actors nail the celebrity’s every word and reaction. (Josh Ritter’s sneezing while infiltrating the KKK has to be my favorite.) Do/have you watched it?

[TheQueen]

Lisa and KC - I really didn’t expect to like Drunk History at ALL, but Friend #3 gave it such a glowing review I had to watch one episode. As expected, I didn’t like the drunkenness, but I loved the rest of the cleverness - the way they subtitled the drunken slurring verbatim in place names and other screen text, and the masterful lip syncing. I hear they were starting season seven when Comedy Central cancelled it permanently.

[KC]

Yes! I also do not enjoy the drunkenness, but man, they did a really spectacular job.

Incidentally, there is a series somewhere where a crew on a mocked-up set recreate Star Trek episodes based on peoples' memories of them, and it is *also* hilarious, but different, and far less polished. But I enjoyed part of an episode *having not even seen that Star Trek episode* so there may be promise. (I can't watch much, though, so I only get snippets of things to base my opinions on.)

[TheQueen]

KC - that sounds amazing. I can’t seem to find it in the internet, given that it’s weighted heavily on Star Trek anyway. I’ll ask my brother, he might know

[TheQueen]

KC - Dave says it’s Star Trek Continues, but they aren’t recreations but extensions. Maybe?

[KC]

Yeah, I can't find it either. Maybe someday I will run across it again, if it has not been taken down for copyright violation (and if it was not something I literally dreamed, but... I think it wasn't?). In that case, I will let you know where they are!

They were definite Drunk History sort of things, with someone trying to remember how an episode went and people acting it out, but again: only snippets, because motion sickness. But amateur, not pro. And I have no idea where. Sigh.

[KC]

FOUND IT! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onBKTTEjAeI is the first episode. I have no idea which episode I saw, but my brain alerted at the Enterprise-on-a-string-with-beer at the beginning.

It is 100% not as professional as Drunk History. But still: free entertainment.

[TheQueen]

KC - thank you! I like the headgear - the bald cap, the curly hair they put on whoever is Troi, and especially the Ferengi ears. But a) i think It would have been funnier if I had seen more than three episodes of TNG (I was an Original Series gal) or if b) the drunk people were not so amused by themselves (I know, I see the irony). Drunk History drunks are more earnest.

[KC]

Yes, I am pretty sure that it is funnier the more Star Trek you have seen (and if you had seen and remembered the episodes they were "aiming for" then that would probably be the maximum entertainment)(but: not the people who are so impassioned about Star Trek that it cannot be allowed to be mocked, ever).

And yes, Drunk History is just plain amazing and Best In Class, so far as I know. :-)

[Lisa]

Yes! I saw this some time ago! (The hubs came across it.) I can remember watching it as a kid (the first time around) as my dad LOVED that show so I agree, if you’ve watched the show it’s even funnier. We actually got and watched the series awhile back and it was oddly a sort of comfort watch for me (lost daddy in 2000), but there’s no denying the unintentional comedy aspect. GORN! (And I’m amazed at how many shows around that time (Wild, Wild West anyone?) used that same set. Too funny!

[TheQueen]

KC - I hear that the Star Trek lawyers really hate it when people parody Star Trek. Someone built a realistic model and they made him take it down, I think? That must have hurt.
Lisa - oh I hataaaaaaaed Wild Wild West. Still do. Tv show and movie. Not even Kenneth Branagh could save the movie.