So, between Steptoe and Son and Till Death do us Part, it's safe to say that the old curmudgeon is a staple of the British sitcom. But I don't think that any series made the pains of old age any funnier than One Foot in the Grave. Essentially it's about retired security guard Victor Meldrew, the grumpiest old man you can imagine. The series, while initially quite benign, is actually one of the more daring and dark Britcoms you'll find. It hides some hilarious black comedy under it's charming suburban setting, and was the subject of a fair bit of controversy because of that. This is what sets it apart from the majority of its contemporaries. Not many series contain episodes with cats in freezers, after all.
There were also a fair amount of concept episodes, like the traffic jam episode, which is outstanding, by the way. Also the final, which, no spoilers, takes a fairly tragic turn, but a typically dark one. Despite the darkness though, the show remains funny. Victor and his wife Margaret are damn good characters, and you actually do believe that these two love each other, even with all of the bickering. They're the heart and soul of the series, and I think that's what grounds the sardonic humour of the series, and also what balances out the darker stuff.
It's that strange charm that allowed this series to run for as long as it did. It's darkly hilarious, oddly endearing and features one of the most put upon old gits ever. All this adds up to a legendary and iconic series, one that even almost 30 years on, is still an incredibly fun watch, and broke new ground with its pitch black humour. Even now, it holds up. Which is damn impressive, considering how badly black comedy tends to date. But One Foot is a really funny show, and one that I don't think will be any less relevant any time soon. If you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat.
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