It’s that time of the month again. You just sat on your couch or jumped to bed to watch something. You browse through three or four catalogs from your streaming services and nothing tempts you. You need something short and sweet, with a couple of laughs and a witty approach. Well, look no further, as Cunk on Earth has just arrived at Netflix.
This collaboration between Netflix and BBC was originally released on this network on September 2022 and now has landed in the streaming service with five half-hour episodes to binge-watch. The show follows Diane Morgan in the role of Philomena Cunk, the host of a mockumentary about world history. This character originally saw the light on Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, a British comedy review program. The character’s particular take on hosting informative (ish) segments spawned this whole new series that you can enjoy now on Netflix. Here’s why you should add it to your list.
It’s a Mockumentary with Typical British Humor
Mockumentaries parody the solemnity of documentaries with comedic twists. It was popularized by many great comedians such as Monty Python, or Eric Idle’s The Rutles. For US TV shows, The Office, Abbott Elementary, and Parks and Recreation are just some of the most prominent examples of this hilarious subgenre.
The premise is very simple: it’s a documentary of human history starring a very ill-informed and ignorant host named Philomena Cunk. The series ticks all the boxes of a typical documentary: on-spot segments, reenactments, and interviews with experts. Cunk goes through relevant historical moments, from the birth of religions to AI, all with poor interpretations of facts and unprofessional and anachronistic statements that constantly break the more serious tone of the narrative.
The five episodes cover ancient civilizations, traditional religions, the renaissance, war, and current technology and culture. Diane Morgan leads the way through this travel in time by messing the facts with a series of running facts. The experts interviewed are usually baffled by her ridiculous ideas, trying to humor even her most raucous comments. Her questions usually turn to long commentaries on her daily mishaps or those of her intimate circle. Plus, she tends to reproduce the most controversial prejudice on each of the topics she is covering.
Curiously enough, and part of the charm of it, Cunk on Earth gets its facts right. This means, there is a lot of relevant and well-concocted information on the subjects covered, but it’s the voice of Philomena that tends to send them astray. This means that, in the end, if the documentary was hosted by a different and more traditional presenter, the humor would just vanish from the show.
Diane Morgan’s Comedic Style Is On Point
The recipe for a good satire requires a couple of elements to work. One of them is probably a funny and well-written character. That’s why Philomena Cunk is simply the perfect fit for this series. Diane Morgan delivers a marvelous performance of a naive documentary host who is occasionally lovable and other times unbearable.
Her character reminds viewers of a typical British narrator. Her delivery is solemn and formal, while her ideas are completely ridiculous. She insists on pushing conspiracy theories or very personal points of view on an otherwise well-researched piece that she fails to acknowledge. She takes herself too seriously, appalling expert interviewees who try to remain true to the facts. The result is simply hilarious, and the style is typically British.
The Documental Aspect Is Perfect
As mentioned, the humor of Cunk on Earth comes from the contrast between the perfect depiction of a superb documentary and the mediocre delivery of an unqualified host. To preserve the style of the genre, Diane is seen in amazing locations such as ancient caves, castles, and many other relevant historical settings. Despite some green screens being involved (and joked about, too), the scenes are still beautiful, just like you would see in a lavish documentary series. This is probably because of the touch of the BBC, a partner producer of the series, which knows its documentaries.
Furthermore, the show is based on world history, so the images seen are quite diverse. Philomena finds herself in cities in Europe, America, and many more, shot in a narrative way to accompany Cunk’s absurd commentary. The reenactment pieces also serve as very small sketches that you would see on the BBC, NatGeo, or Discovery Channel if it wasn’t for Philomena’s scandalous interventions.
Cunk on Earth manages to nail both the comedy and the documentary aspects with a witty approach. It is the perfect combination of clever writing, talented performances, and precise production. The result is ideal for anyone who enjoys mockumentaries, especially with a pinch of English humor. Plus, the short length of the series and each episode makes it binge-worthy. As we hope for a second season, Cunk on Earth has a lot of replay value and the potential to become a cult-classic series on Netflix’s comedy roster.