Welcome to Fuckin’ Letterkenny
In 2016 the Canadian equivalency of Comedy Central, aptly named The Comedy Network, aired a show called Letterkenny. Originally made by Crave TV for Canadian viewers, the show was recently picked up by the rising television show titan Hulu. Before the show came to the states it had snippets of episodes on YouTube. These went viral and led to the eventual progression to being accessed by Americans. And Canadians, being Canadians, couldn’t say no to us trying to impede on their comedy.
Canadians are a marriage of English and American customs, and culture. The social nuances are impossible to miss unless, that is, you are Canadian. Like the English they are respectful and polite to a fault, they also smoke more than your Auntie Rosa’s wig that caught on fire last year at the Christmas Party (she has dementia and forgot she was the one who insisted there be candles lit during dinner). But, like Americans, they believe in free expression, small talk is a requirement, and pets can be anything that you want to call yours.
Population: 5000
There are four major types of people in Letterkenny: hicks, skids, hockey players, and Christians. In the first episode, “Ain’t No Reason to Get Excited,” we are introduced to all the major faces of the show.
Wayne
Group Affiliation: Hick
The toughest guy in Letterkenny, or so it once was. His now ex-girlfriend convinced him to stop getting into fights, however, the guy she cheated on Wayne with is a total tool and Wayne decides since his ex is out of his life, he doesn’t have to keep up the stolid act. Enter the old Wayne. A sip of whiskey and undoing the buttons on his flannel’s cuffs is the trademark designation of the beginning of a Wayne fight.
Katy
Group Affiliation: Hick?
Wayne’s ridiculously attractive younger sister who we must assume can never seem to find clothes in her size. She is the brains of most of the operations Wayne and his buds concoct. She also is equal parts instigator and finisher in confrontations and altercations, which shows just how strong her powers of persuasion can truly be.
Daryl
Group Affiliation: Hick
Has his own home, never is there. He even brings his own yogurt over to Wayne’s in the morning and eats his breakfast there. Daryl is oblivious to most of the world around him it seems. He also lives life oddly in his own bubble for someone who is such a follower of the pack. He makes up his own rules, pronunciations, and can be found laughing to himself for no apparent reason. Just him about his four-leaf clover.
Dan
Group Affiliation: Hick
More commonly referred to as “Squirrelly Dan,” he is by far one of the more comical characters of the bunch. It has not yet been disclosed why he is called “Squirrelly” but I dare to suggest it be because of the fact that he adds an “S” to near every word he says. He also has a hidden appreciation for Katy that has yet to be fully disclosed. Her trail mix is on the list, and we can only assume he genuinely means the snack. Easy there, Squirrelly Dan.
Reilly & Jonesy
Group Affiliation: Hockey players
Other than their looks, Jonesy has quite the treasure trail (he’s the one that looks like a Dutch girl), they are near similar in every aspect. They are the hockey bros. They spit their dip, wear flip-flops regularly, bro tanks are almost a requirement, and they don’t seem to have a concept of social norms. Well, any intelligence for that matter they don’t seem to have a concept of. Also, they cannot say a single sentence without saying bro, boys or bud. Go time, boys!
Glen
Group Affiliation: Christian
Pastor Glen to be specific. Leader of the Burning Bush youth group. It is entirely uncertain what Pastor Glen is trying to pass himself off as. He talks of a girlfriend but I am not convinced. Not attempting to be judgmental based on appearances, but if Pastor Glen isn’t gay then the Earth must truly be flat.
Gail
Group Affiliation: Hick? Future crazy-eyed Wayne rapist?
One sexual deviant isn’t enough for this town apparently, they have to have one other person to mix into the chaos. Gail is the only person of color in the show thus far and she is also the most sexual being. She cannot speak, walk, bartend or do anything without making it incredibly uncomfortable for everyone involved. And yes, I do mean everyone, even the viewers. I feel sexually assaulted just watching her be a not-so-smooth operator.
Stewart
Group Affiliation: Skid
The king of his group of emo-goth-electro-geeks is hard to get a true handle on. He appears to want to be included in the other groups of the town while also feeling completely at home with his current posse of equally awkward and weird guys. His level of jittery can only mean drugs to me, he also lives out of his parent’s basement so that doesn’t show a lot of promise of self-stability either.
Backwards Pagentry . . .
Letterkenny is a sleeper show. It came in under the radar and once a larger populace discovers it, it will take off. The show is a pedantic, deadpan, raunchy, quick-wit style of humor. The combination is unsettling because not only does it hit all of these comedic genres, but, it does it well. Especially given the array of characters and personalities the show is working with. Letterkenny manages to be heartwarming while also being unattached at the same time. You may find yourself so caught up in the back and forth between characters that you will have to watch episodes over again to catch even half the jokes. Perchance you have to tinkle I suggest you hit that pause button or you will miss all the good stuff like McMurray demonstrating full Bieber eyes.
If you are looking for something to replace your evening of distributing some free literature then Letterkenny is your swig of whiskey.
Pitter Patter.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb0JdutNULs]