#derry girls anon

[oifaaa]

I think your Cass cheerleader au is pretty cool. I mean I felt weird about Cass being a cheerleader for a second, but upon examining my feelings, that's because when I think about the various characters being in teenaged education I do imagine them as being in like sixth form in britian. which is my own set of issues lol.

Now that you mention it for some reason I can't imagine American characters being in the UK education system, I can imagine English characters being in the American education (thank you merlin fic writers) but the other way round it's like I don't even know too much of a different genre?

[neil-neil-orange-peel]

I love reading your asks, so I wanted to ask you if you had any favorite female characters from Rik and Ade projects?

Helloooo! Thank you, that's so sweet. ❤️ Let's see... I'm going to single out some TYO characters specifically and then talk more generally. This post is absolutely going to become a big, incoherent mess. 😂

Sue from Sociology is my favourite minor TYO character. Don't get me wrong, I love Helen the Murderess too, but there's something that draws me to Sue. To be fair, I'm just seriously weak for Jennifer Saunders in general, and she's basically done up as a female Rick here, if Rick was actually cool. I like inserting her into fanfic sometimes (okay, once... but I have plans). She's very much a background character for the majority of Interesting, but Interesting itself is one of the first (and only, possibly the only?) time there are lots of women in a TYO scene at once, even if they're not getting to do much. Shout out to Dawn's Christian who gets crushed by the gigantic sandwich too, of course! (As an aside, I find it funny that both Jennifer and Dawn got to strangle/smother Mike on the sofa on different occasions.)

Vyvyan's mum. Pauline Melville pops up a couple of other times in TYO as well, and she's just very good whenever she does. I believe she gave French & Saunders a bit of guidance when they were all on the standup circuit. Vyv's mum is a great character because she's just SO awful. Let female characters be awful! She's so spiky and sharp in every way, and she's probably the only semi-developed female character who appears on the show. I think letting the audience meet her gives Vyvyan a bit of texture and depth - sure, we could imagine any family background for any of them, but we're being told THIS HERE is Vyvyan's. Poor Vyv. Pauline Melville herself, of course, is a prize-winning writer now! The dream.

The devil and her condemned soul is one of my favourite TYO cutaway segments. The condemned soul is Helen Atkinson-Wood, who is most well-known for playing Mrs Miggins in Blackadder the Third. She also has a small role in the Comic Strip episode Consuela (and possibly others, but I looked up the cast list to that one yonks ago because it's my favourite). I wonder if Lise wrote this sketch, considering the subject matter. Either way, Dawn and Helen's delivery is great, especially the faux discrete way Dawn says "period pains". I hope it put stuffy men's heckles up.

Aside from TYO, Jen and Dawn were often the only female presence in the Comic Strip episodes, particularly the earlier ones. Of the first two series, Dawn wrote Summer School and Jen wrote Slags - neither were standout episodes of their series, the kind often recalled today, but with Slags especially, the female characters within them were given more agency and stake in the plot than usual. Jen played five different characters in Happy Families in 1985 - a little gem written by Ben and also starring Ade.

I'd like to give a little shout out to Helen Lederer, who popped up a lot in Rik and Ade's - and French & Saunders' - comic output, while never really being given her own opportunity to shine on TV. Oh, and I'd also like to give a shout out to Marsha Fitzalan, who played Sarah B'Stard in The New Statesman - she did such a good job of playing an intensely flawed, funny female character. There are countless male characters who are basically terrible people - I mean, Alan B'Stard for one - and it's vital women are also allowed to be that awful in comedy.

Comedy has always been a pretty male sphere. Even these days, there are definitely still men Ricky Gervais who believe women can't be funny. Misogyny is still massively prevalent in society. Male comics attract female attention; female comics attract male abuse. That's a simplification and generalisation, of course, but it's broadly true. And I don't see younger generations of men getting better with this, to be honest. Actually, I see them getting worse (thanks, Andrew Tate). Sorry to be all doom and gloom!

When Rik and Ade started out in comedy, women getting to play characters other than wives or the like - that is, straight characters and caricatures there largely for the male characters to bounce off of for their laughs - was still uncommon. Despite the existence of successful female comics across the pond like Lucille Ball, and beloved 1970s sitcom The Good Life having a main cast split evenly gender-wise (I know Richard Briers technically had first credit, but Penelope Keith as Margo Leadbetter was absolutely the funniest of the four of them), there was a genuine belief that women couldn't (and maybe shouldn't) be doing comedy.

Women like Victoria Wood were pushing boundaries in important ways around the time of the alternative comedy boom by writing specifically about women (and, quite often, northern women - which I personally think is important, since Last of the Summer Wine had such a chokehold on portraying almost all of its female characters as ostensibly the same). Her sitcom dinnerladies was both melancholic and hilarious. Her sketch shows and other comic output, quite often featuring Julie Walters (her friend and muse), Celia Imrie, and many others, were all written entirely by her. She was also a gifted pianist and wrote several comic songs.

All of this is to say, Victoria Wood definitely helped pave the way for French & Saunders. She even referred to herself as an alternative comedian in her material. But honestly, I don't think it was until much later that women stopped being regularly restricted to straight roles in comedies created by men (which, of course, most comedies were). This was part of why Absolutely Fabulous, written by Jen, was such a breath of fresh air in the 1990s. For once, every single major character was a woman - men were the scarcity! And Jen has mentioned before that producers would constantly pressure her to write more roles for men. Meanwhile, we can observe that Girls on Top (dubbed the female TYO, which is... sort of true and sort of not), which Dawn and Jen starred in with Ruby Wax and Tracey Ullman in the 1980s, isn't very well-known today. I'm not 100% sure how well it was received at the time, but clearly it wasn't as popular as TYO had been before it. Ruby Wax and Tracey Ullman have both also had successful careers in comedy, but I'd argue that's mainly thanks (particularly in Tracy's case) to opportunities in America.

So I'm not saying women never got to be the funny (also I'm just talking about the UK), but the fact is: if your comedy has a completely/majority male cast, with women only popping up in supporting roles or in guest appearances, it's obvious which characters are going to be better developed, more beloved, and just funnier. I mean, even the Vicar of Dibley, which was obviously written for Dawn and showcases her comic prowess, features a supporting cast of funny men (there was also Emma Chambers as Alice and Liz Smith as Leticia - before she was killed off - but the women were outnumbered by the men). I get that this perhaps fits with the idea of a tiny, slightly backwards village in Oxfordshire - and the fact Geraldine was a female vicar shocking these men was very important to the premise - but still.

We know certain men just REALLY struggle at writing women, too, so they've either done a really bad job or just avoided trying altogether. I do have an example for this, but I don't want to name them since I do love the show they created - it's just, y'know, writing women is definitely not their strong suit! And I'm really not trying to poo poo any shows here by pointing this out. I'm just making observations. All of these comedies I'm referencing here are very old now.

So! To get back to where I started with this!

I love that Lise Mayer was one of the writers of The Young Ones. In some ways, the fact one of the writers was a woman feels pretty incredible for 1982. At the same time, though, it's not surprising that she's often the forgotten one when people talk about who wrote TYO.

Rik and Ade were/are feminists, and it obviously wasn't their fault as individuals that comedy was so male - comedy was also restrictive in other ways before them. In terms of social class and political attitudes, they were definitely something refreshing and new. That said, it wouldn't be until later, with people like Caroline Aherne (who really changed the fundamentals of the sitcom genre with The Royle Family), that working class voices who weren't fucking Bernard Manning actually got some notice in comedy. And I've not even mentioned race in this ramble. If comedy was male, it was even more pale. There were comedies starring black and Asian comics in the 1980s and 1990s that started to break through - The Lenny Henry Show, Chef!, Desmond's, The Real McCoy, Goodness Gracious Me - but there's no denying BAME people, BAME women especially, have had to struggle a lot for a voice in comedy. Comedy is more diverse today than it was 40 years ago. There has been progress. But it's absolutely still male dominated, and still very white, at the top.

Rik was pegged as the golden boy of the alternative comedy movement, and he was and is undoubtedly remembered for so many different comedies. But in terms of pure success and fame? Actually, I think Dawn and Jen have been the standouts of their cohort. I don't think anyone would've predicted this 40 odd years ago - I mean, Christ, Rik had to speak up just to ensure they got equal pay at The Comic Strip. The boys were given their chance to shine first, there's no doubt about that. But it was Dawn and Jen who were the subjects of a BBC documentary last Christmas.

...Maybe there is hope for funny women, after all.

[areseebee]

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2ID8TOoGuc/

[for context: this is a photo from instagram that dylan llewellyn posted with louisa harland on the set of series 2 of the channel 4 show, big boys, which just came out yesterday.]

i know! when i got to 2x06 of big boys and saw louisa harland it was the best kind of jump scare and capped off a truly excellent series 2.

and now i will officially co-opt this ask to be my daily "watch series 2 of big boys, it continues to be a beautiful and heart-wrenching depiction of grief and men's mental health struggles, maturing into your sexuality, nurturing deep and true friendship/chosen family, all while being one of the funniest shows i've ever seen" plug.

[mrsmarymorstan]

except that’s not what derry girls is about and there’s even an interview in the new york times this week relating to that?? derry girls is about violence being so routine and normalized that it’s unremarkable to the characters.

I just woke up so this might be rambly but a show can be about multiple things. And whilst you are correct in that part of the story is about war being so normalised they don't even think about it as out of the ordinary, part of that is also that life continues to go on even in the darkest of times.

Derry Girls is a comedy. One of the first jokes is everyone complaining about being late to work because the IRA are trying to blow up a bridge.

In the early series we see this happen again with the finales. The day they all stand up with Orla and dance on the stage and affirm their friendship is the same day of a fatal bombing. Their happy and smiling, but somewhere out there there's a parent mourning the loss of their child and they will go home and learn the news and cry. But it works the other way around too. The day they get totally embarrassed in front of the whole school, where they have red paint/pig blood poured all over their outfits which they CAN'T return now even though they paid for them on their Mam's credit card is the same day as the IRA ceasefire. They'll go home miserable and fearful of their parents reaction and learn this amazing life saving news!

And yeah, those two ARE related to war, but they're still about life being a balance of good and bad at the same time.

My post in question in fact has nothing to do with war. Because, life continues to happen no matter where you are. That hierarchy of needs is bullshit, just because you can't have safety from violence doesn't mean you can't have glitter eyeshadow and movie marathons with your friends.

My post in question (and spoilers for S3) is about how the day of Clare's first kiss with a girl is the same day her father dies. One thing that is beautiful and exciting and a life affirming! The next is shattering, life destroying and the greatest pain Clare has experienced so far. It was also, random. They live in a war zone and the thing that takes him is his own big, loving heart.

We see Gerry going through the turmoil of needing to tell the girls about Clare's Dad but not wanting to ruin their last few moments of joy at this VIP event!

So I say again, one of the things that Derry Girls shows is that life is not a series of linear events. The best and the worst parts of your life can and will happen at the same time. We don't live within a cozy narrative, things are complicated and ongoing and messy as all hell. That's okay, that's how it should be and that's why you have to take every moment as it comes, because you don't know what moment may be your last. Be it from a bomb, or your own heart. Either way it hurts.

[otherkinotd]

Today's otherkin of the day is Orla, who is monkeykin 🐵

-requested by anon

[werewolfetone]

Did you ever watch Derry Girls? What did you think of it, if so?

I have watched it! certain bits of the show's politics were not my favourite but overall I really really enjoyed it :)

[jennamacaroni]

Derry Girls S3. Netflix. Oct 7.

[catholic-character-tournament]

I know she's not included in the lesbian bonus poll bc she was nominated in a group, but I do want people to know that Clare from Derry Girls is also a Catholic lesbian <3

oh she is? :o we love a lesbian catholic <3

[juanitasupreme]

Did you like the Derry Girls Spice Girls episode?

First and foremost, I loved ALL of Derry Girls episodes! Each Spice Girls making sense was too hilarious

[lambilegs]

Getting shy after realizing that you’re kind of baring your soul through fic is so real of you. But I’m of the belief that that’s exactly what Tumblr.com.gov.edu is for :) Also, the sentence “the home that finally had the pictures hung up.” has not left my brain since I read it. I felt my heart melt when I first read it. You’re such a great writer and I feel like you capture emotion so well in your work. So thank you for sharing your writing with us! It’s lovely!!!

NO FR like I was sitting there like, "... huh, I really just posted that" LMAOOOO but thank you for being understanding!! I def know this is a safe space, which helps a lot with the occasional bouts of shyness.

and omg omg omg stop, I'm actually so touched rn :'') the fact that you remember that line, and it resonated with you, is so touching and means so much to me. I definitely felt a lot when writing the high school!au, since it was very nostalgic and fed off a lot of my own experiences in high school, as well as some of the very tender feelings I had when first experiencing queer love and affection (and for one of my own best friends too HAHA). and omg that is so incredibly kind, thank you so much :(( I mentioned this in another ask, but I've been quite insecure and worried about my writing lately, so your words seriously make me so happy (literally rushed to show my gf this and everything). and I also love writing about emotions and human connection (it's what a lot of my writing even outside this account focuses on), so I can't even express how happy it makes me that you feel I capture emotion well. seriously, all this praise makes me feel so happy and fuzzy, thank you so much :'') and omg ofc!! thank you to you guys for making me feel so comfortable and happy in this community 💓💓

[ham1lton]

Okay, but dream girl!reader and Lewis is so Donna and Harvey from Suits coded. 🥹💗

i have never seen suits? i know who harvey is but what’s their relationship like?

[jonismitchell]

honest thoughts on nicola coughlan?

she’s pretty and talented 💖

[steelycunt]

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRW8CHMh/

thought you would enjoy

fucking sensational

[captainkirkk]

Out of curiosity why no andor? (/gen)

The Empire stresses me out. I know that's a terrible answer and they're literally villains, they're not supposed to make us feel good. But I'm so burnt out from grad school, I don't have the emotional energy for another show that isn't super easy to watch, you know?

[milflewis]

Now that we know Kyle sounds like Max, what do YOU sound like ??

idk. i kinda have the accent that’s similiar to the area of ireland that i’m from but i’ve also been told i sound like i’m from this other county when i get angry which is where my dad is from and that is smth i am Never unpacking lmao. idk how to upload a voice thing on here or i’d do that for you. fran and kyle always tell me that i speak too fast 😔😔 but i slow down when i talk to them so do with that what you will

[imstressedx]

vacation mode James is so babygirl-coded pls more of him

vacation~