Came across a channel that just plays Perfect Strangers (TV show from late 80s early 90s) and for the most part the show holds up pretty well! I honestly thought it wouldn't, thinking back I was worried it would be mocking immigrants but I feel like it's actually more sympathetic to Balki than Larry - ThreadSky

diabolicalplots.com • 71 days ago

Came across a channel that just plays Perfect Strangers (TV show from late 80s early 90s) and for the most part the show holds up pretty well! I honestly thought it wouldn't, thinking back I was worried it would be mocking immigrants but I feel like it's actually more sympathetic to Balki than Larry

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diabolicalplots.com•71 days ago

Yes many of the jokes are Balki getting English colloquialisms slightly wrong but honestly that's pretty relatable to anyone who has tried to learn another language. And when Larry and Balki are in conflict, Larry is almost always greedy and selfish and wrong and Balki is in the right.

diabolicalplots.com•71 days ago

Not to say every part of the show holds up to scrutiny, one episode they were volunteering in a hospital and they had a very long fatphobic sequence played for laughs that I would rather have done without. (moving an unconscious fat patient in ways that would cause injury in real life)

diabolicalplots.com•71 days ago

If the show has any criticism at its core it could be how capitalism encourages selfishness and lack of empathy (as embodied by Larry) who sometimes is affectionate to Balki but more often prioritizes his own desires over any need of Balki's.

diabolicalplots.com•71 days ago

In that same episode Larry is trying to get interview with athlete who refuses interviews, so volunteers at hospital where athlete is having surgery and tries to interview the athlete while still loopy from medication and without even telling him it's for publication. (gross!)

ranylt.bsky.social•71 days ago

I haven't seen that since it aired, but I had the same impression even then.

diabolicalplots.com•71 days ago

I did at the time but I was also like single digits years old at the time and I dont think I had any close friends who learned english as a second language. Many shows i liked at the time are unwatchable now.

diabolicalplots.com•71 days ago

So the testimony of my childself is not generally to be depended upon for me!

ranylt.bsky.social•71 days ago

🤣

ranylt.bsky.social•71 days ago

They are indeed few and far between.

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