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This scene from Monty Python's Holy Grail came back to my mind: https://youtu.be/DPXG4pdPj4w?t=18 https://youtu.be/DPXG4pdPj4w?t=18

mysterypie 8y ago
> [Monty Python scene of two guards who see a distant hazy image of a knight charging the castle, but do nothing because the image is so distant and hazy, but are surprised when the knight finally arrives and kills one of them] I'm intrigued that you used that particular scene as an example. I've watched a lot of Monty Python and I've seen this movie at least a couple times, but that scene makes no sense to me. I don't get how it's supposed to be funny and why it's even there. It is possible to explain it?
- lowercased 8y ago
  > I don't get how it's supposed to be funny and why it's even there. It is possible to explain it? I think you just covered about 70% of monty python for me. I think much of it falls under "if I have to explain to you, you won't get it". FWIW, I get (and like) a lot of british humour, but really not much of MP.
  - mcbits 8y ago
    I think the humor comes from the shock and incongruity of a "battle" where he's brutally murdering innocent civilians and clueless guards for no reason. He probably could have just sauntered past them all. It's called the WTFLOL Effect (no Wikipedia entry yet).
- kace91 8y ago
  For me the humor lies in the buildup. The music gives you the feeling that a fight is about to develop as soon as he gets closer. Pretty much the only thing you wouldn't expect to happen is for them to be caught off guard.
- Retra 8y ago
  It works like most humor works: it sets up an expectation and then defies it. The expectation is that they see him charging combatively from a mile away. They should be readied for an attack or at least an urgent situation. This is defied by him popping up almost immediately. It's also defied in very "British humor" style, with the characters seriously under-reacting to the situation. Under-reacting to the approaching threat (which conveniently also serves to highlight the distance) and to the attack itself.

mysterypie 8y ago

> [Monty Python scene of two guards who see a distant hazy image of a knight charging the castle, but do nothing because the image is so distant and hazy, but are surprised when the knight finally arrives and kills one of them] I'm intrigued that you used that particular scene as an example. I've watched a lot of Monty Python and I've seen this movie at least a couple times, but that scene makes no sense to me. I don't get how it's supposed to be funny and why it's even there. It is possible to explain it?

lowercased 8y ago
> I don't get how it's supposed to be funny and why it's even there. It is possible to explain it? I think you just covered about 70% of monty python for me. I think much of it falls under "if I have to explain to you, you won't get it". FWIW, I get (and like) a lot of british humour, but really not much of MP.
- mcbits 8y ago
  I think the humor comes from the shock and incongruity of a "battle" where he's brutally murdering innocent civilians and clueless guards for no reason. He probably could have just sauntered past them all. It's called the WTFLOL Effect (no Wikipedia entry yet).
kace91 8y ago
For me the humor lies in the buildup. The music gives you the feeling that a fight is about to develop as soon as he gets closer. Pretty much the only thing you wouldn't expect to happen is for them to be caught off guard.
Retra 8y ago
It works like most humor works: it sets up an expectation and then defies it. The expectation is that they see him charging combatively from a mile away. They should be readied for an attack or at least an urgent situation. This is defied by him popping up almost immediately. It's also defied in very "British humor" style, with the characters seriously under-reacting to the situation. Under-reacting to the approaching threat (which conveniently also serves to highlight the distance) and to the attack itself.