Yes, how dare they do something interesting.

The fiends.

This was amazing, what are you talking about?

I hope you're only 1 starring this for the depression factor, cause otherwise you're a dolt.

Yeah, because pathos and comedy should never be mixed and the audience never surprised or challenged.

Were you laughing at the senile old man and then they spoiled it for you by pointing out that that you were laughing at a senile old man?

It isn't in an otherwise fun show. It's a completely out of context clip on the internet.

Also genre bridging can be excellent, but its hard to pull off. These guys do it superbly.

Furthermore, adding comparison to lesser acts, this is exactly the sort of sketch that Little Britain would've hammered into the ground and made a weekly affair, and here M&W take it and reverse the comedy dictum that the weak must be hilarious, to brilliant effect.

Assuming Holmes was in his early 50s in 1885, and this sketch takes place in the World War I era (as evidenced by the nurse's uniform), I think it's not out of range.

Are you trying to correct David Mitchell's OCD understanding of history? That's funny.

I'm just saying that if you go by the assumption that THIS ONE ROOM is quaint and Victorian to suit Holmes' preferences, and the nurse is wearing a WW1 era uniform, it makes a lot of sense.

Why would you assume Holmes was in his early 50's in 1885? He at most would have been in his late twenties. Considering he relates to Watson a story from when he vacationing from university sometime in the mid to late 70's. (The story of the Gloria Scot I believe)

Well sure, there are a lot of videos that are funny only the first time, and after you've heard the jokes they no longer ...

... Oh. Oh, I see.

3:58

That has ominous undertones.

Indeed.