The hilarious comedies you need to watch this autumn with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores
Here are some of the shows that have been tickling viewers' ribs recently
AS the weather gets darker there’s nothing people want more than a bit of lightness in their lives – and thankfully streaming platforms are providing that in the form of comedy.
Several new knee-slappers have been released across Netflix, Apple TV, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ recently.
Here is a guide to which fresh comedies have received the best scores from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes, marking them as binge-worthy shows for the rest of autumn.
Shrinking
This comedy has returned to Apple TV+ for a second season, and it’s already received an impressive score of 96 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Shrinking gives audience members a unique look into the world of therapy by following the story of two unconventional men on the job.
Jason Segel plays Jimmy, a therapist who is dealing with grief in his personal life.
As a coping mechanism he starts pushing the boundaries of his profession by being brutally honest with his patients, often with hilarious results.
Alongside him Harrison Ford stars as senior therapist Paul, who is navigating his own emotional journey as he reconnects with his family after receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
One fan has praised the “amazing writing team” for managing to balance humour in the show with respect for the difficult subject matter the therapists are dealing with.
They added: “Best show ever, you can connect easily to the characters and feel what they are going through.
“Shrinking season two brings us back to the world of characters we got to love in season 1. The chemistry and the acting were excellent and I love the comedy that this show brings.”
Apple TV bosses also recently announced that a third season has been greenlit, so new fans have plenty of upcoming content to look forward to.
Only Murders in the Building
After delivering a knockout third season with guest stars like Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd, the hit show has returned to Disney+ for another run.
Long term fans will know that the comedy follows Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) as they investigate the reason behind suspicious deaths in their block of flats.
In the fourth series that is currently airing, their amateur sleuthing takes a meta turn.
Their true crime podcast has become so famous that it’s being adapted for the screen, with celebrities like Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, and Eva Longoria playing fictional versions of the trio in a hilarious twist.
But while the group is busy navigating the ups and downs of fame, a frightening new mystery emerges.
At the end of season three, viewers saw Charles’s stunt double, Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), shot by a sniper.
It’s clear that the intended target was meant to be Charles – but does that mean that his life is in danger now that the killer took aim at the wrong person?
With another high score of 93 per cent on the Tomato meter, this is another one to watch.
Daddy Issues
The BBC have delivered with their latest sitcom – and it’s been winning over both viewers and critics alike.
This six part series, which features Sex Education’s Aimee Lou Wood as one of the main characters, has been hailed as an instant gem.
Daddy Issues follows the chaotic but endearing relationship between Gemma (Wood) and her father Malcolm, who is played by the legendary David Morrissey.
Both characters are going through tough times – Malcolm is reeling from a recent divorce and stuck in a dodgy flat share, while 24-year-old Gemma faces an unexpected pregnancy.
In an effort to support his daughter, Malcolm moves in with her, only for Gemma to quickly realize that he may not be the ideal roommate.
With a stellar supporting cast including Sharon Rooney, Sarah Hadland, and Taj Atwal, Daddy Issues has been applauded for striking the perfect balance between heartfelt and hilarious.
Fans have been quick to sing its praises on social media, with one viewer calling it “stupid, ridiculous, and delightfully endearing,” while another said, “It’s the best thing I’ve watched in a while. Everything’s just so funny.”
Critics are equally impressed, and Daddy Issues has earned a flawless 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan gave it a glowing review, describing the show as “daft, honest, funny, and tinged with bleakness”, and highlighting its clever twists on familiar stereotypes.
Kevin Can F Himself
For those looking for some laughs with a darker twist, Kevin Can F*** Himself is a must-watch.
This series cleverly alternates between the lighthearted, multi-camera setup of a classic American sitcom – complete with canned laughter – and a gritty, single-camera format that delves into the dark reality of Allison McRoberts’ life.
The character, played by Annie Murphy from Schitt’s Creek, finds herself trapped in a miserable marriage.
Things come to a head when Allison discovers Kevin has drained their shared bank account on the night of their tenth wedding anniversary.
After years of being a doting wife to a manipulative man, Allison snaps and decides there’s only one way to retaliate.
Kevin Can F*** Himself has been praised for its clever genre shifts, as it alternates between being a sitcom style comedy and darker drama.
ABC Radio Australia’s Alexandra Heller-Nicholas applauded Annie’s performance, adding: “Straddling as it does the fluffiness of the orthodox sitcom with something a little more complex – Kevin Can F**k Himself gets the balance just right.”
Meanwhile Roxana Hadadi from RogerEbert.com compared the show’s dark humour to that used in psychological thriller Gone Girl.