Summary
From blaming Richard Curtis for fancifying London to getting closer to middle age, Fern Brady is an hour of fun in Autistic Bikini Queen, but leaves little lasting impact.
The accent is strong with this one, but don’t let that put you off. The irreverent Scottish comedian Fern Brady tackles big topics like death, decline, and the disappointments of middle age in her Netflix special Autistic Bikini Queen, but her accent certainly helps her comedy shine, especially when doing impressions. You might just need to concentrate a little more than usual.
From all the glamour and fancy editing I’ve seen in recent specials, it’s refreshing to see one that strips it back to basics — a comic performing to an audience and hoping to make them laugh, with no need for props or an underlying theme to carry the audience.
Brady walks out on a relatively small stage in Bristol, the home of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Banksy, for an intimate show. A navy blue backdrop is complemented by hanging lights, and Brady almost blends in with her dark hair and choice of dark clothing. Looking casual and confident, she wastes no time getting straight into her set.
Brady starts her show with jokes about her autism, and how it shapes her and her comedy. From then on it’s riff after riff as Brady keeps a strong pace. Her comic style is a mixture of gags and storytelling and is a mixed bag that will keep you on your toes.
View this post on Instagram
There are some comical jokes about her homeland of Scotland, about her growing old, fearful parenting, being a cat lady, and a lot of relatable ones about being a female. The section on walking while being nervous about your impending murder was funny and oddly insightful.
Whilst her comedy did gain some roaring laughs and applause, these felt few and far between. Some of the content I felt I’d heard before, but it still made me smile.
There are only a few shots of the audience, where we see the back of Brady, and this looked a bit cheap, messy, and unnecessary — it’s a very small audience, and they’re in the dark, so could barely be seen.
If you decide to give Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen a watch to support female comedians, there are some funny, refreshing moments that will make you giggle. However, there isn’t anything specifically memorable here — nothing I will be quoting to my family and friends.
The special is easy and inoffensive — something to watch while chilling with a glass of wine, but while Brady may be A-star autistic, (a joke in her set) Autistic Bikini Queen is B-star at best.
