Characters like Oz from Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

December 3, 2017 11:05 AM

Looking for TV shows and movies with a very specific kind of sarcasm.

I find myself watching the Oz-era Buffy episodes on repeat, and I think I've finally nailed down why.

Most of the time that characters are sarcastic/deadpan, it's pointed and/or mean. Oz's sarcasm is rarely at anyone else's expense. In fact, he's shown to be very sweet and caring.

I find this very comforting and want more shows/movies with characters like this. What should I be watching?

(Thanks for indulging this absurdly specific question.)

posted by frizzle to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

It's not quite the same (a little harsher, a lot more self-pitying), but I get a little bit of this vibe from Jackson in Gilmore Girls.
posted by obfuscation at 11:26 AM on December 3, 2017

I like Michael Shur's sitcoms because they have that loving, people-actually-caring-about-each-other thing going on, while still being hilarious. You might be interested in Brooklyn 99 specifically, since there are two deeply sarcastic and often self-deprecating characters (Rosa and Jake--and Rosa nails the deadpan) who aren't mean about it. But also check out Parks and Rec for Aubrey Plaza's character April, who is basically Daria in human form.
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:50 AM on December 3, 2017 [11 favorites]

Wash in Firefly?
posted by Sebmojo at 12:18 PM on December 3, 2017 [6 favorites]

Mick from Gavin and Stacey plays it really similar, I always think.
posted by threetwentytwo at 12:41 PM on December 3, 2017

The TV show Community (available on Hulu) has lots of sarcasm that seems mean and pointed but despite that the characters are all very sweet and caring toward each other.
posted by ejs at 1:06 PM on December 3, 2017 [1 favorite]

Ben from Parks and Rec.
posted by hazel79 at 1:20 PM on December 3, 2017

I think Leverage might scratch the same itch.
posted by jeather at 1:23 PM on December 3, 2017

Seconding Michael Shur's shows, but specifically The Good Place, and the character of Chidi Anagonye. His sarcasm is generally pointed at himself, if it's pointed at anybody, or at the universe in general, and is very gentle and somewhat befuddled. He might scratch your Oz itch.
posted by tzikeh at 8:32 PM on December 3, 2017

Ellen from the 90s Ellen sitcom?
posted by watrlily at 12:16 AM on December 5, 2017