Tim Robinson has had one of the most interesting and unique comedy careers in recent memory. Following his brief stint on Saturday Night Live from 2012-2013 as a cast member, he spent the following 7 years in the writers’ room at 30 Rock. During which he created the beloved cult comedy series, Detroiters. Then his hit Netflix sketch show, I Think You Should Leave, catapulted his profile and created a fervent online fan base (the I Think You Should Reel Instagram account has ~900,000 followers). He’s now been gifted the prestige production resources of HBO, and with it, delivered a deliriously funny and engaging comedic thriller in The Chair Company.
Robinson’s previous projects all operated within the confines of a sketch: narrow storytelling and short runtimes. With The Chair Company, he’s expanded the scope of his storytelling 100x and proves that he’s quite capable of creating compelling characters and narratives of depth, that effectively tell a holistic story over the course of an 8-episode season, with side-splitting results. I thought it would be difficult to infuse a show that’s shot and feels like Severance, with the bonkers gags we’ve come to expect from I Think You Should Leave, but it (mostly) works like a charm.
The spell that’s cast on the viewer in this show is quite remarkable because you’re not sure how to process what you’re watching. The Chair Company is a conspiracy story, where Robinson’s character (Will) obsessively tries to unravel the mystery, encountering many crazy characters along the way. But the cinematography, score, editing, all feel like you’re watching the most intense corporate espionage thriller of the year, that then frequently slaps you in the face with the most irreverent gags you’ve never seen before. This extreme juxtaposition is what makes the show so unique and such a fun ride.
As mentioned in the tagline, Robinson’s sense humor is an acquired taste. Observing social media commentary over the years, I know that a lot of people love it, and some absolutely hate it. But what makes The Chair Company successful in, perhaps, converting those who don’t “get” ITYSL, is the time spent in thoughtful world building and character development. It’s not a 5-minute sketch. We’re spending 8 episodes with Will and develop empathy for him, which makes his encounters with the “fish out of water” insane humor relatable, even if it’s total nonsense. As a personal anecdote, my wife Jalisa hated ITYSL, but she really enjoyed The Chair Company.
The Chair Company is the kind of comedy show we should be encouraging and making more of: unapologetically via the vision of its creator that upends conventional boundaries of genre. I can’t wait for season 2.
