Comedy vs. Realism: The delicate balance of medieval fantasy

[SamuelKeller]

I loved A Knight's Tale, just going to say that now. I found the references to modern times hilarious and well-done, but could respect the aspects of the films that were accurate (I'm a history geek). 

My question is: which is better, realism or comedy? A Knight's Tale did fairly well balancing both, but some media go straight to comedy (The Emperor's New Groove, Gintama, Shrek, Monkey Island) or they go so far into realism it becomes darker than my future (Dark Souls, Game of Thrones, Berserk). If I had to choose, I'd pick comedy any day of the week, but that's because I love writing it and it makes me feel good. 

Agree? Disagree? Both? Leave a reply!

 

[Julien Brightside]

Always thought Monthy Python did a good job with portraying medieaval times in The Holy Grail.

I`m a sucker for Game of Thrones and Berserk though.

I can't really say if one is better than the other.

 

[Pahhur]

I think that's a case by case thing. Usually you want to decide early on, am I making a comedy or am I making a drama? If you are making a comedy, avoid breaking time period unless the joke is super solid. If you are making a drama, you don't break the reality of the story for a joke.

You are kind of trying to compare apples and oranges here. Some people prefer apples to oranges, some people the reverse, but everyone probably eats a bit of both.

 

[jwideman]

I absolutely despised A Knight's Tale because I found the elements you call "hilarious" completely out of place. It wasn't funny to me, just stupid.

Comedy OR realism are both fine with me, equally. I love Game of Thrones and I love The Holy Grail. They are totally different things though and don't belong together in the same movie.

 

[Wavelength]

Game of Thrones (the TV series, at least) has a pretty healthy amount of comedy, between the witty banter, situational irony, callbacks, and even the occasional slapstick.  It's just that the show never breaks character nor setting (nor the fourth wall) in presenting this humor.  This is an example I think a lot of TV - not just period pieces - could learn from.

Games are a little different, because there's already a slight element of disconnect (immersion-breaking) that arises from the abstractions that are necessary to give the player control over the game.  I feel like that setting-breaking and fourth wall breaking is more forgivable in the game format.