MovieChat Forums > The Moaning of Life (2014) Discussion > A rather curious (+ not very good) thing...

A rather curious (+ not very good) thing happened in the Kids episode...


Okay first of all can I just mention, I only discovered this even existed like 2-3 days ago, and you should've seen the smile on my face lol I couldn't believe that there was, more or less, another Idiot Abroad-ish series, and better yet it had all already aired so I could get each one right away.

Anyway, so watching the 'Kids' episode something really stuck out to me. I think Karl had done something he never has before -- he actually started to become unlikeable. I mean all of us that are fans for a long time know pretty much what the deal is with Karl, his approach to the world and his thought process is so bizarre and abstract and unique and brilliant, but even as Ricky used to say, it was originally just coming from a place of ignorance, Karl had no malice in his heart whatsoever. However as fans we also know that probably the single biggest defining personality trait of his, he invariably personifies anything else non-human in a human way (particularly animals). He treats and interacts (or even just talks about) someone/thing else as if they're, say, a typical 20 year old human being.

This all really came to a head for me when he was left alone with the baby. He was asking the kid what was wrong and what his (I *think* it was a boy) problem was as if the kid could actually understand what Karl was asking. And getting annoyed that the kid did nothing but cry. He was so surprised when the baby quiet down virtually the instant the parents came back, but it's not a huge mystery. He was acting incredibly aggressive and combative with the kid. I mean, I could totally see another person watching this program who'd known nothing about Karl Pilkington previously and just think, "oh my god are you kidding me? This guy's a total A-hole! I wouldn't want this jerk off anywhere near my kid, much less hanging out with me at all!" Like we know that for years Ricky and Steve have been calling him an idiot and stupid and all that for some of the things that come out of his mouth, but you knew ultimately the place it was coming from, that it wasn't that fully literal and genuine. But no, here in this particular sequence I've been talking about, even I felt like I'd be walking up to Karl with a dead straight face and go "dude, are you a F'ing MORON?? Do you seriously not see what's faulty in your approach here?"

I mean I don't know, am I totally crazy or off in what I'm saying here? other KP fans, do you agree at all?


EDIT: crap, sorry, totally forgot I'd wanted to include this observation as well. Different subject, but back in the first episode, I was really kind of surprised with that sequence of the arranged marriage meeting. I mean, Karl going to that "pheremone party" is one thing, that's just a meet-and-greet kind of thing, no big deal really. But with the other, I'm like, uhh do they know Karl's got a girlfriend of over a decade?? like seriously, how far are they going here with this? lol It seemed that woman and her family had been looking at him as a very genuine option.

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The first episode was complete garbage. I personally didn't have a problem with what you're taking issue with, but it's by far the weakest of the 5 episodes.

A therapist? Some mother f_cker with a flute who makes a cobra come out of a basket?

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My opinion of Karl didn't change one bit during that episode. He doesn't have kids, he doesn't want kids and he doesn't know how to deal with them. That's Karl for you.

Yeah the marriage thing was a bit strange but I took it for what it was; it was showing us what actually happens when selecting brides in other cultures. I'm sure the other family were made aware that this was just a tv show.

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From what he said in an interview it doesn't seem like the family knew he wasn't truly interested, though he doesn't know for sure if they eventually told them because after the cameras stopped rolling they still wanted all his info and kept trying to move it forward.

As for being offended by anything he did with the baby (or anything he does in general should it ever arise), that's just foolish. I don't think you should be reading anything more into it than what was presented, and you made it sound much worse than it was. Try not to be so sensitive to everything.

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As a mother of 3 small kids, youngest just turned one, I totally get his reaction. Imo a screaming baby is THE absolute most irritating sound in the world. It can make my blood boil and these are my kids! In those moments I'd give anything to make it stop. I'm sure it's even less tolerable if it's not yours. Karl had a very honest and natural reaction for someone who has little experience with babies. I still love him.

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Well I see what you mean... but note also that he keeps saying that he does not want kids. I have seen parents behave the way he does. Imagine kids growing up with parents just "hating them",seeing them as an annoying thing you can't get rid off. I don't think they turn into very good adults.

Also I kept laughing every time he referred to the baby as "it".... a thing.

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