On Amazon Prime (after a brief run in Peru) there is a little British gem of a show that only lasted one season and had 6 episodes called “Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace.” It was too dangerous to live, to good to renew, and burned so bright, it out brighted all the other burning objects in it’s area. If the absurdist beginning of this article seems, well, absurd, then you are in for a treat (if you’re entertained) then you should binge “GARTH MARENGHI’S DARKPLACE.”
NO SPOILERS AHEAD
For years Hollywood has been using hospitals as settings like a cheap shop towel you keep reusing to wash your dishes with. St. Elsewhere, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, General Hospital, House, Children’s Hospital, The Good Doctor, and now we should add to the hall of medicine, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace.
GENERAL STUFF
1 season six episodes of supernatural, absurdist parody and camp taking place in the 1980’s. It pokes fun at itself, it realizes what it is, and feels like it could have aired on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. Yes, the comparison to Children’s Hospital should be made, since this is along the same lines and same level of humor, so we forgive you Courdry and Riggle Rob’s for your strong similarities. But, Children’s Hospital is a beauty unto itself and deserves an article about it (one day, when perhaps I have no more ideas The Daily Think will tackle that review.)
AESTHETICS
80’s themed with lots of low budget prop work and strings showing, with a killer Synth theme song sounding like Rick and Morty and haunting music throughout with a Twins Peakesque darkness about it. Don’t expect much for a shoestring budget but get used to laughing at the ingenius use of all of the above! Bonus extra’s look for Stephen Merchant, Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding.
THE STAFF AT DARKPLACE
Garth Marenghi is the Orson Welles of his day, and also the Stephen King of his time. Played by Matthew Holness, he plays Garth and Dr. Rick Dagless or Dag. He is our main guy and he plays it brilliantly with ego, aplomb, and absolute confidence. A shame he hasn’t found a foothold in any other major productions, but he does have peers in Richard Ayoade, Matthew Berry, and Stephen Merchant who have tapped him for additional projects. Some of his best quotes:
“Blood, blood, blood, and bits of sick”
“Author, Dreamweaver, Visionary, plus actor”
“I’m one of the few people you’ll meet who’ve written more books than they’ve read.”
“I predicted by the year 2040 the world would see it’s first female mechanic, and who knows, she might even do a decent job.”
Dean Lerner the producer and one time actor is played ably by the genius of Richard Ayoade. As the show’s investor and producer and as the Darkplace’s Administrator Thornton Reed, his interviews and acting abilities are comedic gold at each turn. Some of his best quotes:
“I never acted before, or since”
“Liz, quit dreaming of lipstick and help me fight these plates”
“This is going to be the most significant television event since Quantum Leap, I do not say that lightly”
Dr. Luicen Sanchez or Todd Rivers, played by the vampire Matthew Berry in his younger days, lends such credibility and showmanship cred to the show that you almost forget that it’s comedy, not the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC for us in the biz.) Some of his best quotes:
“I’ve seen it all before. That’s why I’m going to go and inject some drugs into my face.”
“You can read all the books you want, but none of them will tell you how to be a man.”
“Here, let me cut up your pork pie”
“Bang, goes my hypocritic oath”
Dr. Liz Asher played by Alice Lowe (who’s acting career rivals the entire cast put together) plays a psychic and telekinetic doctor often the butt of the misogynistic jokes, holds her own as the grounded player against her 3 male cast members with her haunting stare and her 80’s hair band video vixen. Some of her best quotes:
“I’m sorry, are you a doctor? No? Then kindly go and suck a fuck.”
“Hello, I just graduated from Harvard College Yale”
THE INFAMOUS SIX EPISODES
- Episode 1 – “Once Upon a Beginning”
Synopsis: Dr. Rick Dagless, MD (played by Matthew Holness) battles a contagious eye infection outbreak caused by a mysterious mist. - Episode 2 – “Hell Hath Fury”
Synopsis: A strange force possesses hospital staff, leading to chaotic and deadly consequences that threaten Darkplace. - Episode 3 – “Skipper the Eye Child”
Synopsis: A series of bizarre occurrences center around a boy with an eye on the back of his head, wreaking havoc in Darkplace. - Episode 4 – “The Apes of Wrath”
Synopsis: Experimental drugs turn test subjects into ape-like creatures, causing chaos and mayhem throughout Darkplace. - Episode 5 – “Scotch Mist”
Synopsis: A deadly fog engulfs Darkplace, unleashing monsters from the past and testing the hospital’s staff to their limits. - Episode 6 – “The Creeping Moss from the Shores of Shuggoth”
Synopsis: An ancient evil awakens beneath Darkplace, threatening to consume the hospital and its inhabitants.
“Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace” thrives on its brilliant cast, and subtle and quick-witted script. Each episode is a testament to their comedic prowess, making it a must-watch for fans of offbeat humor and parody. And it won’t take you long, and perhaps one day, we will get that unreleased season two of this show that is probably in Garth Marenghi’s spacious basement if the “powers that be” will ever relent.
The Daily Think 
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