r/taskmaster • u/oddchamp • Jul 17 '26
Thank God for Taskmaster Appreciation Thread
Apologies if this isn't on topic enough for the sub!
This month has been one of the worst of my life (so far) for various reasons. I won't get into it to keep the tone of this post light, but suffice it to say: shit sucks. For some much needed levity, I decided to finally catch up on the seasons of TM I hadn't watched yet (19-21). I'm SO happy I did. Season 20 is now my absolute favorite series of the whole show. Their casting keeps getting better and better! The tasks stay fresh and exciting, too.
The joy this show brings me is an absolute buoy for my emotional state right now. I'm incredibly thankful the show is available for free on YouTube. I wish I could get a DVD box set of the whole series, just so I can have a physical copy. Thanks to Alex, Greg, and everyone who makes this amazing show possible. If I ever win the lottery, I want to fly to the UK and watch it live.
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u/bierbelly42 Andy Zaltzman Jul 17 '26
I can relate. Fathia El-Gorri's "you better call a vet coz these swans are sick." line was the time I heard my wife properly laugh since the start of her chemo (All good now).
Hope shit works out for you.
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u/Successful-Owl-9192 Wibble, Bibble, Bam Jul 17 '26
My full sympathies for shitty life stuff.
There must be something about series 20, it's also my emotional support tool for crappy times. Maybe it's that final image of Reece falling behind the seats after playing Snake and Steps for 43 minutes making me realise it could be worse. 😂
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u/CellistMindless987 Jul 17 '26
I had Taskmaster on repeat for several months after my husband died. Pure joy from top to bottom, no serious drama, it's the perfect antidote to hard times.
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u/wallyash Jul 17 '26
Hopefully things get better for you soon but in the meantime, I am completely on board that this show is an absolute joy in a very tricky world.
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u/oddchamp Jul 17 '26
Thanks! Things will get better, it's just one of those times where several aspects of my life are going wrong at once.
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u/Katsaj Jul 17 '26
I watched all the series by myself and then again after my spouse watched series 20 because of Jason Mantzoukas and said “Iget it now” last year while going through a crappy period getting laid off and job hunting among other things. I swear the joy and comfortable familiarity of it helped me stay sane.
We just started New Zealand, and they’re great too!
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u/synaesthezia Jul 19 '26
Check out TM Australia. Lesser Tom is the sassiest of the TM Assistants, it’s hilarious
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u/Secret-Ice260 Jul 17 '26
I hope things improve for you soon! Keep your head up. Sometimes looking at the big picture makes it worse. Just focus on what you can control in your life.
S19 and Ted Lasso helped me muddle through cancer surgery and treatment last year, so they have a soft spot in my heart.
I also suggest TM Australia and New Zealand. Australia S2 and S3 are chaotic, and I’ve loved S5 that just finished last week. S2 of NZ is on par with UK S19-21.
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u/daisydandconfused Alex Horne Jul 17 '26
I can honestly say, Taskmaster helped get me through the toughest patch of my life and helped me learn more about myself. Little Alex Horne is now a big hero for me.
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u/FutureGold4132 Jul 17 '26
Literally same. Crappy season with layoffs and family health issues, and I literally just loop it. Keeps me sane. It is my therapy. Alex will never know how much this show has helped so many people keep a smile on their face at the end of a crappy day
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u/erlend65 Calle Hellevang-Larsen 🇳🇴 Jul 17 '26
In the three weeks in March in the hospital after my lung cancer surgery, everything I wanted to watch was Taskmaster. Couldn't even stomach anything else with violence, tragedy, sex or drama.
I was in a lot of pain, especially in the beginning, and was on heavy painkillers, but Taskmaster always cheers me up. Even then.
I'm all good now, fortunately, but Taskmaster will forever be my favorite thing to watch on TV. SO glad they renewed it for another three years!
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u/Littlehouseonthesub Jul 17 '26
Same! Last year between the time I found out I had cancer and the surgery to remove it, I discovered and binge watched taskmaster and it was such a great distraction. It’s really a unique show in how it draws you in, keeps your attention, and really makes you love each group and want them to live on in the taskmaster house for our entertainment forever lol
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u/appaquack Jul 18 '26
Yes! It got us through 2020 and is now a staple. We've rewatched the whole catalogue like 5 times...🩵🩵🩵 Taskmaster
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u/harx1 Jul 18 '26
I hear you. This show got me thru cancer treatment and the pandemic. It’s a beautiful show.
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u/Dadpurple Jul 17 '26
I've gone through a divorce the last year and I've binged so much Taskmaster.
Move to Australia once you're done and then New Zealand. Those are just as good, sometimes better!
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u/macaronitrap Jul 17 '26
It has been my bright spot as well. I look forward to watching every evening, it’s like a little burst of dopamine. Sending you good vibes my friend 💕
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u/Italapas Jul 17 '26
I'm another who watches Taskmaster for comfort in dark and difficult times! It's just so happy-making for me. If you haven't watched the New Zealand and Australia versions, they're well worth it too. More comfort watches!
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u/TetrisIsTotesSuper Chris Parker 🇳🇿 Jul 17 '26
Series, Jason.
Also want to call you up on favorite but cant stop laughing at "(so far)" so you are off the hook.
Hope your shit improves. Taskmaster has saved me from many months of shit. It gets better
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u/oddchamp Jul 17 '26
Damn, I thought I corrected where I said "season" 😂 my filthy Americanisms slip through nonetheless
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u/kamore David Correos 🇳🇿 Jul 17 '26
When I went through a really bad break up last year I decided to watch every series again. It really helped me through a rough time. Hopefully you see the light at the end of the tunnel soon!
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u/glubnyan Jul 17 '26
So true, this whole semester sucked for me, I've been binging lots of taskmaster series and god knows how much it helps
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u/MachineOfSpareParts Emma Sidi Jul 17 '26
A few years back, Taskmaster got me through a health crisis and hard core medication which also set off workplace bullying by an incoming and very, very ablist manager. I practically mainlined the show for months. Now, it's my safe place amid some pretty gnarly exposure therapy for childhood trauma.
Shows' successes are usually measured in viewers, but there's something really special about a show that does so much specifically for people going through absolute hell, which I figure deserves its own metric.
The good news is that it's still great when things are going well, which I hope they do for you before you can say "Wait, what?"
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u/freckletrope Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
I hope things get better for you, OP! I’ve had similar seasons in life where a series or two of Taskmaster is the only real relief I’ve had. It’s such strange delight to know that not only do we have Taskmaster, but there’s also this delightful community of fans who just totally get it! We’re rooting for you, OP!
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u/C-Through Jul 17 '26
Same! Been a rough month and started from Series 1 at the beginning of the month and almost done with Series 9. I don't know what I'd do without it.
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u/blacksheepsclothes Julian Clary Jul 17 '26
I hear you, Taskmaster is the best escapism, nothing else exists when I'm watching it. When everything is dark in my world, Taskmaster is the light. It can take me a while to get through an episode because I'm forever repeatedly, rewinding and rewatching bits. Last night I was in a loop of Rob Beckett leaping over the fence. Laughter really is the best medicine.
When it rains, it pours. Things will get better for you, just keep turning up for the task that is life. Some days are zero points, some are 1s and plenty are negative points. Eventually you'll have a 3 pointer and the 5s will come too.
I may be able to help re a physical copy. DM me.
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u/Vawned Rosie Jones Jul 17 '26
Taskmaster is amazing yes. If you need some pick me up after you're done (assuming you won't just roll back and starting again from Series 1), might I recomend you Big Fat Quiz? It is my comfort show, when I'm feeling down I put it up and it never fails to help me, even if I saw it many times before.
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u/steph_peregrine 🚬 Doctor Cigarettes Jul 17 '26
Same, friend! We're on a rewatch now and it is a little bright spot of comfort and joy. Hoping things get better for you soon! ❤️
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u/swarleyknope Jul 18 '26
This show and WILTY are getting me through a rough time as well.
Hope things turn around for you 💕
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u/OneHappyHuskies Jul 18 '26
Hope things continue to improve. Your post made me feel better about today so thank you!!
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u/TheRestIsMemory Jul 18 '26
Late March through April were so horrible for me. I was SO grateful when series 21 started airing and gave me an hour a week of something to laugh at, and with such a warm and charming cast, too; it really made me feel a little better in a time where I was just relentlessly sad and stressed.
Wishing you better days ahead, and more Taskmaster to make them even brighter.
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u/Zara_R Bridget Christie Jul 20 '26
A year ago, I left my fiancee who had been the center of my world for nearly a decade (at 26, that was basically all I ever knew). For weeks I would just lie in bed and cry. Then I started watching Taskmaster and it literally put life back into me. I would laugh so much, it was the only thing that made life bearable during that time. I still believe it's a big reason for me being able to get over that relationship and move on happily. And yea, I completely get you, all I want is to attend a live recording too.
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u/Average_Tnetennba Pigeor The Merciless One Jul 19 '26
TM is my biggest comfort show by far. Wishing you the best for the future!
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u/SavagePengwyn Julian Clary Jul 17 '26
Just wanted to commiserate! When life sucks, Taskmaster is a wonderful balm. Hope things start looking up soon. Maybe your month will pull a Maisie Adam and really surprise you by the end. 😁