Mae Martin: SAP-720P

Mae Martin: SAP-360P

Mae Martin: SAP-480P

Mae Martin: SAP_720p(480P)

source: Mae Martin: SAP

I have been a big fan of Mae's for a long time now, having first seen them on Russel Howards Good News years ago (back when they did comedy songs with a guitar), I was also lucky enough to see them live in Brighton just before the pandemic. I am not sure why, perhaps the editing or pacing, or just the material itself, but this just didn't hit the mark as much as usual. It felt slightly awkward, subdued and stunted. By no means a bad comedy special, but never reaches the heights of their previous material in my opinion. Raises a few giggles and had me smiling throughout, but never really laughing out loud. If your are a fan of Mae's its obviously worth checking out, just don't expect too much!

I was excited to see that Mae Martin had a Netflix special; I enjoyed Feel Good and find Mae charming and likable. I thought the special would be an opportunity for Mae to showcase their talents as a comedian because the content of Feel Good was mostly autobiographical. This is a disappointing special. There are some rambling mildly amusing anecdotes, but there aren't any funny lines. I don't think I laughed once watching the entire thing. I still like Mae's style and personality and find them sincere and amusing, but this isn't comedy. This is like watching a monologue of a person who I would find interesting to talk with at a party. It's also sad that Mae calls out comedians like Louis CK and Dave Chapelle in a desperate attempt to score political points when they can't get a laugh from their audience. If you're going toe-to-toe with some of the GOATS then you need better material.

I want to give a disclaimer that this is a very specific brand of comedy. The kind that feels like you're staying up all night talking and laughing with a new friend who's miraculously weird in the same way you are, and you're experiencing true, unadulterated human connection. This type of comedy reminds me of Hannah Gadsby or Mike Birbiglia: focused on the relational comedy of how absurd it is to be alive. So for those of us who don't always fit in and who feel a kind of familial connection to the awkward experiences that make us human, this is an excellent show. They have a niche and they absolutely nail it.

I love Mae, they have a unique nervous energy about them. Also they are great with deadpan humor so might be not everyone gets when they are joking. This special is full of that energy and some personal stories, not all of them happy or sappy. And some people may not share all their believes which I suspect is the real reason some people claim this show wasn't funny at all. Because it was, I laughed aloud many times and I bet it was a joy to see live. I hope they get to too many more specials and polish their style even more. I hope this review if finally ok to post because I think this is my fourth time writing and trying to submit it.

Mae has such a charming stage presence. It takes a while to get used to the fact that she's incoherent. She's scattershot. I enjoy the sparkly bits and shimmering shadows she throws out. However, I found myself shifting into the mindset of being her therapist. That's a weird sensation for me to have while watching a comedy special, but I have felt it before. Like in Jerrod Carmichael's Rothaniel, in shows by the brilliant Hannah Gadsby, in multiple specials by Mike Birbiglia. I am a psychiatrist-psychotherapist.(big mouthful that, I know) so it's my job and my passion and my vocation to listen to people who have learned how to free associate. Bottom Line: I Love Mae Martin. Her appearance, her whole personality, her storytelling style.... I'm eatin' it up.