1000 Ways to Die

 “The stories portrayed in this show are based on real deaths and are extremely graphic.” Each episode of 1000 Ways to Die includes reenactments of five or six seemingly one-of-a-kind deaths. While the writers claim the stories are true, they are usually embellished and spun to make the victim appear to have had it coming to them. Most viewers of this show will most likely not care about realism, as the deaths are so out of the ordinary to begin with. 1000 Ways to Die can be an interesting and entertaining television show, but is not for those with weak stomachs or fragile emotions.

1000 Ways to Die is filled with dark humor. In the reenactments, narrator Ron Perlman will often mock the victims for their stupidity. The characters are usually introduced as someone who is making extreme errors of judgment, a mean person, or just an all around creep. Each victim is generally introduced as such so that the viewer can watch them die without remorse. These characters include criminals, drunks, and cheating spouses. One death consists of a rapists with a pace maker being magnetically sucked into hitting an MRI machine. The death was loosely based off of the death of an innocent 6-year-old child.

To keep the show from seeming overly morbid, medical experts describe the causes of each death, and often the mindsets of some of the victims. It is interesting information, but nothing that is going to help you pass your anatomy exam. It is entertaining nonetheless.

The shows biggest flow would have to be the horrible use of puns. Each death is given a pun title, and Perlman will throw in a few tacky puns during his narrations as well. The pun used for the MRI incident was “M-R-Ouch”. The title “Die-Agra” was used for the death of a man who overdosed on Viagra.

Despite all this I find myself wanting to watch it constantly. The show is also quotable with a few good one liners here and there. If it was not for all the scientific explanations 1000 Ways to Die could almost be considered dumb television.

There are many different actors, so the same actor never multiple parts in a single episode. However some of the actors are not very good, almost to the point of laughter at times. Still it is better than the confession that would be caused by using only a few really good actors.

1000 Ways to Die is not for the over sensitive. Ron Perlman does not shy away from questionable comments either. During the reenactment about the death of an airplane stowaway, Perlman says “back before 9/11, security was a joke.”

Since there is no plot or storyline, the episodes of 1000 Ways to Die can be watched in any order. You can watch the entire series backwards and still get the same entertainment out of it.

While it is not going to win an Emmy, 1000 Ways to Die can be an entertaining show. 1000 Ways to Die is almost like a horror show without a storyline or plot. It is definitely not for everyone, but the show had me hooked. The embellished stories make the show better, and the scientific explanations are interesting. If you can get passed the graphic material and cheeky puns, this show is worth a try.