Bret organizes a gang to protect himself from rappers he dissed in a song; Murray and Jemaine confront a group of Aussie bullies; Mel paints a portrait Jemaine can't get rid of.
WAR
126
Wins Above Replacement
“The Tough Brets” ranks #8 of 22 Flight of the Conchords episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 95.6 — Elite. The episode packs 80 scored jokes at 2.6 per minute, averaging 7.6 on craft and 7.5 on impact, with Bret landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Jemaine: Death?
Murray: Yeah, or worse. Isn't it the same way with rappers back in newfoundland?
Bret: I'm not sure.
Murray: New zealand.
Murray Bret Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jemaine · Murray · Bret: 'Stay Cool, Bret' song — Jemaine and Murray trying to calm Bret, then pivoting to their own anxieties: 'Not gonna sleep till I found him / I'll pound him, I'll bet he regrets / He ever messed with Bret from the tough Brets!'
some people say that rappers don't have feelings
we have feelings
Bret Jemaine Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Mel: I made one of Bret, but it came out a little weird, so don't tell him, okay? It came out x-rated, actually... some shadowing on the crotch got out of hand
Mel Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Murray: He's lovable. Leave him alone.
Murray Bret Character Comedy Misdirection Escalation ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 80 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Bret: eminem is not very good
Bret: 50 cent is not very good
Bret: Snoop dogg is not very good
Bret: mos def is not very good
Bret: but the rhymenoceros is very very good...
Bret Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Bret: bass solo. Bass solo over.
Murray Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Murray: Greg's written this. He's put the rs too far apart.
Murray Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Callback Murray: Texas, Lexus... two rhyming words. Do you think you could use those?
Murray: You can make sound, just make it so that people can't hear you.
Bret: No, it was Snoop dogg.
Murray: I know he's a dog, Bret.
Murray Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Murray: He's lovable. Leave him alone.
Murray Bret Character Comedy Misdirection Escalation ★ Rewatch Murray Greg Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Murray: What's wrong with that guy? Useless. What does he do all day?
Murray: You didn't hear that, did you, greg?
Murray: Good, so he didn't hear that last bit.
Murray Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Murray: That's how you diss someone. Did you see what I did there? I didn't start a fight with greg, I didn't hurt his feelings. Greg's got feelings.
some people say that rappers don't have feelings
we have feelings
Bret Jemaine Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Bret Jemaine Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Bret: I feel like a prize asshole, no one even mentions my casserole
Bret: you could've said something nice about my profita rolls
Bret Jemaine Character Comedy Absurdist Observational ★ Rewatch Jemaine: and the assistant suggested I try a ladies' size
Bret Jemaine Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jemaine: I'm not gonna wear a ladies' wetsuit, I'm a man
Bret Jemaine Character Comedy Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jemaine: get me a small man's wetsuit, please
Jemaine: they forgot about me
Bret Jemaine Callback Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Callback Jemaine: the day after my birthday is not my birthday, mom
Bret: they're all lined up to watch that movie 'maid in manhattan'
Bret Jemaine Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist Bret: they're all lined up to watch that movie 'maid in Manhattan'
Murray Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Jemaine: once again, they forgot about j
Murray Character Comedy Escalation Absurdist were you ever called 'homo' because at school you took Drama?
Murray Bret Setup/Punchline Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist have you ever been told that you look like a llama?
Bret Jemaine Running Gag Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Jemaine: Death?
Murray: Yeah, or worse. Isn't it the same way with rappers back in newfoundland?
Bret: I'm not sure.
Murray: New zealand.
Murray Bret Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Murray: I heard of one rapper... he chopped this guy's whole body off, just left the dick behind.
Jemaine: Don't you mean they... they chopped off his dick?
Murray: No, I mean they held his dick and chopped his whole body off. That's all he was in the end... a dick.
Dave: Do I have gang experience? I was in the snake eyes, the duckies, the cuckoos, the vampires, the pharaohs, the ballroom dancers, the hobo lords, the little enchanters...
Dave: I was a navy seal for 15 years.
Bret: Okay.
Dave: I'm officially awol, so don't ask them about my existence, 'cause they'll deny it.
Dave Character Comedy Absurdist Escalation Mrs. Li: He says you have a kind face.
Dave Bret Character Comedy Escalation Absurdist Callback Dave: watering can tied to a hose. Pop! Cops show up, 'what's that, officer? No, just watering the geraniums.'
Australian: Oh no. A kiwi?
Kiwi: Oh no. Uh-oh.
Australian: Australian. Uh-oh.
Australian: Murray, I think you dropped new zealand's mineral exports for '08-'09.
Dave Murray Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Setup/Punchline Just pulling your tit.
Yeah, just pulling your boob.
Bret Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist Dave: I'm available most days after 6:00 but not weekends... and I can't say why.
Bret: Dinner with your parents?
Dave: Huh! No.
Johnnyboy Visual Gag Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Bret: I have a bladder thing.
Mel Jemaine Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Escalation Mel: You don't like it. No, you don't. You practically admitted that you don't like it.
Mel Character Comedy Escalation Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Mel: so you can see how strong and powerful you are, like the God ra... the sun God ra... or like a pharaoh.
Mel: I made one of Bret, but it came out a little weird, so don't tell him, okay? It came out x-rated, actually... some shadowing on the crotch got out of hand
Mel Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Bret: We were just expecting missy Elliot was gonna come and chop my body off.
Murray: This gang is disbandoned.
Bret: No. Dis... what?
Murray: Disbandoned.
Bret: Disbanded you mean?
Murray: Abandoned? Yup, all of those things.
Jemaine Bret Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Absurdist Jemaine: Yes. Who was in your gang, you and your mom?
Murray: No, Jemaine. It was me, my brother graeme, and my dad Gordon. Mom wasn't even allowed in it. No one knew why.
Murray Bret Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Murray: Dad was the leader, graeme found nice places for us to ride to and I was the guy that looked after the bags.
Jemaine: I had to throw it away! Because Bret was jealous.
Mel: Really? Was he going apeshit?
Jemaine: He went apeshit.
Mel: I swear on Doug's life I will fix this rift.
Murray Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Callback Callback Australian: Miss new zealand... best looking Sheila in the whole country. Sorry, I didn't recognize you without the crown and sash.
Ambassador: But I thought flossy the sheep won miss new zealand every year.
Murray Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Jemaine: have you ever been told that you're miss new zealand?
Dave: Mos def, the guy from 'law & order: SUV'? No, that's ice cube, but keep an eye out for him.
Murray Character Comedy Callback Absurdist Callback Dave: he was the voice of lightning the racehorse.
Mel Jemaine Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Cringe/Discomfort Jemaine: Bret, cool your jets, don't sweat
Jemaine: don't flip, don't get upset
Mel Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Bret: not gonna sleep till I found him I'll pound him, I'll bet he regrets he ever messed with Bret from the tough brets!
Mel Jemaine Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Escalation what's the hurry?
hello, Murray, glad I caught ya
who's this? Your daughter?
Bret: Sorry.
Dave: You could get 10 years for that.
Dave: Where's the dapper dukes' hideout? It was right here. You know, we laid low for three straight months back in '58.
Dave: Maybe you're right, lil Louie. I'm getting old. This game ain't no good for me no more. I'm sorry, Louie. I'm out. So long, lil Louie.
Murray Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist Bret: How come I'm wearing gumboots?
Ambassador Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Police Officer: Well, in the future, I suggest you don't kick children. we'll let this go because we don't like that particular kid, but we've got our eyes on you.
Murray Greg Callback Character Comedy Reaction Beat Callback Mel: As you can see, I pretty much got the handsomeness. That's Jemaine. If you don't believe it, he can take his shirt off and you can be sure about it.
Murray Callback Visual Gag Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Doug · Mel · Jemaine: Mel offers to pose for Jemaine's portrait; Jemaine declines without hesitation. Doug: 'Mel, I could pose for you.' Mel: 'Oh, no thanks.' — Doug shut down instantly
Bret · Jemaine · Murray: Song reprise verse: 'Have you ever been dissed over the intercom? / Have you ever found a gift you've given thrown away? / Have you ever been told that you're Miss New Zealand?'
Jemaine · Murray: Post-party small talk: 'Thanks for bringing me to the party, Murray.' 'That's all right. Good cheese, wasn't it?'
Jemaine Murray Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Callback Callback Bret · Dave: Bret and Dave on watch: 'We're looking for, basically, all rappers.' Dave: 'Mos Def, all the guys.' Bret: 'Mos Def, the guy from Law & Order: SVU?' Dave: 'No, that's Ice Cube, but keep an eye out for him.'
Bret Dave Character Comedy Absurdist Escalation Bret · Dave: Extended rapper-filmography confusion: Ice Cube was in 'Are We There Yet?' and 'Are We Done Yet?', Method Man from 'Meet the Spartans,' Snoop Dogg 'was the voice of Lightning the racehorse.' 'Yeah, you don't want him on your ass.'
Bret Dave Character Comedy Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch Callback Bret · teenagers: Bret confronts the teen graffiti artists: 'Well, on behalf of the tough Brets, I'd like you to stop graffitiing Mr. and Mrs. Li's internet shop.' Teens: 'Who are you?' / 'Yeah, get lost.'
Bret teenagers Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Cringe/Discomfort Jemaine · Murray · Bret: 'Stay Cool, Bret' song — Jemaine and Murray trying to calm Bret, then pivoting to their own anxieties: 'Not gonna sleep till I found him / I'll pound him, I'll bet he regrets / He ever messed with Bret from the tough Brets!'
Jemaine · Murray · Australian diplomats: 'Stay Cool, Murray' — verse addressed to Murray: 'What's the hurry? / Hello, Murray, glad I caught ya / Who's this? Your daughter? / Your girlfriend looks great, do you want a date? / Just pulling your tit, mate...'
Bret · Jemaine · Murray: Mid-song fight sound effects: 'Bam! / Pow!' interspersed with 'Stay / Cool' — the song literally represents a street fight in musical form
Bret · Jemaine · Dave: Bret explains confrontation to teens: 'So you should respect other people's property.' Then accidentally kicks a kid. 'Bret, you just kicked a kid!' 'Sorry.' 'You could get 10 years for that.'
Dave · Bret: Dave, fleeing the scene: 'Let's haul ass fast. I know a place we can hide till this blows over. Come on. You dig?' Bret: 'I think so.'
Dave Bret Character Comedy Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement Dave · Bret: Dave leads them to a building that used to be 'the dapper dukes' hideout' in 1958 — now it's presumably gone or replaced. 'Where's the dapper dukes' hideout? It was right here. You know, we laid low for three straight months back in '58.' Bret: 'Johnny, I think they've probably all retired by now.'
Dave Bret Character Comedy Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dave: Dave's retirement speech: 'I'm getting old. This game ain't no good for me no more. I'm sorry, Louie. I'm out. So long, lil Louie.' — addressed to Bret, whom he's calling 'lil Louie'
Dave Character Comedy Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Bret · Jemaine: Bret brings home the X-rated Mel painting and Jemaine reacts: 'I found that on the steps downstairs. I thought you painted it.' Bret: 'How come I'm wearing gumboots?'
Bret Jemaine Visual Gag Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Mel · Jemaine: Mel walks Jemaine's portrait around the block 'to get people's reactions.' Jemaine: trapped carrying a heroic nude-ish painting of himself around his neighborhood
Mel Jemaine Cringe/Discomfort Visual Gag Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Dave: Police knock. Dave: 'Look, if my mom... I'm not going back to the big house, all right? I'm out of here. Stall 'em.' — flees at the sound of police
Dave Character Comedy Absurdist Escalation Police officer · Bret: Police to Bret: 'We'll let this go because we don't like that particular kid, but we've got our eyes on you.'
Murray: Murray reveals the Lis have gone to Taiwan: 'They've gone to Taiwan to visit their son Phang. He just graduated dental school.' — casual epilogue delivered as if it's completely expected timing
Murray Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist Jemaine · Murray · Bret: Jemaine and Murray reveal they were hurt not to be asked: 'Someone whom you haven't asked. Who? Jemaine's talking about Jemaine, Bret. You could've asked him... or me... but you didn't.' Bret: 'Do you guys want to be in the gang?' Both: 'Yes! Yeah, I'd like to, yeah.'
Bret · Dave · Jemaine · Murray: The gang immediately disbands again: Dave quits, so does Jemaine, then Murray: 'Well, if you're out and you're out, then I'm out. Really? Yeah, I'm out.' Bret: 'You're out as well? Well, I'm not leaving.' Bret alone: 'So that's it... I'm in. I'm the gang. I'm the Tough Brets.'
Mel: Mel shows off the Jemaine portrait to strangers: 'This is a painting I did of Jemaine. As you can see, I pretty much got the handsomeness. That's Jemaine. If you don't believe it, he can take his shirt off and you can be sure about it.'
Mel Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Mel: Mel: 'He is my muse and my joy. People don't appreciate art, do you? Unbelievable.' — delivered as an exasperated closing statement to strangers
Mel Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Top Episodes — Flight of the Conchords