Sue Perkins' latest stand-up special, "The Eternal Shame", sets out to unveil the former Bake Off star's public persona as a facade hiding a deeply humiliated person beneath. The promise of such introspection is tantalizing, given her years-long absence from live comedy. However, what Perkins delivers feels more like a series of charming anecdotes loosely connected to her 'shame', rather than an unflinching exploration of the very thing.
Perkins' show is strongest in its second half, where she delves deeper into themes of middle-age and vulnerability. The tone shifts as she shares more intimate stories, though even here, she's judicious in revealing too much truth. An anecdote about local drug dealers cloning her car registration serves as a prime example, veering far from the intended theme and instead showcasing Perkins' signature wit and flair for storytelling.
Throughout the special, Perkins masterfully weaves comedic yarns that, although entertaining, often prioritize pride over vulnerability. A tale of rescuing a wounded pup on a Bolivia trip, told in a way more befitting a proud hero than one wracked with shame, stands out as a prime example of this. Even the most striking narrative about her experience with a benign tumour and subsequent breakdown – a poignant, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' scenario vividly recounted here – feels tempered by an underlying self-preservation.
While Perkins' show is enjoyable enough, it ultimately falls short in its attempts to fully bare its titular shame. The protective layers of her public persona remain intact, shielding us from the raw emotion that could have been unleashed. In this, Perkins' 'Eternal Shame' feels more like a polished comedy set than a deeply personal exploration of vulnerability and self-abasement – leaving viewers craving something more meaningful beneath the surface.
Perkins' show is strongest in its second half, where she delves deeper into themes of middle-age and vulnerability. The tone shifts as she shares more intimate stories, though even here, she's judicious in revealing too much truth. An anecdote about local drug dealers cloning her car registration serves as a prime example, veering far from the intended theme and instead showcasing Perkins' signature wit and flair for storytelling.
Throughout the special, Perkins masterfully weaves comedic yarns that, although entertaining, often prioritize pride over vulnerability. A tale of rescuing a wounded pup on a Bolivia trip, told in a way more befitting a proud hero than one wracked with shame, stands out as a prime example of this. Even the most striking narrative about her experience with a benign tumour and subsequent breakdown – a poignant, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' scenario vividly recounted here – feels tempered by an underlying self-preservation.
While Perkins' show is enjoyable enough, it ultimately falls short in its attempts to fully bare its titular shame. The protective layers of her public persona remain intact, shielding us from the raw emotion that could have been unleashed. In this, Perkins' 'Eternal Shame' feels more like a polished comedy set than a deeply personal exploration of vulnerability and self-abasement – leaving viewers craving something more meaningful beneath the surface.
I gotta say, I'm both entertained & disappointed by Sue Perkins' latest stand-up special "The Eternal Shame". On one hand, she's got some wicked stories that'll have you LOLing like a pro, but on the other hand, I feel like she's kinda hiding behind her charm. The show's strongest bits are when she's sharing more vulnerable stuff, like middle-age struggles & being broken down by life's ups & downs 
. But, even those moments feel... edited? Like she's not quite ready to bare all just yet 
.
. And don't even get me started on the benign tumour thing – it feels like a pretty major plot twist that gets resolved way too neatly 
.
. But overall, it feels like she's still trying to keep up this perfect facade, you know? Like, the jokes are funny and all, but they're not really hitting on the real issues. I wish she'd be more brave and just go for it 
... The Bolivia dog story is wild, though lol 
... Can't help but feel that she's still got some 'perks' left in the tank 
2025's climate change is getting out of control 
- just saw a report that Australia's bushfires have burned over 10 million hectares of land this year alone 
, making it one of the worst years on record 
. And don't even get me started on the new AI-powered smart home devices that are supposed to make our lives easier but are actually making us more isolated and dependent on tech 
. Just great.
, but I feel like this special was kinda underwhelming for me 
And yeah, that Bolivia dog rescue story was just a little too superhero-ish for me 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to hear about her Bolivia dog rescue adventure? 
, and I'm still thinking about trying out that new Korean BBQ stand... anyway, I was reading this review of Sue Perkins' latest special and it made me think, have you ever noticed how some comedians are more comfortable with being vulnerable on stage than others? like, I love watching people get uncomfortable 
I mean, I can relate to having a wounded animal on your hands but trying to save it while dealing with anxiety is a whole different story 
. I mean, she's always been funny, but sometimes that wit can feel like a shield 
instead of an honest look at her life. Don't get me wrong, some parts had me laughin' out loud 
. "Eternal Shame" might've been a bit of a misfire for me 
and dont even get me started on the part where she tells this story about rescuing a pup in bolivia lmao it feels so out of place 
but at the same time i can tell shes tryna be more serious and stuff, which is cool i guess 
anyway its def enjoyable to watch but idk if its really saying anything new or meaningful 