In praise of Danger 5: a delightfully stupid comedy where spies try to kill Hitler every episode
Guardian AU
β’Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:00:48 GMT
π° What Happened
Guardian critic Tansy Gardam writes a tribute to Danger 5, the absurd Australian action-comedy that first premiered on SBS One in 2012, arguing it is 'greater than the sum of its parts.' The show begins as a pseudo-1960s Eurospy comedy set in an extended Second World War where international heroes try to kill Hitler every week, then transforms in its second season into an 80s Miami Vice-style affair of 'sex, drugs, shoulder pads and assorted bodily fluids.' The piece highlights its deliberately poor dubbing, Nazi dinosaurs and straight-faced gags.
π The Backstory
Danger 5 gained a cult following after its 2012 premiere, circulating widely as GIFs online, with moments such as the 'sit down gun' and characters like Sensible Chuckle. The Guardian piece revisits the show as a beloved and distinctively Australian example of absurdist comedy, noting most people have only seen it in GIF form out of context.
π― Why It Matters
The tribute celebrates a uniquely Australian cult creation and makes a case for why its weird, deadpan humour endures and is worth discovering on streaming, spotlighting local comedy with genuine international cult resonance.
Guardian critic Tansy Gardam writes a tribute to Danger 5, the absurd Australian action-comedy that first premiered on SBS One in 2012, arguing it is 'greater than the sum of its parts.' The show begins as a pseudo-1960s Eurospy comedy set in an extended Second World War where international heroes try to kill Hitler every week, then transforms in its second season into an 80s Miami Vice-style affair of 'sex, drugs, shoulder pads and assorted bodily fluids.' The piece highlights its deliberately poor dubbing, Nazi dinosaurs and straight-faced gags.
Danger 5 gained a cult following after its 2012 premiere, circulating widely as GIFs online, with moments such as the 'sit down gun' and characters like Sensible Chuckle. The Guardian piece revisits the show as a beloved and distinctively Australian example of absurdist comedy, noting most people have only seen it in GIF form out of context.
The tribute celebrates a uniquely Australian cult creation and makes a case for why its weird, deadpan humour endures and is worth discovering on streaming, spotlighting local comedy with genuine international cult resonance.