Atsuko Okatsuka: The Intruder (2022)

Comedy is one of the oldest forms of entertainment, much older than the cinematic medium of feature films. This is likely due to the freedom to express ideas that (hopefully) bypass mental defenses. Just you, the microphone in your hand, and an audience to openly express yourself. A disgruntled fan once told Hannah Gadsby that her stand-up set, Nanette, is a “glorified TED talk”, a criticism I find baseless and confusing, but the phrasing I believe makes a point about why stand-up is so effective when done right. Even if it’s through humour, the medium can often be confrontational and earnest, providing a space to openly speak about difficult or controversial topics.

Like most entertainment media, stand-up comedy is also still largely male-dominated and white. In 2022 though, a large number of stand-up specials by women made it to OTT platforms, and this article briefly discusses eighteen of those specials I highly recommend (this list names nine of them, check out the next one for the other nine). From famous veterans to newcomers, this list is as diverse as the scene is right now (not diverse enough, however). On days when life or the World seemed too overwhelming, they helped me by making me laugh until my stomach hurt. Each and every one of them. From jokes and observational humour based on storytelling to biting comedy about the predicament of the world and direct attacks at patriarchy, these women are out there fighting for progress and for our laughs.

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Atsuko has been on the comedy scene for over a decade now. She co-founded the first-ever Asian-American stand-up tour, Dis/orient/ed Comedy, back in 2012. Her debut special began streaming on HBO and HBO Max in December 2022. She is lively and performative, and her crowd work is brilliant! Atsuko’s first stand-up special is mainly about how she and her husband dealt with an intrusion into their home during the pandemic and the truths she realized because of that particular experience. She makes observational jokes about the lives of teenagers now and how she finds them intimidating in a good way, and about her complicated relationship with her mother and grandmother. She dances around the stage, acting out the scenes from that day of intrusion, presenting a performance that’s bound to make you laugh until there are tears in your eyes. If you’re looking for comedic mischievousness and light-hearted comedy, she’s the person to go with. Her quick wit and turn of phrase make The Intruder an extremely entertaining affair!