Best Fourth-Wall Breaking Moments

Reminds me of one “you had to have been there” moment. One of Shakespeare’s plays had the usual mockery of lovers, and a character says “They’re as bad as two sheep”.

Well, I saw that play performed by Montana Shakespeare in the Park, set up on campus right next to the duck pond. And right as they were getting to that part, a pair of amorous mallards raced very loudly and prominently right across the stage. So of course, “sheep” in the line got changed to “ducks”.

Another comic book character who realizes he is in the comics.

That was somewhat of an in-joke, as DeForest Kelly had often complained that not only did Kirk and Spock have more lines than McCoy, Spock sometimes seemed to deliver information more appropriate to a doctor than a science officer.

Across the pond, Doctor Who was infamous in the classic years for the Doctor addressing his “unseen companions.” From William Hartnell’s “And a Merry Christmas to you all at home” to Sylvester McCoy’s “I seem to have miscalculated,” they do it just enough to be fun.

Yes, it is used to great effect in Gentleman Jack, and captures the feel of the journal entries. Most instances happen when she’s alone. But there’s also a great moment in episode 3 when Ann Walker asks Anne Lister a question, and Anne falsely says “of course not.” Her eyes slide to the side to look into the camera, and she does a cheeky eyebrow raise. Then Ann Walker says, “what are you looking at?” And turns to look behind her, and Anne says “Nothing,” and then she peeks back at the camera again.