'Ponies' gallops into Emmy season as a comedy with danger

The new Peacock series "Ponies," starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, is generating buzz as it heads into Emmy season, submitted in the comedy category. The show plunges viewers into the 1970s Soviet Union, following two widows of CIA operatives who become intelligence assets themselves. Despite its hour-long dramatic episode format, the series is firmly positioned as a comedy, a tonal blend its creators embrace.

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We understand that we’re not a pure comedy and we’re not a pure drama, which is nothing that we wanted, and we were happy with that. But it was always also part of the calculus that when our characters are in peril, we should feel like they could die.

Showrunners Susanna Fogel and David Iserson, veterans of film and television, describe their approach as capturing "funny people in serious situations." They acknowledge the show isn't a pure comedy or drama but aims to create a compelling mix where characters face genuine peril. "We should feel like they could die," Iserson told The Associated Press, emphasizing the real stakes involved alongside the humor and the characters' experiences with grief.

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These characters are experiencing grief. These characters are experiencing peril and also they’re funny people, and that is just the way that we both see the world.

Both Clarke and Richardson deliver performances that navigate the show's tonal shifts. Clarke's character, Bea, evolves from an innocent in a dangerous world, while Richardson's Twila brings a worldly savvy that also undergoes significant development. Fogel noted they aimed to provide the actresses with roles that felt fresh yet true to their capabilities. The show's blend of espionage, humor, and character-driven arcs draws parallels to the showrunners' previous work, including the film "The Spy Who Dumped Me."

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Funny people in serious situations is our thing.

The series' grounded approach has even led some viewers to question its veracity, with a common search query being "Is the TV series Ponies a true story?" Fogel likens good comedy to a high-wire act, suggesting that such a risky, high-reward approach is key to standing out. The show's unique combination of danger and humor aims to offer a distinct viewing experience.

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We wanted to give these actresses something new that they hadn’t done, but that didn’t feel like they were fighting some essential part of who they were.