Afraid of the Dark

Trevor Noah is at his most comfortable when he is playing with vocal mimicry and pointing out the oddities of human behavior from a global perspective. The core appeal here is his fluid transition between characters, whether he is imagining a British colonizer trying to politely steal India from a confused farmer, or walking through the mechanics of how a Russian accent can ward off street creeps and nighttime terrors alike. It is less about heavy-handed political takedowns and more about the theatrical side of cultural observation.\n\nFilmed at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, the 2017 release came during Noah’s early years hosting The Daily Show. While his late-night hosting duties demanded a tight focus on American political chaos, this hour leans heavily into international territory, utilizing his background as a South African comic traveling the globe. Notable bits include a breakdown of why a Black James Bond, specifically Idris Elba, would make a terrible spy because his mere presence would immediately draw suspicion, and an extended imagined meeting between Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela, where Mandela teaches Obama the vocal art of sounding presidential.\n\nThe hour is paced with a relaxed, conversational rhythm. It received praise for showing a more laidback side of Noah compared to his nightly news desk persona, though some critics pointed out that his observations on Western culture can occasionally feel like a tourist catalog.