History Series / HoraceAndPete

* ThoseTwoGuys: Kurt and Leon, sometimes joined by Tom, Nick or some unnamed (often female) extra. There are almost always at least two or three characters seated at the far end of the bar playing this role, usually dispensing typical semi-drunken and pseudo-insightful commentary on politics, religion or society, or just watching bemusedly while two other patrons bicker and argue and fight.
* YourCheatingHeart:
** [[spoiler:Horace had an affair with his wife's sister a while back; this is the incident that split the family.]]
** [[spoiler:Horace's ex-wife is having an affair with her husband's father. She is wracked with guilt and actually vents to Horace because he's the only one who understands.]]

* {{Adorkable}}: Horace

* RacistGrandma: Uncle Pete, as well as the previous generation's Horace, although, while both are reprehensible jerkasses beyond reproach, they are equal-opportunity jerkasses, and, in the flashback scene, the crowd in their day was actually more diverse than in the present. While the racial and hobophobic slurs are thrown about more or less constantly, it's a two-way street, and while customers get thrown out for a variety of reasons, both trivial and legitimate, more or less anyone who can tolerate their abuse is welcome.

''Horace and Pete'' is a 2016 American dramedy web series created, written and directed by Creator/LouisCK, starring Louis C.K. and Creator/SteveBuscemi as Horace Wittel VIII and Pete Wittel, current owners of the one hundred year old family bar Horace and Pete's. Throughout the ten episode series, Horace struggles with his sense of responsibility for the family business and his relationships with his dysfunctional family. While its predecessor ''Series/{{Louie}}'' was a dark comedy, ''Horace and Pete'' crosses the line into full blown tragedy.

* AbusiveParents : In the finale, we see that [[spoiler: Present-day Horace and Pete's father fits this to a tee.]]

* ThoseTwoGuys: Kurt and Leon, sometimes joined by Tom, Nick or some unnamed (often female) extra. There are almost always at least two or three characters seated at the far end of the bar playing this role, usually dispensing typical semi-drunken and pseudo-insightful commentary on politics, religion or society, or just watching bemusedly while two other patrons bicker and argue and fight.

''Horace and Pete'' is a 2016 American dramedy web series created, written and directed by Creator/LouisCK, starring Creator/LouisCK and Creator/SteveBuscemi as Horace Wittel VIII and Pete Wittel, current owners of the one hundred year old family bar Horace and Pete's. Throughout the ten episode series, Horace struggles with his sense of responsibility for the family business and his relationships with his dysfunctional family. While its predecessor ''Series/{{Louie}}'' was a dark comedy, ''Horace and Pete'' crosses the line into full blown tragedy.

** In the WholeEpisodeFlashback final show, meek and weak-willed Horace Wittel VIII (LouisCK) becomes the physically and emotionally abusive Horace Wittel VII by [[ClarkKenting wearing glasses]].

* SpiritualSuccessor: To {{Louie}}, and a worthy one at that. Contains many similarities, including the general (if much darker) tone, oddball side characters, anomalistic episodes (including one, the entirety which is a conversation between two characters), a divorced protagonist and father of two who is often shamed, humbled and used as the butt of all jokes, and scenes that function more as comedic shorts rather than parts of a single episode.

* Retirony: It's implied that [[spoiler:that Horace decided to finally sell the bar and cash out before Pete walked in and ended up killing him.]]

* ShaggyDogStory: While there are spots of hope for those around them, [[spoiler: Horace and Pete fall into this big time. Horace ends up dead at Pete's hand after one of Pete's psychotic episodes, and Pete goes to either a mental institution or prison for presumably the rest of his life.]]

* ForeShadowing: When she first shows up, Sylvia implies that [[spoiler: Present-day Horace and Pete's father was abusive. In the flashback portion of the finale, we see in sickening detail how.]]

* AbusiveParents

''Horace and Pete'' is a 2016 American dramedy web series created, written and directed by Creator/LouisCK, starring Creator/LouisCK and Creator/SteveBuscemi as Horace Wittel VIII and Pete Wittel, current owners of the one hundred year old family bar Horace and Pete's. Throughout the ten episode series, Horace struggles with his sense of responsibility for the family business and his relationships with his dysfunctional family. While its predecessor "Louie" was a dark comedy, ''Horace and Pete'' crosses the line into full blown tragedy.

* {{Abusive Parents}}

* {{Downer Ending}}: Arguably one of the all-time worst: [[spoiler: Pete is believed to be dead, then shows up again, obviously badly shaken but mostly alright, only to kill Horace with a steak knife and wind up back in a mental institution, probably for life, as the drug that helps him function is no longer available. None of the tension between any of the characters of the three living generations present over the ten episodes is resolved, no one forgives anyone else or reconciles their differnces or lets go of their emotional baggage, with the possible exception of Horace IX, who shows up just a little too late, the bar closes down for good, and pretty much no character ends the series on a happy note. The series ends with Sylvia finally breaking down and sobbing.]]
* {{Dysfunctional Family}}: The Wittels.
* {{G Rated Mental Illness}}: averted. [[spoiler: Throughout the series Pete struggles with his mental illness, which leads to violent outbursts.]]
* {{Grumpy Old Man}}: Uncle Pete

* {{Luke I am your Father}}: [[spoiler: Turns out Uncle Pete is actually Pete's father, not his uncle. He gave Pete to his brother's family because he didn't like children.]]

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Super-liberal and feminist AlanAlda as the racist, abusive Uncle Pete. Originally intended for Joe Pesci, who passed on the role; Alan Alda's agent recommended him to Louis CK for the specific purpose of playing against type. It seems to have worked.

* {{Mood Whiplash}}
* {{Parental Abandonment}}
* {{Racist Grandma}}: Uncle Pete, as well as the previous generation's Horace, although, while both are reprehensible jerkasses beyond reproach, they are equal-opportunity jerkasses, and, in the flashback scene, the crowd in their day was actually more diverse than in the present. While the racial and hobophobic slurs are thrown about more or less constantly, it's a two-way street, and while customers get thrown out for a variety of reasons, both trivial and legitimate, more or less anyone who can tolerate their abuse is welcome.
* {{Real Life writes the Plot}}: Several conversations in the bar refer to real life news events that happened at the time the show was written.

* {{Chekhov's Gun}}: The bar doesn't serve mixed drinks, and therefore doesn't stock the limes and lemons that usually go with them. Comes into play in the last episode. Big time.

* {{Chekhov's Gun}}: The bar doesn't serve mixed drinks, and therefore doesn't stock the limes and lemons that usually go with them. Comes into play in the last episode. Big time.

* {{Jerkass}}: The whole cast, pretty much.

* {{Downer Ending}}: Arguably one of the all-time worst: [[spoiler: Pete is believed to be dead, then shows up again, obviously badly shaken but mostly alright, only to kill Horace with a steak knife and wind up back in a mental institution, probably for life, as the drug that helps him function is no longer available. None of the tension between any of the characters of the three living generations present over the ten episodes is resolved, no one forgives anyone else or reconciles their differnces or lets go of their emotional baggage, with the possible exception of Horace IX, who shows up just a little too late, the bar closes down for good, and pretty much no character ends the series on a happy note. The series ends with Sylvia finally breaking down and sobbing.}}

* {{Racist Grandma}}: Uncle Pete

* {{Jerkass}}: Uncle Pete

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Super-liberal and feminist AlanAlda as the racist, abusive Uncle Pete.

** Could also be considered SpiritualSuccessor to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as it takes place in bar (which even looks a bit like Paddy's Pub), features a "three guys, one girl" cast of largely unlikable characters who show no real love or loyalty to one another, one of whom is a crotchety old man who turns out to be [[spoiler: the father of the woobie of the group]].

** Could also be considered SpiritualSuccessor to {{It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia}}, as it takes place in bar (which even looks a bit like Paddy's Pub), features a "three guys, one girl" cast of largely unlikable characters who show no real love or loyalty to one another, one of whom is a crotchety old man who turns out to be [[spoiler: the father of the woobie of the group]].

* SpiritualSuccessor: To {{Louie}}, and a worthy one at that.

* {{Real Life writes the Plot}}: Several conversations in the bar refer to real life news events that happened at the time the show was written.

* {{Asshole Victim}}:[[spoiler: horrible Uncle Pete commits suicide somewhere between episode four and five]]

* {{Evil Uncle}}: Uncle Pete