And yet, despite its misanthropic tendencies and firm upholding of the transgressive traditions of comedy (there are many profane references to masturbation in each episode, and the breathtakingly racist great-aunt in the ”Country Drive” episode is wincingly memorable), the huge beating heart for life that throbs barely below the surface of this show - and is just constrained within Louie himself - brings the beautiful tension that makes it so compelling.

Louie’s self-loathing might stray into misandry, but his brutal, self-flagellating honesty about the world and our many failings within it comes from a place of wanting to be better, to do better, to not give in. There’s grace in being alive, even when we mess it up.