2014-10-01
Explanation
The Joke
The comic presents a "prank idea" where someone gives another person chewing gum that smells like their ex-wife's perfume. The man chewing the gum becomes emotional, whispering "Lily..." (presumably his ex-wife's name), while the prankster laughs and says "Ha! You thought it was gonna be spearmint!"
The Humor
The humor lies in the subversion of the typical prank gum concept. Normally, prank gum involves an unpleasant surprise like a shock, a bad taste, or a snap. Here, the "prank" is instead deeply emotionally devastating -- triggering painful memories of a lost relationship through the powerful connection between smell and memory. The prankster treats this profound emotional cruelty as if it were a lighthearted joke on par with a joy buzzer, cheerfully pointing out that the victim expected spearmint. The contrast between the casual, gleeful tone of the prankster and the visible emotional pain on the man's face creates dark comedy. It also plays on the well-known scientific fact that scent is one of the strongest triggers of memory and emotion.