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| Disenchantment |
Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
It's hard to believe, but Matt Groening has only created two shows in the past 30 years: The Simpsons and Futurama. To say that each show has a rabid fan base with a dedication that has fueled the internet with catchphrases and memes. It's why it seems peculiar that he has, for the first time since 1999, returned with a new show called Disenchantment: a fantasy series that is meant to skewer everything about the genre similarly to Futurama's take on sci-fi culture. With a Netflix release, it's pretty evident that the show is meant to appeal to the binge watching crowd, who likely watched the daily Every Simpsons Ever marathon on FXX and are looking for something new to add to their lexicon. It's a bit exciting to think what Groening has for his third show and whether it would recapture the magic of his other work. To say the least, it falls somewhere in between the two series in that it starts off slow like The Simpsons, but isn't afraid of the more vulgar, esoteric humor like Futurama. In a sense, it's taking audiences to new territory.
This new territory is into the mystical kingdom of Dreamland, which is ran by a skeezy king named King Zog (John DiMaggio) who wishes to marry off his daughter Tiabeanie, or Bean for short (Abbi Jacobson). Bean is rebellious and wants adventure, seeking to disobey her father with the assistance of demon Luci (Eric Andre). It's a simple enough premise, and it only becomes more peculiar with the addition of the elf Elfo (Nat Faxon), who is tired of being seen as a goody goody. Out beyond the castle is a forest full of clever sight gags that capture the potential of what the show will be. There's demonic squirrels and prostitute fairies, all conveying something darker, sillier to what is known. It's a world full of the typical nuance that Groening brings to his work, but does it make the series worth investing in?
Many have complained that the series starts off on a rocky foot. It's easy to see how, as the new characters don't have the immediate memorability of someone like Homer Simpson or Bender. There's room to suggest that Bean will be an interesting protagonist, especially with her tomboyish charm. However, Elfo is a bit too aloof in a way that doesn't come across as interesting (and in fact dresses a bit like Bart Simpson), nor does Luci's cynical humor come across as more than a second-rate Bender. The show needs some time to establish itself beyond the gimmicky premise, allowing the characters to be judged on their own merits. The first episode is too wrapped up in establishing segments to truly be funny, but it conveys enough promise that it remains interesting, eventually leading to a comical take on the cliffhanger ending.
In an era where hundreds of TV shows owe some debt to Groening's other work, is it possible for him to remain fresh and interesting? It's hard to call Disenchantment groundbreaking or interesting in the best ways, especially as TV has only become more niche and impossible to have a communal experience. It also lacks any line as memorable as anything from the Futurama pilot, which used its setting in clever ways. While Disenchantment does that, there's a sense that it's got a ways to go to have a world as interesting as anything else that Groening has created. Even then, it will be interesting to see how he applies a fantasy sheen to his humor and bring to life a new set of characters that feature another run great voice actors. It's also great to see the animation getting more clever, veering from the overbite model in favor of designs that are at times reminiscent of shows like Adventure Time. Add in show runner Josh Weinstein, who ran The Simpsons during its arguable best and most influential period, and it gets more of a pass. Still, fantasy has always been an isolating genre to most, so it will be interesting to see if the show finds an audience on par with Netflix's biggest hits.
Disenchantment is a show that proves why Groening isn't out of ideas just yet, especially in terms of who he has assembled to bring the story to life. However, he's established enough of a reputation as a comic nerd that it's hard for this to compare to what came before. Hardcore fans are likely to appreciate it, but it may take awhile for the show to earn a reputation half as strong as Futurama did during its first season with its more assured, hilarious start to a how full of interesting characters. There's a lot to like here, but it needs time to build in a way that makes it more than Groening's third best show.
This new territory is into the mystical kingdom of Dreamland, which is ran by a skeezy king named King Zog (John DiMaggio) who wishes to marry off his daughter Tiabeanie, or Bean for short (Abbi Jacobson). Bean is rebellious and wants adventure, seeking to disobey her father with the assistance of demon Luci (Eric Andre). It's a simple enough premise, and it only becomes more peculiar with the addition of the elf Elfo (Nat Faxon), who is tired of being seen as a goody goody. Out beyond the castle is a forest full of clever sight gags that capture the potential of what the show will be. There's demonic squirrels and prostitute fairies, all conveying something darker, sillier to what is known. It's a world full of the typical nuance that Groening brings to his work, but does it make the series worth investing in?
Many have complained that the series starts off on a rocky foot. It's easy to see how, as the new characters don't have the immediate memorability of someone like Homer Simpson or Bender. There's room to suggest that Bean will be an interesting protagonist, especially with her tomboyish charm. However, Elfo is a bit too aloof in a way that doesn't come across as interesting (and in fact dresses a bit like Bart Simpson), nor does Luci's cynical humor come across as more than a second-rate Bender. The show needs some time to establish itself beyond the gimmicky premise, allowing the characters to be judged on their own merits. The first episode is too wrapped up in establishing segments to truly be funny, but it conveys enough promise that it remains interesting, eventually leading to a comical take on the cliffhanger ending.
In an era where hundreds of TV shows owe some debt to Groening's other work, is it possible for him to remain fresh and interesting? It's hard to call Disenchantment groundbreaking or interesting in the best ways, especially as TV has only become more niche and impossible to have a communal experience. It also lacks any line as memorable as anything from the Futurama pilot, which used its setting in clever ways. While Disenchantment does that, there's a sense that it's got a ways to go to have a world as interesting as anything else that Groening has created. Even then, it will be interesting to see how he applies a fantasy sheen to his humor and bring to life a new set of characters that feature another run great voice actors. It's also great to see the animation getting more clever, veering from the overbite model in favor of designs that are at times reminiscent of shows like Adventure Time. Add in show runner Josh Weinstein, who ran The Simpsons during its arguable best and most influential period, and it gets more of a pass. Still, fantasy has always been an isolating genre to most, so it will be interesting to see if the show finds an audience on par with Netflix's biggest hits.
Disenchantment is a show that proves why Groening isn't out of ideas just yet, especially in terms of who he has assembled to bring the story to life. However, he's established enough of a reputation as a comic nerd that it's hard for this to compare to what came before. Hardcore fans are likely to appreciate it, but it may take awhile for the show to earn a reputation half as strong as Futurama did during its first season with its more assured, hilarious start to a how full of interesting characters. There's a lot to like here, but it needs time to build in a way that makes it more than Groening's third best show.
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