The original post: /r/television by /u/NoPastaForGrandma on 2024-04-25 00:26:44.
I love media that is better than it “has” to be, but I would have put 1,000 to 1 odds against the Trolls animated show on Netflix being remotely good.
It’s a cartoon based on a pretty mediocre film series, ordered in bulk for a streaming service, in an entirely different (presumably cheaper) animated style, cast with mostly sound-alike voice actors. It’s the kind of cash-in product made to be disposed. Beyond that, it ran for three years to little fan fare, and has almost no reviews or buzz that I’ve seen.
And it’s actually great. (I say this as a parent with pretentious taste who’s suffered through 5 Paw Patrols for every Bluey).
Somewhat surprisingly, it’s nothing like the Troll movies in sensibility at all. While those movies are broad action comedies with heavy-handed morals, The Beat Goes On Is a densely-packed joke machine with a mix of irreverent humor, surrealism, and deadpan sin reminiscent of shows like Pinky and the Brain and Animaniacs.
One early scene indicative of the show’s tone features Poppy visiting a Bergen prison. The prison’s resident torturer shows her around and introduces her to a prisoner”
Torturer: Tell her what you did to get in her: Desheveled Prisoner: I stole bread to feed my family Poppy: Well at least you helped your family Prisoner: No, eating stolen bread is a crime too (Camera pans to his family and young children also in jail) Prisoner: And the dog too
The dark humor, the escalation of jokes on jokes, and averting expectations — it’s not something you see too often in moderns kids shows, and I definitley didn’t expect it here.
So, if you’re a parent looking for something to watch with your kids — or if you just like animated shows that split the difference between child and adult audiences, give this one a chance!