You'd think by now that creators like Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg would realize that audiences can only swallow so many politically correct pills. But no, they continue to serve us Big Mouth, especially the train wreck that is Season 4, which aired on Netflix in December of 2020. This animated sitcom supposedly aimed at exploring the horrors of puberty has once again decided to partner with Netflix to preach its liberal propaganda through the misadventures of hormonal teenagers in some suburban American idyllic setting.
Season 4 of Big Mouth kicks off with the usual suspects—Andrew, Nick, Jessi, and their hormonal shenanigans. But as always, the main act is not the storyline; it’s the clumsy way the writers stuff as many "woke" messages down the viewer's throat as possible.
Force-Feeding the PC Agenda Big Mouth, throughout its show-time, seems determined to check every box on the virtue-signaling list. Season 4 is no different. Instead of sticking to the coming-of-age comedy, it shoehorns in conversations about gender identity, racial representation, and everything in between without considering whether such heavy topics are digestible or even relevant for their audience.
The Gender Identity Extravaganza This season introduces us to Natalie, a transgender character voiced by Josie Totah. Sure, representation is important, but the show somehow forgets to make the character compelling amidst the lectures on identity. It's as if they assumed including a transgender character would win them brownie points without engaging the audience on a meaningful level. Instead of focusing on realistic personal growth, Big Mouth jumps straight into preachy territory, assuming everyone wants to attend Gender Studies 101.
The All-out Assault on Traditional Values The writers seem unable to spend two minutes without somehow turning the show into a soapbox against conservative values. Family dynamics, personal beliefs, and societal norms are all under constant attack or ridicule. It's almost as if they're afraid to admit that some American families still value tradition over fleeting trends.
Identity Politics Over Substance Every character seems to be a ticking time bomb of identity crises. Instead of exploring the gradual, awkward journey of self-discovery that most adolescents face, Big Mouth fast-tracks the process with solutions taken right out of the progressive playbook. Self-expression and insecurity are overshadowed by a need to validate every single modern sociopolitical cause.
The Hypocrisy of "Inclusive" Casting Call it ironic, but the show has faced backlash itself due to its casting choices, especially in earlier seasons. Jenny Slate, who voiced Missy, a biracial character, was replaced by Ayo Edebiri this season. Big Mouth pretends to be a pioneer in progressive casting but seems to do so only when under public scrutiny. Nice to know they're putting parroted principles over artistic integrity.
Poor Attempts at "Empathy" Season 4’s attempt to explore mental health through Gratitoad—an anthropomorphic toad encouraging gratitude—is as lackluster as it sounds. It’s a token gesture rather than a nuanced examination of real issues tweens and teens face. If anything, it trivializes the very real mental health struggles young folks face instead of offering any constructive insight.
Republicans Are Implicit Enemies Between Bill Clinton jokes that seem twenty years too late and mocking the very idea of Republican beliefs, it's crystal clear what Big Mouth thinks of half the political aisle. The comedy often comes in the form of incessant jabs at anyone who might support anything remotely conservative.
Sugar-Coated Resolution Fables Every conflict seems to resolve in this unrealistic sugar-coated manner, as if telling teenagers that saying a few "self-love" affirmations will make their problems disappear. Give it a rest, please.
Blurring the Horror Lines While some have praised the show for the "anxiety mosquitoes" and "the depression kitty", others might see it as gimmicky and an insult to viewers who experience these issues daily. The attempts at personifying these issues come off as trivial when juxtaposed with their heavy-handed moral lessons.
The Lack of Growth Ultimately, among this avalanche of agenda, Big Mouth fails to give its main characters any real growth. Despite dealing with their adolescent woes, they seem stuck in a loop, repeating the same mistakes without proper resolution. They have dragged them since Season 1.
Season 4 of Big Mouth isn’t just another collection of awkward puberty stories. It's a dedicated sermon on everything progressives hold dear, packaged in juvenile humor and cringe-worthy songs. While some might celebrate it as bold and necessary, those with a different worldview see it as just another Hollywood production dismissing our ideals with relentless fervor. Even in animation, it's clear that not just any type of voice gets a platform.