If you're searching for a TV series that pokes fun at the idiocies of our modern world, look no further than Strange Planet. Birthed from the creative mind of the brilliant Nathan W. Pyle, this series, released in August 2023 on Apple TV+, doesn't just entertain; it pulls back the curtain on the strangeness we take for granted in our everyday lives. Based on Nathan's wildly popular webcomic, Strange Planet transports us to a charmingly bizarre world where familiar human experiences are re-imagined through the eyes of blue aliens navigating life on their planet. But is it really “alien” when their antics mirror our own humanity's follies so perfectly?
In a world obsessed with serious issues and constant moral grandstanding, Strange Planet is a breath of fresh air. It casts a critical eye on the absurdities of contemporary life, albeit with humor as its lens. While some might find it satirical nudges threatening, the rest of us appreciate the show's refusal to bow down to rampant political correctness. It highlights the absurd, transforms it into hilarious misunderstandings, and lets viewers relish in the silliness without guilt.
The series hinges on some groundbreaking episodes that cleverly tackle the concept of social norms. From our peculiar habit of smiling for pictures to the hilarity of meetings that could have just been emails, it takes a comedic approach to our illogical rituals and systems. And it's done in a way that leaves you thinking, "Why on earth do we do these things?" Perhaps it’s because we're trying too hard to make sense of things that simply don’t. And it’s liberating.
With its charmingly simplistic illustrations and characters as blue as a conservative's state map, this series mocks everything society holds dear, from relationships to work culture and personal wellness. The brilliant dialogue is spoken in the plainest language imaginable, brilliantly skewering its societal target without the drape of highfalutin jargon. It does what many series today are afraid to do—call out nonsensical societal habits as they are. And that’s where the magic lies.
One of the standout features of Strange Planet is its ability to universally appeal without veering into preachiness. Unlike many modern shows that shy away from humor in fear of offending sensitive viewers, it goes straight for the jugular by mocking just about everything we erroneously deem important. Imagine aliens pondering our obsessive need to do 'non-essential image-capturing events' (photos) or understanding this human desire to 'consume boiler bean juice' (coffee) only to wake from a self-imposed slumber. Hilarious, isn't it?
What perhaps stands out most is its boldness in presenting irony and satire without pandering to one specific group's narrative. Yes, Strange Planet has its own agenda, and it isn't to coat the truth with layers of politically-correct nonsense. It’s that straightforwardness which makes it refreshingly entertaining. Its unflinching comedic timing allows it to critique how we have turned into a society that celebrates the vacuousness of misunderstanding vital reality for idealist dreams.
And let’s not forget about the laugh-out-loud moments where our blue, poker-faced creators grapple with bizarre concepts like gift-giving rituals or why humans spend unsettling amounts of time 'engaging in digital scroll paradoxes' (social media). In these moments, the show holds a mirror to its audience, challenging them to scratch beneath the surface of mundane routines. It's absolutely witty how accurately it captures the hypocrisies of the social framework we uphold.
The artistic brilliance lies in the show's simplicity, in both graphical style and storytelling. It remains stripped of unnecessary embellishments, focusing solely on the absurd assumptions we code as normalcy in our society. And this stripped-down presentation packs a punch sharper than any politically loaded commentary.
Thankfully, Strange Planet spares us the monotonous clout-chasing that so many shows brandish today. It’s a subtle droll slap across the face of the liberal ideals which insists that normal is never good enough. By exposing these ridiculous contrasts, the show encourages us to appreciate how ludicrously tangled our reality can be.
In a crowded market of conceptually dense series on equally deep platforms, Strange Planet is a gem. It’s refreshingly snappy, brutally honest, yet packed with innocence—a series where each episode is like opening a window to a strangely familiar world. Want to understand why everything we do is more absurd than rational? Watch this show.
This series isn't just revealing for the audience; it’s a societal critique delivered through droll comedy, and that’s as political as it gets without even trying. Most of all, its penchant for making the incomprehensible funny as heck is what keeps viewers glued, episode after episode. So, if you’re ready for the ride, buckle up with Strange Planet and brace yourself for the amusingly uncanny.