Strange Planet Review: While Endearing and Relatable, the Humor of this Animated Series Wears off Quickly
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
If you’re on social media likely seen these cute blue aliens with their mouth stones and foot tubes before. Seeing them come to life is certainly a treat.
Strange Planet is the latest Apple TV+ original animated series, co-created and executive produced by Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty, Community) and Nathan W. Pyle, creator of the bestselling graphic novel and viral webcomic of the same name. That combination alone suggests the new series will be something special.
The series is set on a planet that’s not all that different from Earth, which is largely the point. The beings that inhabit it live a very human life.
Like us, they work at restaurants, travel on airplanes, and have pets. They struggle in their careers and have complicated romances. They even have allergies.
But the way they discuss these lives that look quite similar to ours is much more literal. That’s what makes the webcomic so funny. Every little thing they do includes a literal descriptor which makes us realize how absurd our own existences actually are.
To drink coffee is to drink “jitter liquid” for example. Parents? They’re “life-givers.” And a cat? It’s a “vibrating creature.” It’s when the “beings” describe events and emotions, though, that their words for things feel powerful and thought-provoking.
We aren’t talking about huge, life-changing events, necessarily either. What it feels like to get a promotion and suddenly have your co-workers treat you like the boss instead of like friends — that’s the kind of relatable story that’s being told.
Or when a child just wants a pet, or when someone has a crush and doesn’t know how to ask them out.
These are the most mundane, relatable stories, all told in a way that makes us reflect on our own lives — and maybe even take some parts of our lives a little less seriously.
Mostly, it’s about the way we all relate to one another, and there’s something utopian about the planet these beings live on when it comes to their kindness, respect for one another, and their emotional maturity. We could all learn a little something from them.
They’re also not gendered beings, so the use of “they” is another regular part of their language. It’s used when speaking about one another as well as their pets and all “creatures.” This is subtle, yet inclusive, and an easy way to understand the use of that pronoun.
That said, while the first episode is fun and funny, the humor starts to wear off once you’re used to the joke.
Unlike seeing the comics on the internet or on paper, watching them come to life makes the funny part — the literal way their language works — become old hat really quickly.
From there, it’s the endearing stories that take center stage. And while they are wholesome and fun, without the humor, it’s not nearly as enjoyable. It even gets a little boring.
The lack of any true central character is also problematic. There’s a clear point to showing all of these different beings and allowing each story to stand on its own a bit, much as the comics do.
Unfortunately, it’s done at the expense of allowing the audience to become as invested in some of these characters, which makes the story less interesting altogether.
That isn’t to say we aren’t invested in them at all. They’re likable characters with relatable problems, and let’s face it, they’re super adorable.
If anything, I’d say this fun, quirky show makes for good comfort viewing. It’s also one the whole family can watch, which is a pretty big deal on its own.
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Will you be watching Strange Planet? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Strange Planet premieres Wednesday, August 9th on Apple TV+.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.