I hate Big Mouth. I don't want to like this show. It is everything I think isn't funny on television, but makes me consistently laugh more than almost anything else I've seen. The entire basis of its humour is crass sexual jokes, some of which are so blatant and undisguised its almost a slap in the face to watch them. The basic premise (high schoolers going through puberty alongside their "hormone monster" partners) is the ideal vessel to allow these jokes to flow freely, and provide the groundwork for some quality comedy to also shine through.
Do not be confused - this is not a show for children, even though the animation style would suggest so. The cartoonish graphics mean that the more conceptual storylines can really come to life, which is where Big Mouth earns its money. Unafraid to break the fourth wall or joke about current events/Netflix/anything else controversial, the best of the humour really shines through in these spots, propelled by the exemplary voice acting. Nick Kroll is the mastermind, but other talents include John Mulaney, Jessi Klein, Jason Mantzoukas (who plays Jay, my personal favourite character) and Jenny Slate, all of whom are excellent. Another draw is the parallels the writers have made with the real experience of growing up; even small similarities with the experiences of others makes Big Mouth so much easier to sympathise with.
Strangely enough, the music for Big Mouth is also top-notch: rarely do you find Frank Ocean, The Ramones and Biggie Smalls all feature in a television show without the creative direction being severely misaligned, but this show strikes the balance really well. The in-jokes that develop throughout the show are also worth paying attention to, and more perceptive fans will see so many more niche references as the series progresses.
