The Great North

I originally wrote a review after sporadically watching the first season with time in between the episodes and an episode or 2 of the second season. And I didn't get the appeal, thinking it was a boring Bob's Burgers knock off.

But I think watching it staggered and a couple of duller season 2 episodes gave me a bad impression. Bc I continued to binge through the second season straight through and it just kind of hit me. It isn't the best show I've ever watched but it's really comforting.

I don't know if it's the Alaskan setting hitting suppressed dreams of giving up on the city life and just moving out to open nature or just seeing a family who even in a rougher physical environment and with an absentee mom still just love and support each other unconditionally. It makes me feel good watching the show.

It just feels nice to watch these characters and while it's rarely laugh out loud funny it's continuously humorous. Especially thanks to the talented voice cast.

And I think with all the hyperbolic and nihilistic comedy we tend to have these days or ones that are trying to have bigger messages and push boundaries (both of which I do enjoy a lot!), once in awhile it's nice to have a show that's, dare I say, wholesome.

But not without some edge and I don't mean it's conservative, it's not. It still occasionally tackles issues like homosexuality and race but the main conceit of the show is that this is a good hard working loving and open minded family who are just living their lives. Sometimes they learn lessons and sometimes they have more comical scenarios.

But it's a great way for my brain to relax from the stresses of how mad our reality has become or things in my life specifically. That everything works out with the right attitude and support of the people around you. Sometimes you just need that in your life and done in an entertaining way.

Despite the A list cast the first 10 episodes are hit and miss. It isn't really edgy or boundary pushing (yet) but it has it moments. I think one thing the writers did well was the charector creation. If the show lasts for 5 years + they have alot to work with. For instance the single dad thing, think of all the crazy/eccentric/plain funny relationships he can have. Remember aminated charectors are generally perpetually stuck in time so the more flexible the better.

One charector who isn't working at all IMO is Moon Tobin. He seems like he is suppose to be the offspring of Louise from BB and Stewie from FG (both really funny). Louise is probably my favorite animated charector period. Unfortunatly the charector comes off extremely derivative and even awkward at times.

A lot of promise here. Hopefully the show can find its groove in season 2.

This show is actually pretty funny. You can't compare it to bob's. I've laughed a lot. Like laughed out loud. Give this show a chance.

The first episode was hard to get into, but from there it got better and better. I could really tell the show had the same writer's as Bob's Burgers because it was funny, while the characters still had a loving relationship with each other.

I enjoy Bob's Burgers more, but that show has had more time to grow, and I really feel this show has really great potential. I really love the single Dad approach, because that's not often seen in media, and I love the fact there's an openly gay family member who isn't the butt of the joke. It's all sweet and loving, problems happen of course. But they all love each other.

This is a good show with sharp writing and the usual beautiful Bento Box animation and great voices. Viewers have their own expectations about animation which are usually tainted. Talk to me after you seen the episodes more than once.