Of all the intellectual properties being remade, revived, and otherwise kept alive in our age of ceaseless nostalgia and infantilism, the return of something as satirical of modern life as Rocko's Modern Life was most welcome. Among other things, the new Netflix special focuses on our aversion to accepting change, yet it also does justice the artistry and humor of the original series more flawlessly than reboots normally do. Fitting, then, that the other recent thing we saw from Nickelodeon was that Dora movie.
The synopsis for Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling, the first entry in Nickelodeon's franchise since 1996, reads as follows: "After being stuck in space for 20 years, Rocko and his friends return to a late-2010s era O-Town with modern amenities such as constantly updating touchscreen phones, radioactive energy drinks, food trucks, and coffee shops on every corner".
This synopsis, coupled with the highly discernible fact that Rocko's Modern Life has always dealt with aspects of modern life, was apparently not enough for some people if you've read the Internet reactions. One of the characters from the series, the son of the loud-mouthed frogs Mr. and Mrs. Bighead, is now a "daughter". In spite of the fact that transgenderism very much falls under the umbrella of "modern life", and the clever detail that frogs can actually alter their biological sex, this is evidently still pandering and butchering a childhood classic. Are you starting to see what I mean when I talk about how welcome this special's lesson is?
After all, the thing that devastates Rocko (Carlos Alazraqui) the most upon his arrival in the 2010's, is the fact that his favorite show The Fatheads is no longer on the air. Without spoiling too much, the show he eventually gets, even though it is perfectly recreated, ultimately seems wrong to him.
In addition to Alazraqui, the voice talents we remember are all back: Tom Kenny, Charlie Adler, Mr. Lawrence, and so forth. In spite of its point about change, this is a lovingly recreated follow-up to something we all remember; it is a labor of love that, had it been more soulless, would've had an easier time getting released. Netflix seem to be getting idea, hence why that Dark Crystal series may be the next thing I praise from them. They may be cashing in on nostalgia and fan familiarity on some level still, but at least some f-cks are being given now!
