Strange Planet - Uno strano mondo

As a fan of the comic, the tv adaptation of Strange Planet is not exactly the same as the source material, but that doesn't mean it's less creatively valid. In fact, the series adds layers of depth and nuance to Nathan Pyle's characters that is indelibly charming and comforting. That warmth is not subtle, it's intentional. It's the series' heart-on-its-sleeve approach that adds an emotional depth and dimension that's filling a certain entertainment gap. There are so many lonely people in the world, and Strange Planet is about connection. Shows like Community are hungered-after cult classics for a reason. Hopefully Strange Planet is allowed to stick around long enough to make a similar impact.

I'm sorry but people just really don't understand how to review something. Is this show good? No not really. I love the cartoon and all it's genius. But this show just doesn't adapt from the comic. They're also just not staying true to the comic. Too much regular dialogue like a human would have. I think what's going in is a bad combination of it being boring, storylines are just kind of random, and again it poorly adapted. I'm noticing here on episode 3, a repeat character. If they continue to do this, we might get some theme and actually develop some substance. However if they don't get some consistency, I'm good to stop soon. Just don't give it 1 star, that means it offended you to your core.

This show is a bit different from the original comic series it is based on, but I don't mind that. A really great cast comes through to voice each unique character with writing that often leaves us feeling humbled and grateful. There is definitely a lot of development and learning in each short episode. There is a lot of emphasis on community and interpersonal relationships. I personally enjoy the different nouns they have come up with for careers, items, locations, etc. If you don't like being prompted to reflect on yourself or to shift perspective, you should probably skip it. They also utilize "they/them" as the general pronouns of all beings, which is a very nice change.

I had no solid expectations when starting the show since although I'm a longtime enjoyer of the comics, I was very intrigued as to how well the format would translate into a whopping 24 minutes per episode show. The veredict: Not very well. HOWEVER, that does not make it a bad show. Pros: The storylines are sweet and down to earth (ironic ik), the characters are likeable, the backgrounds are pretty and the animation works well enough (smoothly animated rigs) and it even made me smile a few times. Cons: It can get long and slightly confusing since characters are not given names and their appearances outside of clothing items are all the same. Also the joke about them using literal descriptions for everyday things gets old quick and is also strangely inconsistent (Alcohol = Mild Poison but Restaurant = Restaurant?) plus some of the wordings had me seriously scratching my head at times (took me a while to understand that fabric tubes meant socks).

Something that's noticeably lost from the comics is the naivete they gave off. The funny aliens were often discovering new earthly concepts and hence their literal alien descriptions and feelings towards them made more sense, while here it's just an alternate earth that works just about the same except humans are aliens, some animals have three eyes and they use funny words for some things.

Overall this really felt like an Apple TV original to me, same vibe as say, Central Park in that very relaxed and human tone, something nice to have on in the background while doing something else but that might feel overly long if sat down to watch. I am curious as to if and how the stories will continue to interconnect and if a consistent main character or characters will be set.

It's Strange Planet, what more can I say?

Firstly, if you're expecting an intricate, raunchy show with heavy nuance then you're going to be disappointed.

The show is what it says on the box.

It does what it sets out to do, which is present episodic stories about the human experience through unique dialect and grounded storylines with a generous, dry sprinkle of humor.

The characters, considering they all have the same basic appearance, were delightfully realistic - from character design to animation movements to each one's chosen VAs.

The overall vibe is amusing, wholesome, and well grounded in this particular reality not far off from the one we live in today. There's also loads of easter eggs and references to both our society and the society within the context of the OG comic posts.

If you don't like one episode's storylines or characters then good news! Each episode shows us different beings and perspectives with different motivations and outlooks, much like the beings in our world.

It's exactly what I would've expected as a long time fans of the comic shorts - with animation and voices added that only elevate the messages told within. I found it very engaging, if not slightly predictable (which of course it is bc these are stories about people going through relatable situations and coming out the other side).

So don't let the negative reviews keep you from giving it a try!

It's a good show and I personally look forward to seeing more!