Childish Dad

This is one of the only few original concepts in the GoAnimate Community that I actually enjoy from time to time. Lozzie created a popular series starring original characters that has stuck with the community, inspiring others to feature the Johnson family in their own videos! Dave gives you the vibe where you wish you were a kid again, that is until he acts out, then we know we were raised right. This may not be the best series in terms of GoAnimation, but at least it's a great series in terms writing and creativity. Lozzie definitely has potential as a GoAnimator, and I am looking forward to seeing what she has next in store!

Series 6 of Childish Dad has just started, and it's already off to a hilarious and brilliant start!

In Aldi Goes to Her Store, we see Childish Dad back to his usual antics, throwing a massive tantrum just because he couldn't get his favorite Walkers crisps. It's exactly the kind of funny, over-the-top chaos that makes this show so special. Aldi trying to deal with him while staying patient made it even funnier.

The beginning of Series 6 shows that the creators haven't lost any of the charm that made the earlier seasons so great - if anything, it's even better now. The humor feels fresh, and the characters are as entertaining as ever. If this episode is anything to go by, Series 6 is going to be one of the best yet.

I'm really excited to see where the season goes from here!

There is literally nothing better than a repeated comedy, like Little Britain. This is also one of the many repeated comedy sketches that I love. My favourite moments is when Catherine says "Dave! Stop it!" And my absolute favourite of all is when Dave calls Catherine a Wicked Witch, and I had been making Wicked Witch jokes out of Catherine ever since. I highly recommend that you give the Childish Dad series a watch and also subscribe to Lozzie's channel. She posts so much good content and it is so watchable and hilarious. She even featured me and my best friend in her videos which was a really nice surprise. Keep up the good work Lozzie.

Several Childish Dad videos have been recommended to me on YouTube for years. However, I never watched any of them until 6 months ago because I stumbled upon a few videos I was curious about when I read their titles. I could tell just by the words "and Gets Grounded" in some of the titles that this was going to be another unoriginal, cringeworthy GoAnimate grounded series, so I knew I wasn't going to like the Childish Dad series anyway. IDK how many videos I've watched, but I'm guessing that I've seen 7-14 full videos, so I gave the series a fair chance. I won't watch any more episodes unless I find more that I'm curious about.

My main issue with Childish Dad is the way the protagonist, Dave Johnson, aka Childish Dad, is constantly rejected by his family because of his love for children's entertainment, mainly preschool shows like Barney and The Wiggles. This makes the family dynamic ageist and a form of opinion-bashing. His wife, Catherine, forbids him from watching preschool shows and getting his hands on any related merchandise because he's "too old" for them. Meanwhile, their children, Brian and Emma, always support Catherine's decisions and side with her.

The series portrays Dave as the "bad guy" simply because of his inability to express his needs (more about that later) and for having quote-unquote childish interests. Being too old for a TV series or product is a ridiculously lazy and invalid excuse in many cases because it overlooks their quality overall, ignores the fact that some preschool programs and children's products can appeal to all ages, and is likely a sign that one has never given them a chance. Just because certain shows or products are made for younger kids doesn't mean they suck or that people other than the target age range can't enjoy them. While some people do indeed grow out of things they liked when they were younger, it shouldn't lead to behaviors regarding age discrimination.

Dave mentions in several episodes that he has autism and behaves the way he does because of that. The stereotype that autistic people throw tantrums and are poorly behaved is highly offensive. Many experience meltdowns due to overstimulation, leading to a loss of emotional control, and they need care and understanding. In contrast, tantrums result from wanting something and failing to express that desire appropriately. As someone with autism who enjoys preschool shows and toys, I find Dave's portrayal and family dynamic particularly insulting.

Nearly every episode follows the same basic "cookie-cutter" plot: Dave/Childish Dad wants something-usually preschool show merchandise or some other product made for kids. Catherine says no, which leads him to a meltdown, and he gets grounded or kicked out of his destination at the end. Just because every episode of a show follows the same formula doesn't mean it sucks, but all the Childish Dad episodes are nearly indistinguishable from one another. The only differences between the episodes are the location of the Johnson family and the specific item Dave wants. Not to mention, most episodes repeat their dialogue word for word, with the only difference being the item Dave says he wants. If you've seen one Childish Dad episode, you've seen them all.

Several of the characters' quotes are overused, especially Dave's "Stop that, you entitled Karen!" and Catherine's "Dave, stop it! You're not only embarrassing yourself but also the whole family!".

Similarly, the title character's obsession with Barney is acknowledged in every episode. He treats the purple dinosaur like a figure of reverence, almost like his Lord and Savior.

There are several episodes where Dave receives presents for Christmas and his birthday that are "age appropriate" rather than what he requests, causing him to have meltdowns. For instance, in one episode, Catherine gives him a Sonic the Hedgehog game for Christmas when he wants a Sesame Street game, Elmo's Zoo Adventure, instead. In another episode, she gives him DVDs of adult shows like Family Guy and South Park when he wanted preschool show DVDs instead. Dave's family is aware of his dislikes, making it possible that they're intentionally tormenting him. These actions not only disregard his feelings but also seem to push his buttons, causing unnecessary distress.

Dave is not allowed to do anything or receive anything without Catherine's permission, and I don't understand why. He always asks her to buy toys and preschool show merchandise for him and to take him to kids' places, such as the Peppa Pig store at the mall or Chuck E. Cheese. However, she never allows it. Dave could easily buy those products for himself or visit those places on his own unless he doesn't have any money.

For example, in the episode where he wants to go to the Peppa Pig store, he could go by himself while his family does what they want to do, since they're all at the same mall and not too far away from each other. In another episode, he lies to Catherine about going for a walk and sneaks off to the mall for a meet-and-greet with Dorothy the Dinosaur from The Wiggles, only to get grounded for it afterward. It seems excessive for Catherine to ground Dave, an adult with his own house, just because he wanted to meet Dorothy. He should be able to make his own choices, especially when it comes to something fun like that.

If Dave wanted to go to the mall, he should be allowed to do so without getting into trouble. It's not like he's making a hugely irresponsible decision; he is simply trying to enjoy something he loves. What bothers me even more is the possibility that if Dave were to ask for something essential, like food or clothes, Catherine might still deny him. To make matters worse, in one episode, he buys a Kid's Cuisine, Trix yogurt, and Baby Shark cereal using his own money, but Catherine disapproves and returns those items to the store simply because Dave is "too old" for them. This raises questions about how fair her control is over his choices.

Dave is a 37- or 38-year-old man who has a house of his own, so he shouldn't still get grounded no matter how he behaves. Plus, Catherine can't ground him because she's not his mother. Brian and Emma shouldn't be grounding him either, especially since he's their father and one of their primary authority figures. However, they act like they have authority over him.

Speaking of Brian and Emma, they're flat and boring characters. They do nothing but side with their mother and sometimes assist her in punishing Dave. Therefore, their character relies exclusively on the actions of the people around them, leaving them with little to no individuality or personality.

The characters are poorly animated at times. The best example I can think of is that whenever Dave lies on the floor and throws a quote-unquote tantrum, he looks like he's dancing or flexing his muscles rather than banging his limbs on the floor.

Due to Dave and Catherine's dysfunctional relationship and their evident hatred for each other, I find it hard to understand how they manage to live together or why they haven't divorced. If I were in their position, I would end the marriage immediately. However, in a few YouTubers' versions of the Childish Dad series, the couple divorces, and Dave remarries a woman named Bridget, aka Childish Mom, who is a better match for him. When they meet for the first time in one version, they watch Barney and play with a Barney stuffed animal, and nobody stops them. Finally, Dave can live the life he wants! Unfortunately, he remains married to Catherine in most versions. Why can't there be more videos about them divorcing?

In contrast to all the negatives, Dave once emphasized the importance of independence and individuality, most notably his experience with autism. He expressed frustration over being restricted and not allowed to make his own choices, highlighting that true maturity involves having autonomy. Dave pointed out that many productive adults embrace what they enjoy, regardless of others' opinions. He also noted that being pressured to conform to neurotypical standards undermines his unique identity, as autism is simply a part of who he is, not something that needs to be changed. He stressed the serious nature of suicide, reminding that it's a permanent solution to temporary issues. Ultimately, he decided to end his marriage, take his newborn twins Ivy and Ana with him, and consider further action to protect his well-being.

In conclusion, while the Childish Dad series may appeal to some viewers for its humor, its portrayal of the main character and family dynamics raises concerns. Issues like ageism, misunderstanding of autism, and a lack of empathy toward Dave's interests lead to a repetitive narrative. The show reinforces negative stereotypes and fails to delve into deeper emotional themes. Until it evolves to offer a more balanced perspective (which I doubt will ever happen), I find it hard to support. Addressing these issues could make the series more inclusive and enjoyable for a wider audience.