TMC
12-22-2020, 11:46 PM
https://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/a-final-goodbye-to-the-best-live-action-hardr-scifi-comedy-series-ever.php
Some shows in 2020 ended because of the pandemic and the inherent scheduling and production concerns involved. “Business decisions” wiped away other fun shows that had already been re-upped, like Stumptown and GLOW and Drunk History. But as we approach the end of the calendar year I want to remember a show that ended in 2020 on schedule.
What makes Future Man special? Well, the viewing world is — thankfully — full of science fiction. Even better, there’s a bunch of R-rated science fiction. But what there isn’t a lot of is Hard-R-rated, science fiction comedies. Especially in show form (Not counting animated series). There’s what, in the genre? Avenue 5 and Future Man? Maybe Lexx? These shows pretty much don’t get made, which makes them unicorns of a sort and what makes Future Man notable right out of the gate.
Not a perfect show by any means, but an inspired one. A show that felt like a sibling with a personality disorder. You love them, but you’re not sure you can count on them. And when they come through, it’s a thrill. More than anything, Future Man felt like being back in college, high as a kite, laughing so hard you can’t breathe, spitballing idiotic ideas for shows with friends. Those magical conversations that seemed brilliant in the moment as several human minds synced up in the way only weed can provide to make a world that is preposterous and beautiful and fragile and can never, ever be.
And then Kyle Hunter, Ariel Shaffir, Howard Overman, Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen actually went and made it.
Future Man, season one, was the greatest raunchy, hard R, sci-fi television show ever created. It was, in a word, super fun. Now I know my impression of it may feel skewed. Friends of mine watched it and were like “eh, it’s good-ish.” But I loved it. Loved. For me, it pulled off one of the greatest tricks of comedy: being incredibly smart and incredibly stupid at the exact same time.
Maybe you’re not a gamer, so the subplot of being a ‘savior’ may fall flat for you. That ‘chosen one’ dynamic so present in modern video gaming was brought to life with acuity and aplomb in the character of Josh Futterman (Futter-man! Get it?) , played by Josh Hutcherson. It’s the most demanding role on the show. Josh is soft. He has no real skills of any kind outside of being a pretty impressive gamer. And yet, Future Man is his story.
All credit to Hutcherson, who pulls it off. He is a modern day Alex P. Keaton, without the opinions, intelligence or drive. But he’s a good kid. A damn good kid. An All-American boy in the post 9/11 world. Time and time again, the only thing that stands between the fate of humanity and annihilation is Josh’s inherent goodness, his love of humanity and his desire to live up to the moniker of savior. He is, in short, a good egg.
Some shows in 2020 ended because of the pandemic and the inherent scheduling and production concerns involved. “Business decisions” wiped away other fun shows that had already been re-upped, like Stumptown and GLOW and Drunk History. But as we approach the end of the calendar year I want to remember a show that ended in 2020 on schedule.
What makes Future Man special? Well, the viewing world is — thankfully — full of science fiction. Even better, there’s a bunch of R-rated science fiction. But what there isn’t a lot of is Hard-R-rated, science fiction comedies. Especially in show form (Not counting animated series). There’s what, in the genre? Avenue 5 and Future Man? Maybe Lexx? These shows pretty much don’t get made, which makes them unicorns of a sort and what makes Future Man notable right out of the gate.
Not a perfect show by any means, but an inspired one. A show that felt like a sibling with a personality disorder. You love them, but you’re not sure you can count on them. And when they come through, it’s a thrill. More than anything, Future Man felt like being back in college, high as a kite, laughing so hard you can’t breathe, spitballing idiotic ideas for shows with friends. Those magical conversations that seemed brilliant in the moment as several human minds synced up in the way only weed can provide to make a world that is preposterous and beautiful and fragile and can never, ever be.
And then Kyle Hunter, Ariel Shaffir, Howard Overman, Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen actually went and made it.
Future Man, season one, was the greatest raunchy, hard R, sci-fi television show ever created. It was, in a word, super fun. Now I know my impression of it may feel skewed. Friends of mine watched it and were like “eh, it’s good-ish.” But I loved it. Loved. For me, it pulled off one of the greatest tricks of comedy: being incredibly smart and incredibly stupid at the exact same time.
Maybe you’re not a gamer, so the subplot of being a ‘savior’ may fall flat for you. That ‘chosen one’ dynamic so present in modern video gaming was brought to life with acuity and aplomb in the character of Josh Futterman (Futter-man! Get it?) , played by Josh Hutcherson. It’s the most demanding role on the show. Josh is soft. He has no real skills of any kind outside of being a pretty impressive gamer. And yet, Future Man is his story.
All credit to Hutcherson, who pulls it off. He is a modern day Alex P. Keaton, without the opinions, intelligence or drive. But he’s a good kid. A damn good kid. An All-American boy in the post 9/11 world. Time and time again, the only thing that stands between the fate of humanity and annihilation is Josh’s inherent goodness, his love of humanity and his desire to live up to the moniker of savior. He is, in short, a good egg.