Solar Opposites Season 1 Review

First, I want to say sorry that I didn’t put up my review/recap of the new chapter of One Piece yesterday. I apologize, it’s up now. Secondly, the reason why I was quiet this weekend was that I was watching Hulu’s new show. It’s called Solar Opposites, it is made by Justin Roiland, and it’s hilarious!

What’s it About?

If you haven’t heard, here’s the premise of the show. These four aliens flee the destruction of their home planet and crash land in suburban America. They have to fix their spaceship and get off-planet before their organic computer, the Pupa, evolves into its pure form and terraforms Earth into a replica of their home and kills everyone. Too bad most of them want to mess around on Earth.

Leading the group is Korvo, voiced by Justin Roiland. He’s Rick, but not as deep-sounding or as cynical. He’s the only one dedicated to their mission and acts like he hates humans and Earth. Yet deep down, he can’t stop from getting enamored by aspects of Earth culture. 

Next is Terry, played by Thomas Middleditch. He’s the eternal optimist who loves everything about Earth and just wants to enjoy it. He doesn’t realize how much stress he causes Korvo and how no one likes him or his group. He’s hilarious. 

Then we have Jesse and Yumyulack, their kids? They’re called replicants, we don’t know what that means, but they act like the kids, so that’s what we call them. They’re super smart and argue like siblings and about what’s good on Earth. Jesse’s the more optimistic one who tries to see to the good in everything. Meanwhile, Yumyulack’s the cynic who acts like a jerk to everyone. They also shrink humans down and keep them in a glass wall that will come up later. 

Lastly, there’s the Pupa, their sentient computer in the form of a pet. That’s pretty much what it is, too: a pet. It gets into trouble when everyone’s not looking and acts like a pet, except when it evolves, it will kill everyone. 

Blending Multiple Shows

If I had to describe the humor and structure of Solar Opposites, it would be like this: it’s a mixture of the fun and black comedy of Rick and Morty and Invader Zim with a plot structure similar to Regular Show. Let me explain.

Since Solar Opposites’ made by Justin Roiland, it’s got a lot of the same humor as its sister show. However, it doesn’t wax existential or philosophical like Rick and Morty, choosing to focus on the improvised comedy Justin Roiland’s famous for doing. Also, while it’s got a lot of the same sci-fi and black comedy of Rick and Morty and Invader Zim, it’s nowhere near as dark. Yeah, the aliens are jerks to humans, but at least half of them don’t realize they’re jerks. That’s what makes their antics so funny.

Speaking of antics, here’s where the comparison to Regular Show comes in. The plot of an episode of Solar Opposites follows the same basic formula:

1. The aliens get invested in some mundane things about Earth’s culture.
2. Korvo may or may not resist at first, but then joins in by saying its part of their mission (which it’s not)
3. They use their technology to take said mundane interest to extremes and cause problems.
4. They then have to resolve the said problem before returning things to regular and remaining unpopular and hated by humanity.

It reminds me of a lot of the structure to Regular Show. That show focused on some mundane task the cast had to do and get into some surreal situation as a result. Or maybe I’m the only one who sees the similarity.

The Best Dang Sub-Plot I’ve Seen in Years

By its nature right now, Solar Opposites is a very episodic show with little continuity. It’s only in its first season, so that’s expected. The one thread that ties the episodes together is this recurring sub-plot that I call “The Wall.”

Jesse and Yumyulack (mostly Yumyulack) use a shrink ray to shrink down humans they think are jerks (so, for very petty reasons). They keep them in a system of interconnected terrariums in a wall in their bedroom, hence its name. The shrunken people end up building a Mad Max-style society led by a man called the Duke. 

The story of the Wall plays out during the whole season as members of the shrunken society fight in a civil war for control. Everything culminates in the 7th episode, which is by far the best in the series thus far. It focuses on the people in the Wall with the aliens doing a background plot with them stealing a bear. I’d tell you how it ends, but I don’t want to spoil it for you because it’s fantastic!

Go Watch Solar Opposites

We all have a lot of free time now since society’s come to a halt because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you’re looking to kill two-and-a-half hours, then watch Solar Opposites. It’s on Hulu, and it’s a hilarious, softer version of Rick and Morty that, ironically, has as much foul language. I love it.

I give the first season of Solar Opposites a 4.8/5 

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Click here to see my review of the latest Rick and Morty episode

Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 7 Review- Promortyus

So, I’ve never actually seen any films from the Alien franchise, but I know the premise. Monstrous aliens that reproduce by injecting hosts with parasitic embryos that hatch by exploding out of their victim’s chests. Something like Alien is easy pickings for the likes of Rick and Morty, and that’s just what happens in their newest episode, “Promortyus.”

How was it? Meh.

Rather than show how Rick and Morty got into their latest adventure, “Promortyus” starts right in the middle. With the duo getting rid of face-huggers and escaping the Glorzo’s (the Alien people). It’s a novel approach that still gives viewers the chance to figure out what’s happening. The problem is that it’s not that impressive. I remember an episode of Phineas and Ferb doing a whole story in reverse. Plus Family Guy did something similar with their 200th episode. 

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about what I did like about the episode. Spoiler alert, but I did like the plot twist of Summer being the leader of the Glorzos. It’s unexpected but also funny. Plus, when Rick and Morty are destroying the Glorzo civilization, I like how they deliberately avoid making a 9/11 reference. Nineteen years later, and it is still too soon. They then backtrack by making a Pearl Harbor visual gag. Which begs the question: at what point does a collectively traumatic event become safe to joke about? Don’t care, not getting involved. 

This wasn’t the best episode of the season. I still say that goes to “Rattlestar Ricklatica” and how absurd it was. It was a good episode though. However, if you’re looking for something else fun to watch, then I urge you to check Justin Roiland’s new show, Solar Opposites, on Hulu. Check out my review of the first season here!

I Give “Promortyus” a 3.5/5

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Harley Quinn Season 2, Episode 2 Review

Harley Quinn’s back in the game and she’s on a warpath! After season two opened with the villains carving up Gotham and putting her on ice (literally), the clown princess vows to take them all down and rule the city. She’s off to a great start, having killed Penguin. Now she’s going after Riddler’s new school, Riddler U! It’s back to college for Harley Quinn

Welcome to Riddler U

So, despite Gotham being cut off from the outside world, somehow Riddler has access to electricity and clean water. Neither of which Harley’s Crew have. So Harley and Ivy sneak into Riddler U to figure out how he has that. Too bad they stick out like sore thumbs since they haven’t been to college in years.

Ironically, the member of Harley’s Crew that helps the most this episode is Clayface, who Alan Tudyk is killing it as! His hammy nature and dedication to acting helps him fit right in at Riddler U. Nobody questions him as “Stephanie” as they chalk his/her mannerisms to college drama. He’s actually the one who learns how Riddler’s got power:

TRUST ME, THIS IS A VERY ACCURATE IMAGE REGARDING RIDDLER’S POWER PLAN

Meanwhile, Psycho and King Shark try to get a water purifier for the hideout. However, they run afoul of Two-Face and Bane’s men. As a result, they get chased across Gotham in a Mad Max inspired vehicle. There’s not much to it, but it’s still funny

Out With the Old Gordon, In with the New Gordon

Last episode we saw Gordon hit rock bottom as he lost everything he knows. Batman’s missing, the GCPD’s joined up with the villains, and his wife divorced him. As a result, he’s now sponging off his daughter Barbara at Riddler U and eating chips out his chest hair. Gross.

That’s right! Barbara Gordon makes her big debut this episode as a student at Riddler U. While she’s every bit as capable as she is in most media, the show makes it how her worldview contrasts with those around her. Whereas her Dad’s a cynic who’s given up all hope, Babs is this wide-eyed idealist who still wants to make a difference in the world. So even though they supervillains, she jumps at the chance to help Harley and Ivy take down Riddler.

I personally like this version of Barbara Gordon. She’s sunny and optimistic in a world where everyone seems to be acting like a jerk. She doesn’t even swear. However, she’s also naive, as she lets the Gotham Girls take Riddler. Still, as Harley notes, the whole experience lit a fire in her. As a result, she becomes Batgirl and sets out to clean up Gotham.

I can’t wait to see if she can save the city or if Gotham breaks her. Either way, this is going to be fun!

I Love This Show

So, Harley’s now taken down Penguin and the Riddler and has clean water and electricity. It’s only the second episode, though, so I can imagine plenty of ways for things to go wrong for her. However, if the episodes remain as strong as they are here, then I think that I’m going to be entertained for quite some time. Plus, this episode sets up a future dynamic between Batgirl, Harley, and Ivy and I can’t wait to see it pay off!

I Give “Riddler U” A 4.5/5

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