'Son of Zorn' Review: An Animated Hero, Lost Among the Millennials

Animated series are a hard enough sell. Semi-animated series in which the title character is drawn but he’s living in an otherwise normal sitcom existence… well, that’s something else entirely. Yet that’s the situation that the new Fox entry “Son of Zorn” has set up for its Sunday night “animation domination” audiences this fall.

Have you ever wondered what He-Man would look like if he left Eternia and settled into suburban life? That’s kind of the vibe Zorn (voiced by Jason Sudeikis) gives off in the pilot. When we meet the character, he’s departing his comic book world of slaying evil-doers and doing other “manly” things in order to be with his human son Alan (Johnny Pemberton) on his birthday. But when Zorn realizes that his ex, Edie (Cheryl Hines), is engaged to another man (Tim Meadows) and his son all but hates him, he decides to stick around for a while and make a go of things.

It’s as awkward and weird as you’d expect it to be, but there’s a hidden charm in Zorn’s complete ignorance about things outside of his world. Vegetarianism, for one. What it’s like to hold down an actual office gig without slashing your desk in a fit of rage. Or why it’s not kosher to whip out a sword during a pleasant restaurant meal with your son.

Also Read: 'Son of Zorn' Character Trashes ABC's 'Wicked City' as a 'Dumpster Fire'

There’s some comedy to be mined from these moments, sure. If you dig a little deeper Zorn isn’t just a random comic book character; he’s the stereotypical man from another decade who has landed himself in a world full of millennials and doesn’t know how to cope. That setup leads to lots of hidden social commentary about where we’ve landed and how hard it would be for a guy like that to adjust. Of course this is comedy so everything is taken one step further with ridiculous scenarios that could and would never happen in real life.

Part of the gag is that the characters have to believe he’s real, and that they do, in spades. Hines is perfectly cast as the equally stereotypical single mother who pines for the more exciting times, but is tired of waiting for her man-child to grow up and has since settled for the more reliable, less passionate choice. Pemberton is reminiscent of Michael Cera‘s Michael Bluth character from “Arrested Development”–just as gentle and kind, albeit slightly more animated, if you will, in disposition. And Sudeikis provides the ultimate action figure voice to cap it all off.

The weak link here is Meadows, but not for lack of trying. While he’s fine and actually well cast as the pushover stepfather, it’s a role we’ve seen him play so many times before that there’s nothing fresh–not in the pilot at least. Here’s hoping the writers give him something new to do in the coming weeks and let him break out of that comfort zone.

Also Read: 'Son of Zorn' to Premiere at Comic-Con; 4 Other Fox Series Will Unveil First Looks

Is “Son of Zorn” for everyone? Not really. Of the few comedic offerings out there this fall, this is one of the brighter entries thanks to its creativity and unique premise. There’s a strong contingent of quirky comedy lovers out there who will quickly band to this universe. But it does lack universal appeal, which means it will never be a ratings blockbuster or a water cooler-worthy offering. That may not be important though, as few comedies these days achieve either of those things.

Besides, if Zorn has anything to say about it, all the naysayers will be decapitated before they can really cause a fuss. And that type of humor may allow this series to quietly thrive with “The Simpsons,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Family Guy” fans for quite some time yet.

Who Are All These People In 'BoJack Horseman'? (Photos)

While much of the Netflix spotlight has been dominated by "House of Cards" and "Making a Murderer," "Bojack Horseman" has become one of the most surprising hits of the streaming era. On the surface, it's an absurdist parody of Hollywood and showbiz politics, where human and furries live, work and have sex with each other. But it has also become an uncomfortably realistic depiction of depression and self-destructive behavior, told through the eyes of a millionaire star who doesn't know what would make him happy.

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That star is the titular BoJack Horseman, once the star of an awful but wildly popular sitcom called "Horsin' Around." Since his hey (or hay?) day passed, BoJack has jumped from vice to vice, including sleeping with the actress who played his daughter. He's desperately searching for something that will make him feel fulfilled, but nothing sticks. All the while, he destroys what few relationships he has with his behavior.
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In Season 1, BoJack releases a memoir that reveals the dark side his fans haven't seen. The book earns him adulation, but BoJack still isn't satisfied because the public isn't embracing the image he wants them to have. In Season 2, he lands a role as the champion racehorse Secretariat, but due to his unreliable nature and his inability to do dramatic acting thanks to years of sitcom work, most of BoJack's work is replaced with a CGI version of himself.
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Nonetheless, critics are fooled into thinking the computerized BoJack's acting is done by the real thing. In Season 3, BoJack becomes a top contender at the Oscars, but struggles to deal with the awards circuit as his downward spiral continues.
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Opposite BoJack is Mr. Peanutbutter, a golden retriever who got famous by doing a sitcom that was a blatant ripoff of "Horsin' Around." In Season 1, it seems like Mr. PB has everything Bojack doesn't. He's happy, loved by all, and has a positive outlook on life. But in Season 2, the dog's glowing image that BoJack so bitterly resents gets chipped away.
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As BoJack remains stuck in depression despite a huge career rebound, Mr. PB tries to stay positive as he falls into bankruptcy after following one stupid business idea after another. Those who live with him on a day-to-day basis find his happy-go-lucky personality grating and insensitive, and his marriage is going through a tough period.
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Mr. Peanutbutter's wife is Diane Nguyen, a human writer who ghostwrites BoJack's memoir. She is by far the most patient and mature character, which allows her to put up with BoJack's irascible attitude and PB's ditzy behavior. Still, she struggles to turn her desires for social activism into meaningful good.
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While she truly loves Mr. Peanutbutter, Diane spends Season 2 feeling troubled that her marriage is locking her into a cycle of routine that is preventing her from doing something meaningful with her life. Mr. PB, being a happy dopey dog, doesn't seem to get this, causing them to spend some time apart, until they realize that whatever problems they may have they are still happiest when they are together.
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While Diane is a friendly, gentle figure in BoJack's life, his ex-girlfriend/agent Princess Carolyn is a tough kitty. She puts her entire life into her work and has become one of the hardest working agents in Hollywoo, but wonders if there's more to life outside the office that she's missing. This leads her to impulsively start relationships that never work out.
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Take for example, her decision to finally leave her agency and start one of her own with the rabbit Rutabaga Rabbinowitz. In the Season 2 finale, Carolyn discovers that the rabbit had lied to her about divorcing his wife, and that he had been using her as a disposable interest and a tool to advance his own career. Furious, Carolyn fires Rutabaga on the spot, leading into Season 3 as she tries to run an entire talent agency on her own.
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Finally, there's Todd Chavez, BoJack's slacker roommate. Despite being a lazy bum, he proves to have many talents over the course of the series, including entrepreneurial skills, songwriting and TV production. Unfortunately, every cool idea he comes up with always ends in disaster, often due to his sudden bouts of stupidity. As the series goes on, he begins to wonder if he really is as worthless as the world tells him he is.
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While Carolyn, Diane and even Mr. Peanutbutter have reached a breaking point with BoJack and called him out for being a colossal jerk, Todd remains his closest friend. He puts up with BoJack's insults and constant demands to "clean up your s--t," and deep down BoJack knows that he can't bear hanging around his mansion without him. Will BoJack finally cause Todd to hit his breaking point in Season 3?
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Netflix’s adult animated sitcom features a horse person and a dog person. It also features one of TV’s most realistic takes on depression

While much of the Netflix spotlight has been dominated by "House of Cards" and "Making a Murderer," "Bojack Horseman" has become one of the most surprising hits of the streaming era. On the surface, it's an absurdist parody of Hollywood and showbiz politics, where human and furries live, work and have sex with each other. But it has also become an uncomfortably realistic depiction of depression and self-destructive behavior, told through the eyes of a millionaire star who doesn't know what would make him happy.

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Who Are All These People In 'BoJack Horseman'? (Photos)

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