Season Review: Son of Zorn Season One

Does this franchise deserve a second season?

The concept of Son of Zorn was always a promising one, but it was also always going to be tricky. A He-Man-style cartoon living in the physical world could have been right at home on Adult Swim, and that version presumably would have been more hallucinatory. But considering how many FOX cartoons end up as reruns on AS anyway, it is not like it was ever out of place. The more significant differences between the actual version and that potential iteration are the bigger budget and (potentially) higher episode count that a network home affords.

While Son of Zorn was never not unique, it initially lacked a strong vision, which is crucial on a show like this, because otherwise, it’s just a barrage of randomness. It gradually improved as it went along, and around episodes 10 and 11, it found its sweet spot. Its focus is on a semi-psychotic family that shrugs off all the crazy things they have gone through in the past half hour. In that vein, it is sort of like the semi-live action, slightly-more-functional version of American Dad!

The most fulfilling long-term storyline ended up being one that was initially quite uninspiring. Titular Son of Zorn Alangulon struggled to fit in at high school, and his story started out boring and banal, because what teenage boy doesn’t struggle that way? But as the show embraced his Zephyrian side, it really got going. Sure, all teenage boys have a tough go of high school, but not all of them are insecure because of their superhumanly powerful cartoon legs. Thus, the conflict between joining the popular kids on the football team vs. sticking with his girlfriend was also a conflict about someone getting accidentally, hilariously killed. You won’t see that on Modern Family.

Also quite fulfilling was Zorn’s relationship with Linda, his boss at Sanitation Solutions. He may have assumed at first that she was a man – being his superior and all – but their chemistry gradually heated up, and they evolved into a weirdly sweet couple.

A sitcom is generally only as good as its characters, and Son of Zorn has never been lacking for color in that department. The MVP of Season 1 is easily Craig, who is perhaps the least cartoonish, but somehow manages to be the weirdest. The new fiancée of Zorn’s ex-wife could have been an emasculated cliché, and there are jokes in that wheelhouse, but Tim Meadows’ performance is just too adorable. Every askew line reading and every moment of idiosyncratic enthusiasm is enough to make up for any shortcomings.

Zorn has not quite met his spectacular promise, but Jason Sudeikis has been sufficiently keyed into his performance to make for general satisfaction. As Linda, Artemis Pebdani was the first of the live-action actors to fully figure out the show’s rhythm. Johnny Pemberton and Cheryl Hines, as Alan and Zorn’s ex Edie, respectively, both needed some work early on, but they too eventually found their place. Alan was helped along by his burgeoning relationship with Clara Mamet’s Layla, who will hopefully be promoted to full time.

Looking ahead to Season 2 (a renewal announcement has not been made yet, so keep your fingers crossed), here’s hoping that there is a deeper exploration of Zephyria. There is an entire cartoon land’s culture to bring to light here. Based on how the finale ended – with Zorn kidnapped by a rapacious rival warrior – it looks like it may very well be headed in that direction.

SCORE
7.0/10