Review: Paranormal Action Squad “The Party Gets Us Started”

Hit the Ray Parker Jr.!

Spoilers Below

Youtube Red kicks off its first in likely many original animated shows with Paranormal Action Squad, a sci-fi show covering the adventures of rag-tag team of investigators handling the problems between this life and the next. Seems like something that could be turned into a popular comedy movie in the mid-80’s or a disappointing remake in modern day, but for whatever reason, this completely original premise is here now. Just like another show I’m covering, Happy Wheels, this series also features  Let’s Players I do not recognize, but unlike Happy Wheels, it also has some pros amongst them, along with a noted writer on the iconic show Futurama, Michael Rowe, helming the ship. So keep some tissues ready just in case the feels start coming.

The first episode introduces our first two mains, the cocky Eddie and nerdy Paul, at a yard sale to get Paul a new fanny pack. While inspecting possible purchases, Paul gets a call from the team’s AI, Pad (voiced by Nika Futterman, most well known for Assaj Ventress on the 2008 Star Wars: Clone Wars show) about their next case. They meet an old lady at their base, who is reporting a noise complaint in her house, only this party includes ghosts and goblins. This also cues the third main team member, Vanoss, the rookie who…has a bird head for some reason. It’s not explained or addressed, though is apparently part of his voice actor (a Let’s Player)’s persona. Then again, the way that paranormal threats are treated so casually could very well mean this is a common enough occurrence and just doesn’t need explaining. But either way, he’s not allowed on the mission, but the last member and “self-intuitive mystic” named Orb, is. She’s represented as a black girl in regular civilian clothes but trapped in a glowing magenta…orb (and played by Toks Olagundoye, who is most prominently known for her TV roles, such as Castle and The Neighbors). She’s also possibly immortal, as a fair amount of her lines reference her relationship to historical figures…and she’s a bit of a partier, introducing herself with a hangover on the toilet, which is, of course, inside her orb. Don’t ask.

Upon reaching the party, the group makes themselves pretty at home, which is natural for Orb, but not for Eddie and Paul. Turns out they only got invited to one party in their entire lives, back when they were in middle school, but Paul killed the vibe with his awful music choice, dashing their hopes of social acceptance. Their instant blending in at this occasion sends their self-esteem rocketing, even making friends with the demon DJ running the show. But it soon becomes clear that the partiers are being kept in a loop against their will by the DJ, making this a hostage situation. And I actually really appreciate this because it would be so easy to confine every mission to just beating the monster, but it’s clear that ghosts, demons, zombies, and so on aren’t made out to be threats just because of their non-human nature. The DJ is the true culprit of this disturbance while the rest are victims trying to escape. And so, even at the risk of losing the only friends they might have in this or the next life, Eddie and Paul end the party with the same awful music tape. Mission accomplished…aside from the destroyed sections of the house and the fainted old lady.

So, this might not be as painful as I thought. The art style is not one of this show’s strengths, but this is salvaged by having a clearly experienced writer on the team. Rowe’s episodes of Futurama aren’t among my favorites, but they were still good television, and it’s good to know he is bringing the same sensibilities to his online work as well. That and the boosted star power help me be plenty optimistic as we continue on with this show til the end of the year.