Review: Doomsday Brothers “Ana-Mouse-ity”

 

 

Overview:

After the townsfolk realize that Ana has been studying and taking notes on their behaviour, they temporarily shun her. That is quite alright with her as she encounters an intellectual equal in a mutant lab rat named Ronny.  

After spending too much time with him, Ana sees his true colours. Though dealing with him does help her to realize that she is not so different from her more savage community.  

Meanwhile, AENUS wants to help Judith celebrate her birthday. He offers her a unique present meticulously designed around her own interests. Unfortunately, the birthday present makes for a much better birthday prank.

 

Our Take:

We are going to have to start calling this the little Canadian show that could.  Doomsday Brothers continues to impress and exceed expectations by getting better and better.

This episode premiered on a Sunday night that boasted a Halloween Bob’s Burgers, a “Treehouse of Horror”, and the season finale of Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal. Unsuspectingly Doomsday Brothers held its own with a uniquely funny and entertaining story.

Honestly, every time I think I got this show figured out it redefines itself.

This episode was just what the series needed. While the same basic formula was there, a heavy injection of dark humour made it stand out. I was starting to worry that Doomsday Brothers would be reliant on the masturbation jokes that has defined the humour thus far. But it turns out that the show has a few tricks up its sleeve.

We are still in a slow process of getting to know the expanded cast. Before tonight there was no indication that Ana was any more intelligent than the rest of her neighbours. She has only been portrayed as the local bartender who is a potential love interest for our two main male characters. Happily, they gave her depth by making her a misfit from the misfits, and yet made her as lovably twisted as the rest of them by the end.

Ana’s new friend Ronny was probably the best villain that the show has produced. A mutated lab rat that has gained the intelligence of his former captors is a good premise. But turning him into a misogynistic asshole ready to enslave Ana was a great twist.

Up until now, there has not been much entertainment stemming from Judith being captured in a bunker with only the AI to keep her company. The plot can be repetitive and it was not that interesting to begin with.

Sure, the plot is a similar take on the repeated storyline of Judith attempting her escape. However, this episode injected the right amount of sadistic dark humour that was needed to make it better. And yes, it was predictable that her escape was all part of a virtual reality ploy, but the aftermath that builds upon that was clever and hilarious.

There is one thing that separates this episode from the ones previously released. Brutality. Thus far the extended cast and roster of villains have survived to make reappearances. For a post-apocalyptic world, hardly anyone ever dies in this show. They delivered the goods this time around with a couple of savage murders and some good old torture. Not to sound twisted, but it did make the show better.

I would like to say that I hope we get more episodes like this one. However, that may be a bad idea considering how fast the series grows, adapts, and changes. There is no evidence that we have seen the show peak in quality, or that it ever will. 

While I can say that this is the best episode of Doomsday Brothers so far, that could easily change by next week.