[Exclusive] Turning Solar Opposites Into A Workplace Comedy, Another Holiday Special, And Much, Much More Silver Cops: What Lies Ahead For Season Four
Solar Opposites has three seasons and nearly 30 episodes under its belt, but it’s an ambitious series that’s been determined to subvert expectations and reinvent animated series ever since its first episode. Each season of Solar Opposites progressively expands the boundaries of its growing universe and redefines what’s possible. The atypical Wall storyline that was singled out by audiences during the show’s first season has only gotten crazier with a more sprawling cast of characters, but this creative lunacy almost feels naturalized three seasons in. Not to be outdone by its past triumphs, season three of Solar Opposites begins to spin multiple sci-fi plates, some of which pay off by the end of the season and others which may not fully bear fruit for several more years. In a recent interview with Solar Opposites co-creator Mike McMahan and fellow executive producer, Josh Bycel, got candid over what’s to come in the show’s fourth season and which of these changes are permanent.
Solar Opposites has continually lampooned many sitcom stereotypes, most commonly from the family sitcom subgenre, but these priorities are set to shift. “You’ll see that going into season four, everybody needs to continue to acclimate,” clarifies McMahan. “The show becomes an office show for season four because they’re so determined to protect the Pupa.” The end of season three teases the genesis of Korvo and Terry’s workplace malaise, but there’s no indication that this will be a lasting presence. The whole family dynamic hasn’t run its course in Solar Opposites, but it’s exciting to consider what the show will be able to do as it applies its unique comedic voice to this other brand of sitcoms.
Terry and Korvo’s sacrifice to get “real” jobs is all in service of pleasing the Pupa, who also happens to gain–or rather birth–a new friend in the season finale, Little Buddy. Solar Opposites has rotated through a litany of oddities like the Red Goobler and Funbucket, but always in limited capacities. It wouldn’t be ridiculous to assume that Little Buddy’s stay is also temporary, but from the sounds of it he’s set to be a permanent part of the Solar family. “We’ll be seeing a lot of Little Buddy next season,” teases McMahan. Solar Opposites has apparently gone the “Groot route” with the character and asked Tony Hale to record dozens of contrasting takes that can be used in the future. “He’s such an amazing actor that in one session he literally did like 60 different takes on the phrase,” Bycel adds. With that much ammunition already ready it sounds like Little Buddy isn’t going anywhere.
The other biggest stylistic deviations in the newest season of Solar Opposites is the Silver Cops-centric, “Terry and Korvo Get in a Big Screaming Fight in the Taco Bell Parking Lot.” The Silver Cops are a Green Lantern-esque galactic federation that receives the same kind of special showcase that the Wall did back in season one. Based on the series’ past trajectory it’d be safe to expect at least one more episode that’s dedicated to these powerful protectors, but the writers actually have a five-season arc planned for these new characters. “When I pitched Josh the Silver Cops it was like a five-season arc,” McMahan excitedly adds. “We just finished working on season four and Silver Cops are a very main storyline.”
The heavy presence of Silver Cops in season four is something to look forward to, but it’s also just fascinating to get some deeper insight into how these “shows-within-a-show” are developed. “We’re digging in and getting to world-build within our own show,” explains McMahan. “We’re network executives greenlighting weird mini-shows within our little Solar Opposites network that never would have been able to get made otherwise. Nobody would ever say, ‘Yes, let’s give comedy writers the opportunity to break a five-season arc of a drama that only takes place a couple episodes at a time.’” McMahan’s statement means that it also wouldn’t be out of place if season four goes on to introduce a new “show,” in addition to its extension of the Wall and Silver Cop narratives.
Finally, Mary Mack, Sean Giambrone, and Thomas Middleditch, the respective voice actors for Jesse, Yumyulack, and Terry played coy on the possibility of a second holiday special, but dropped a pretty big hint that “there may be some announcements at San Diego Comic-Con.” The previous episode that’s devoted to Christmas, “A Very Solar Holiday Opposites Special,” is a standout entry of the series and so it’s nice that this extra holiday-centric installment might become a tradition. It’s also entirely possible that other holidays than Christmas will be tackled and that a Halloween or Valentine’s Day special are also in the cards.
Solar Opposites has become a strong anchor in Hulu’s streaming lineup and with what’s currently planned for season four it hopefully won’t be long until fans learn about the possibility of a season five and beyond.
The first three seasons of ‘Solar Opposites’ are now streaming on Hulu
