Review: Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head “Escape Room/Special One” ; “Boxed In/Beekeepers.”

Overview: Following their feature film sequel, Beavis and Butt-Head have returned in a reboot to the series. Finding themselves in 2022 as a result of the film’s story, they’re now attempting to navigate a new “Gen Z” world with their limited knowledge from 1998. The show stays true to its original episodic format with a few minor tweaks to its storytelling and rhythm. Each installment begins with an updated version of the classic intro theme and contains various mini-misadventures. The majority of them, like “Beekeepers” from episode two of the season premiere, centers on the duo while others are solo segments, such as “The Special One” from the season’s dual episode premiere which focuses on Beavis encountering a supernatural dumpster fire. Keeping in line with the show’s tradition, our heroes riff what’s on their television in between segments. In addition to music videos, this now includes Youtube and TikTok videos which fits perfectly with our modern times.

Our Take:  After what we can call a “false restart” in 2011, it seems like Beavis and Butt-Head have landed a successful reboot following the recent secondary film Beavis and Butt-Head do the Universe. As this is Mike Judge’s self-admitted “pride and joy,” he’s clearly stuck to what’s worked for the show and evolved it in some areas. Longtime fans of the series will appreciate the abundance of familiarity within the rebooted series- Judge’s distinct style for the show has been maintained while the animation is now more clean and refined, showing his growth as an animator. We also see the return of some of the show’s side characters Highland High School’s  hippie-natured teacher, David Van Driessen and Beavis and Butt-Head’s neighbor, Tom Anderson. Interestingly, while Mr. Van Driessen seems to have aged with some minor wrinkles and darker hair within his animation design, Mr. Anderson strangely hasn’t aged a bit, but we’re not hating it.

Although Beavis and Butt-Head are still the same dumb, hormone-driven, self-indulged teenagers they’ve always been and the show’s inherent nature seems to have become a nearly immoveable point of comedy. The social satire the show makes – albeit crudely at times – can still be applicable to today, perhaps even more so given the current social climate. In comparison to other mainstream shows, the series that introduced us to Mike Judge’s genius seems to have once again become a refreshing breath of nonsensical, raunchy hilarity in comparison to other mainstream shows. Could viewers, by current standards, critique the show for jokes like the ones found in the riffed internet clips of My College Decision Reaction or the Gibi ASMR clip or during times when it’s particularly vulgar like when we learn that Beavis is a BTS fan? Sure. But then again, like Roger Ebert even noted- we’d be missing the point entirely.

One point to make note of is how almost unmoved the 2022 returning cast of characters are to the un-aged, time-displaced presence of Beavis and Butt-Head. Although it might see a bit glaring, it can easily be put aside since the show is otherwise a welcomed return to Highland Texas and that of Beavis and Butt-Head. Normally, when introducing a rebooted series to someone new, I’d suggest starting with the original first to appreciate its roots. However, given how well Mike Judge has ensured that this iteration honors the series’ nature and original intent, I’d say start here and work your way backward.