Review: YOLO: Silver Destiny “Sausage Sizzle” ; “Planet Bali”

Overview:

Wollongong’s favorite party animals, Sarah and Rachel, are back for more cute and codependent chaos in YOLO: Silver Destiny. These two friends continue to take life for granted until a valuable wakeup call ignites unique passions in both of these friends. Sarah decides that she’s meant to garden while Rachel develops a much more tyrannical endgame for herself. As Sarah and Rachel attempt to embrace their decisions, the return of Sarah’s sister, Sharon, and her imminent wedding nuptials light a greater fire under these friends to make their dreams a reality.

Our Take:

YOLO: Crystal Fantasy concludes itself in a surprisingly poignant fashion that teases big things for Sarah and Rachel, which makes it quite smart to begin “Sausage Sizzle” and YOLO: Silver Destiny with Sarah and Rachel lost in old habits as irresponsible tendencies rule supreme. There’s an effortlessness to these moments of debauchery, but it feels like a step backwards after the genuine clarity that both of these characters reach in YOLO: Crystal Fantasy. This premiere leans into regression only so that it stings even more when Sarah receives a sobering wake-up call. The internal tug of war that plays out between what these characters want and what they need fuels both “Sausage Sizzle” and “Planet Bali” and it’s likely to become the emotional throughline across all six episodes of YOLO: Silver Destiny. 

The first episode of YOLO: Silver Destiny, “Sausage Sizzle,” examines not only whether Sarah and Rachel have changed, but if they’re even capable of such self-improvement or if they’re doomed to diminishing returns. Alternatively, “Planet Bali” builds upon this foundation and explores these characters’ dreams and how to make them a reality, even if those aspirations include bloodshed and tyranny or an evil camera that can literally capture the perfect wedding photo. Sarah and Rachel have been through enough that they’re now free to finally be open to each other and act on their desires, but of course this clarity and confidence coincides with some complicated consequences. YOLO: Silver Destiny continues to tease that Rachel isn’t just a bad influence who’s dragging Sarah down, but that she’s actually outright evil.

“Sausage Sizzle” features two magical vegan sisters who initially come across as strange, but they become symbols for the importance of friendship. Sister 1 and Sister 2 never would have made it through their terrible childhoods if they were on their own. Their dynamic may seem unconventional, but they wouldn’t be where they are without the other and the same is true for Rachel and Sarah, for both better and for worse. It’s quite touching for the season premiere to illuminate these characters as Sliding Doors-esque variants of Sarah and Rachel who can subtly reinforce their codependency even if they have to become their subjects of ridicule in the process. It’s an easy angle, but one that really does set this season off on the right note and telegraphs a clear direction of the type of journey that lies ahead for these two.

Granted, most people are not watching YOLO: Silver Destiny for character development and impressive lore building, even if it’s this depth to the seemingly simple show that’s its secret weapon, in my opinion (and the same is true with Cusack’s new series, Koala Man). People watch YOLO: Silver Destiny for its gonzo, chaotic comedy and “Sausage Sizzle” and “Planet Bali” do not disappoint in these regards. This is still a stupidly funny show even if you choose to ignore the grander things that are in play. Both of these episodes effectively mix the mundane with the magical as ordinary events naturally snowball into world-ending catastrophes.

Sarah and Rachel continue to dominate the episodes, but the show’s background characters have some highly entertaining moments. Lucas–and to a lesser extent, Peleeken–even find themselves mixed up in a subplot that feels like the type of decision that wouldn’t have happened back in season one. There’s an even greater confidence to let Wollongong’s supporting players run amok. There’s also still a fascination with mixing graphic gore with absurdist humor and both episodes cross these wires in playfully grotesque ways that’s increasingly become YOLO’s signature style.

The storytelling and character work in YOLO are satisfying, but the visuals also continue to push boundaries. YOLO: Silver Destiny features flourishes in animation where the visuals tighten up and take on a heightened sophistication to better emphasize the character’s point. So many speeches are punctuated by an unexpected close-up on a character’s face that’s just disarming enough that it adds to the anxiety and comedy that’s in balance in every scene. It’s the right visual language for Cusack’s universe, which is just always slightly vibrating out of sync with reality. 

These creative aesthetic touches are always a delight in YOLO and these first two episodes still manage to include some more anarchic animation decisions that are simultaneously stylish and hilarious. One of the funniest moments from both episodes is when an insanely absurd and crudely drawn character, Snuggles, follows up a playful musical number with a matter-of-factly admission of crushing sadness. YOLO: Silver Destiny conditions you to expect a certain punchline, only for the comedy to always veer in a completely radical direction instead.

The biggest deterrent against these two episodes is that there’s not much in their individual stories and they’re forced to wrap up when it’s convenient to do so. The first season of YOLO didn’t suffer from its quarter-hour runtime, but these installments–particularly “Sausage Sizzle”–feel like they’re just introducing their main ideas when they then start to resolve them. YOLO: Silver Destiny is at least able to take advantage of its manic energy so that these abrupt endings aren’t as jarring, but the series is increasingly trying to fit too much into episodes. 

Serialization was also present throughout YOLO: Crystal Fantasy, but it’s much more front and center this season and also feels indicative of this show’s desire to grow. These episodes definitely benefit from airing together and help the premiere feel more substantial. It should be interesting to see how next week’s episode plays as a solo offering.  These are ultimately minor quibbles though for a bold, hilarious animated series that’s distinctly itself and never in danger of losing its voice. 

YOLO: Silver Destiny hasn’t lost any of the magic of YOLO: Crystal Fantasy and these new episodes will please both the obsessive fans and those who are jumping into Wollongong for the first time. “Sausage Sizzle” and “Planet Bali” are proof that this season will be just as weird and ambitious as the first as deeper thematic ideas string together wild flights of fantasy between two female friends.