English Dub Review: Red Ketchup “Guardian of the Ketchupalypse” ; “Red Pops Art!”

This fucking show! From the very first moments of the fifth episode to the final moment of the sixth, ‘Red Ketchup,’ continues to make a convincing argument that it, not crude petroleum, is Canada’s most important export of 2024. Red Ketchup, the man, may get up to some pretty controversial shit, but I defy you to not fall at least a little bit in love with this modern day Popeye as he scarfs down pills as he runs through the streets of Toronto, shouting  “Try and make me, you Canuck bastards!” There’s this little power-up ‘zing’ sound that happens as the drugs kick in that’s just the most perfect sound. This ‘zing’ is my favourite sound of the season so far, bar none!

Of course, abusing drugs is bad, especially prescription drugs, so this is the part of the review where we remind ourselves that Red is definitively a Not OK person. He doesn’t care if drugs severely shorten his life span, because his past has made him into an genetically-enhanced, emotionally shattered shell of a man with no interest in sex that lives his whole life trying to take revenge on the abusive father that he’s already murdered. But despite all that, he’s also just a little bit ‘‘zing,’ you know? 

Now, a lot of the time on this show, the negative effects of drugs are shown through Peter Plywood – Red’s milquetoast Canadian sidekick. If Red takes a little something extra to help him punch his way out of prison, that same something is sure to make Plywood vomit uncontrollably until he passes out. But in ‘Guardian of the Ketchupocalypse’ taking one of Red’s errant pills makes him into just an all-around chill hang that may or may not have extra sensory perceptions. Red has a lot of influence over Peter Plywood – the young Canadian exchange agent clearly joined the FBI in search of a role model, and for better or for worse, he’s found one. There’s some very funny ‘high guy’ dialogue coming from Peter in this episode. His sing-song-y “I heard you took a hugging class!” is just one of my favourites. Even when he’s not talking, you can see him in the background, rubbing trees and looking at his own hands with an expression of wonder. He also breakdances. Great job once again to Kintaro Akiyama for his excellent work bringing so much life to a character basically known for being uninteresting. It’s also very sweet when Red tries to protect Peter by telling him to stay off drugs.

Sally and Bill’s pseudo-surgery on Skip Cooney finally helps them clue-in to the fact that Red is deep in the middle of the Noxi-Corp conspiracy, which is actually just the Templars conspiracy. Cooney admits to the whole plan, but he also admits to chugging tequila shots out of this accountant’s asshole. He’s also the voice of Deputy Penguin, the creature that haunts Red’s dreams. Sally is as competent and cool as ever, knocking out doctors and stealing their clothes like she’s the one who went to spy school. Also, respect to Bill for being a good dude and a good sponsor – it turns out that Bill and Cooney have been going to A.A. together this whole time, but he’s chosen to respect the anonymity of the group. 

When Red finally does get his hands on the 5th cup, he turns into a giant cockroach, which seems like a bit of a burn on God, but Peter totally gets it right away. Cockroaches can survive a nuclear holocaust, they’re super strong, and they can fly – just like God. It’s a Kafka-esque twist, made all the more enjoyable by the fact that Peter is the one who brings up Kafka, which means I don’t have to waste time feeling unduly smug because I sometimes pick up on very obvious literary allusions. It’s also nice that Red really appreciates being a giant cockroach, instead of being a total Gregor about it. Huzzah!

The second episode of the pair, ‘Red Pops Art!’ is equally as brilliant as the first, but it’s a bit of a different animal. One of the glories of ‘Red Ketchup’ is not just that it’s set in the 1980s – it’s from the 1980s. Godbout and Fournier started their iconic comic series in 1982, which means it comes by its Andy Warhol references honestly. The show may be made today, but it doesn’t feel like it’s from our time. It’s irreverent and vulgar and has jokes about a gay artist being ‘bent.’ But Red also hates homophobia as much as he hates socialism. This show depicts a version of the coked-up 80’s society it comes from, and can shift suddenly from feeling like it’s so far from where we are now, to feeling like it’s holding up a mirror to current affairs. But it’s also fresh and inventive and odd. It both showcases how violent and uncaring our ‘heroes’ used to be, and it kind of makes us realize that we kind of miss that ugly version of our best worst ideals. Steve ‘Red’ Ketchup may just be the true out-of-time man, and the hero our society needs.

Being around Norwhal’s art awakens something in both Peter and Red, as good art is wont to do. Peter is over the moon about getting called intriguing by the inventor of hyper-kinetic, neo-proto-realistic pot-au-feu arts, while Red is stricken by the repetitive colourful prints of himself in juxtaposition with his clone corpses. It’s a positively thrilling moment when he quietly says “the observer is the observed,” as he gazes at the exhibition. When Peter points out that this Krishna-ism is a profound thought, Red claims to have read on the bathroom wall of the zoo or whatever. 

The writing on this show is also so damn funny and snappy. Take this exchange, which occurs at Norwhal’s party and I have copied out here in full.

Red – “You stay here and hobnob, I’ll go find the vault.”

Peter – “There’s not many people worth hobbing or nobbing with, Red.”

Red – “Too bad, just yuk it up with the muckety mucks, and once I’ve stolen the chalice, we’ll get out of this funhouse mirror of a party.”

In my opinion, that’s some top notch partner banter right there! It’s also great when Red takes Peter’s hand to ensure they stick together when he drinks from the 6th cup. 

Olga is also in fine form in this episode. She knocks out Peter and dances with his unconscious body, Leland Palmer-style, which is funny enough, but she also asks the DJ to play them some Weird Al, which is double delightful. 

Whatever happens on the other side of the swirling abyss, it’s certain to be something else – it always is with this show! To paraphrase a stoned as hell Peter Plywood, I’ve seen a lot of stuff since I started watching ‘Red Ketchup’ – some of it imaginary, some of it not real, but all of it very real.

See you on the other side!!