Review: Krapopolis “Casino”

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Overview (Spoilers Below):

Shlub has a gambling problem.  Tyrannis and Stupendous set off to sea.

Our Take:

Regardless of which era we live in, there’s no denying that gambling is a serious issue, whether it’s for fun or to earn extra cash.  The world of Krapopolis is unsurprisingly no different, as this week’s episode of “Rick and Morty” creator Dan Harmon’s fantasy sitcom focuses on the latest victim of this dangerous obsession: Shlub.  After losing everything while gambling on people’s actions, Shlub turns to Hippocampus to repay his debt.  However, the fate of their victory lies in Tyrannis’s seaworthy quest to an island while confronting Athena’s cheating ways.  

This is one of the shows I usually have on as background noise, not because I think it isn’t good.  I just didn’t think it was on the same level as other Fox animated shows I enjoyed, like The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers.  However, there have been several episodes throughout its three seasons that have convinced me there is potential in its concept of a demigod ruler and his dysfunctional family.  Of course, that includes ones that keep my attention from start to finish.

The third season’s seventh episode, “Casino”, is another episode I would add to that list.  Though the gambling-addiction plot has been done numerous times in other shows, notably animated sitcoms, Krapopolis offers a pretty amusing take on this era’s casino aspect.  Instead of betting on sports players like in modern casinos, the show features gods betting on mortals about which actions they’ll perform next, highlighting its satirical parallels to modern society.  Additionally, this is one of the few episodes I’ve seen where plot B plays a crucial role in plot A, with Hippo and Shlub betting on Tyrannis to retrieve a rare flower for his supposed love interest, Viscera.  Although the humor and themes of gambling and cheating fell flat in the second half, “Casino” offered a tolerable reflection on the gods’ money-betting, underscoring the show’s satirical essence. 

About Marcus Gibson

I'm a recent writer for BubbleBlabber who has an extraordinary passion for films and television, especially from the animation genre. I also spent plenty of hours playing video games, most notably from the Kingdom Hearts franchise. My goal is to provide the most friendly and entertaining reviews on the planet. Whenever something might be good or not, I always remain optimistic and curious about a specific concept from a film or television show.