Review: Animals “Flies”

Spoilers Below

Flies

Mike decides to stay over at Phil’s house because he may or may not be getting beat by his drunk dad. As time goes on Phil’s hanging with a new group of flies that are up to no good while Mike is doing his best at being a supportive pal. The two get into a rather heated argument but even more time passes (literally minutes) and we find Mike with a job and Phil’s got a kid now. The two head to a diner and catch up before Mike’s gotta catch a train back into the city. As the duo get ready to say their goodbyes, Phil has his Jenny from Forest Gump moment and starts throwing rocks at his old abusive home.

More time passes (like another minute) and Mike’s mother passes away. We come to learn that Mike’s wife is a cunt and Phil’s son is in rehab. The two get into another argument over the deal, and we find out that Phil has become an author and has his first published work. After Mike reads his copy, he visits Phil at the puddle. We learn that Mike has since divorced and remarried while Phil’s son has become an optometrist. But, would either have changed the way they have lived their lives? Nope…not a second.

Horses

Two horses are discussing public urination and if it’s prim and proper. Soon, topics like blinders, feathers, and more convince the horses that they deserve better treatment. To help, the Wanda Sykes horse convinces the other one to get them to pee at the same time.

Cats

A$AP drops in and does a music video that I think should be another TV show.

Our Take

“Flies” is by far the most polarizing episode of the season, in that there’s shades of brilliance going up against tried-and-true formulas that work.

The actual “Flies” bit is by far the best written work that Mike and Phil have done in their young careers, and really it’s not even close. The heart-warming tale of two flies just living out their lives one second at a time showcased heart and humor inter-laden with dramatic moments that featured a side of these producers that we really haven’t seen before.

BUT! And there’s a but…why the fuck would you even bother throwing in the “Horses” bit. Was it funny? Sure. And in any other episode showcased this season, it would’ve worked just fine. But, to mix that in with what the guys were trying to do with “Flies” doesn’t make sense to me. Even another music video would’ve been a better idea than to but in the “Horses” bit as it would’ve allowed us to catch our breaths while we were at the edge of our seats wondering what the hell was going to happen with these god damn flies.

I guess a good example of the correct way to do an episode like this would have been the Family Guy episode “Brian & Stewie” that decided to throw out the normal formulas that work i.e. cutaway gags, etc, and just stick to a premise that can work all by itself and have jokes in there that don’t cut you in half like a normal Family Guy episode would. Instead, Kara Vallow kind of just stuck with a theme and out came 30-minutes of Seth MacFarlane just talking to himself.

Similarly, “Flies” should’ve just been “Flies”. “Horses” was not needed, and someone should’ve made the move to leave this bit for another episode. That said, “Flies” is required watching, because you may be starting to see the rise of two young, and very special cartoon writers that you may have never known about.