Review: Animals “Pigeons”

Pigeon poo is supposed to be good luck.

Spoilers Below

Animals returns in its second episode of the second season, “Pigeons.” Unlike the previous season, each new episode focuses solely on one story line. In this episode, it’s the young pigeon Jacob who receives the lion’s share of screen time.

Jacob is a normal teenage pigeon, often behind a computer screen. His younger brother Miles, however, is a pillar of the community: he’s selfless, polite, well-liked by the people around him. In other words, the more that he shines, the worse things are for Jacob.

The conflict reaches its boiling point when Jacob becomes distracted and forgets to refrigerate a cake, spoiling the birthday party of the beloved Miles. His error, though innocent, draws the strong condemnation of the adults around him, and that in turn brews into malice toward Miles. While out performing community service, Jacob sees an opportunity to wrong-foot Miles: he dares him to retrieve a shiny penny between railroad tracks.

Unsurprisingly, a train does come along, and Miles is run over. Jacob is overcome by guilt, and during the funeral, leaves to find his own way in the world, away from the shame of having caused the death of his brother.

Jacob moves through the city, finally coming to a restroom, falling down a rabbit hole, “Animals” style. In the fantasy world that follows, Jacob plays out a bildungsroman among a colorful cast: a morbid baker, heavily stereotyped lawyers, a quest to save a princess. In the end, Jacob’s adventures lead him to mature and return to his parents. His parents, far from being upset, are welcoming, and easily forgive Jacob after his confession of guilt. According to them, Jacob isn’t responsible – “We live in nature. Things kill us all the time,” says his uncle Phil.

Animals rides on jarring, dark subject matter paired with an ironically light tone; it partakes of a darker comic sensibility that rewards a certain kind of viewer who distrusts nice things and nice people – or at least one who can laugh at a joke like “The Aristocrats.” It’s fun viewing and paces itself well in these new episode-long plots.