Season Review: Big Mouth Season Three

 

 

Big Mouth returns for its third season and has developed into something bigger than itself. What began as a baby show, gaining viewers through shock and discomfort, has matured into one of the most lovable animated sitcoms available. Once upon a time, this series relied on the stigmas of puberty and adolescent sexuality to be recognized as an entertaining show, a format that would undoubtedly run out of material over time. Self-aware of itself, Big Mouth has grown into something that doesn’t only talk about the subjects that make the pre-teen years difficult, it is addressing topics that are becoming more relevant in today’s generation such as sexual identity, depression, and addiction.

There is a clear development of the series through the years. Season one was innocently vulgar, putting young characters in situations they are naïve about, but will eventually have to face. Season two went a bit off of the rails with an episode about cannabis and bringing in the recurring character The Shame Wizard. Season Three could have gone any direction, but seems to have found its footing. This was a year less reliant on the topics it was facing, and more about how the characters are developing.

Fictional fantasy creatures have always been a part of the show. The hormone monsters play a significant role, but also there are ghosts, depression cats, and a talking ladybug. Season two explored much more of this fantasy realm, with episodes even taking place in the offices of the hormone monsters. Thankfully, season three takes itself much more seriously. Most of these characters make an appearance, and there is even a couple of new humanization of emotions and physical objects. However, when Depression Cat or Adderall do come into play, the jokes are used, and the character is put away, a much better method than playing the same notes until they are dead.

The serialized storytelling continues as Nick learns to grow later than his peers, Andrew maintains his frustration with women, and Jessi faces some of life’s bigger problems. Yet, this too has developed as these storylines do not take a full season to flesh out, and they are often faced with a newer dilemma, like a hot cousin trying to make out. In fact, where the other seasons were very much about these kids being friends and there social circle developing, season three is about all of that falling apart and these friends becoming ever much more distant.

I think it would be safe to say that Jay is the real star of season three. Played by Jason Mantzoukas, arguably one of the funniest people on the planet right now, Jay goes through so much growth and development. When we last saw the young “magician” he had burned his pillows that he was sharing a bisexual relationship with. Coming into himself, Jay not only accepts his sexuality in season three, but he also announces it to the whole student body. Beyond that, he goes through many varying plots throughout the season including righting an erotic guy-on-horse novel with Missy, becoming homeless and finding shelter in Nicks home, and becoming obsessed with a Netflix show about a Canadian homosexual magician. At points when this show was getting too serious, Jay was there to relieve the tension and bring things back to ridiculous. And, with Mantzoukas’ powerful voice, it was all that much better.

An abundant amount of A-list comedian guest stars didn’t hurt the cause for season three either. Legendary Martin Short makes an appearance as the aforementioned Canadian magician. Kristen Wiig nails the role of Jessi’s un-pleasured vagina. Ali Wong plays a new kid at the school who shocks everyone with her confidence as a pan-sexual. But, Chelsea Peretti truly stole the show as Nick’s humanized smartphone. She takes the role of screen addiction to a whole other level, and her voice was perfect for the part. It’s hard not to hear her and think of her brilliant performances on Brooklyn 99.

The other character that deserves to be recognized from this season is Coach Steve. Typically a hilarious part of the show, Coach Steve was pushed to the background in most of the season. After losing his job at the school, he is forced to try his hand at other occupations throughout the ten episodes. Coach Steve makes appearances as everything from a gas station attendant to a YouTuber to President Roosevelt. Thankfully, the Fab Five from Queer Eye helps him to pull his life together and earn his job back by the end of the season. However, this side adventure was one of the more humorous parts of the year.

Though most of the ten episodes are used to develop the ongoing stories, there were at least a few fun side adventures to mix things up. One involves Duke sharing a period piece story about losing his virginity. Another is a riff on the classic teenage drama where everything turns into a musical for the school play. But, what was probably the best episode of the season was when Nick joined Andrew and his family on vacation to Florida. Besides the plentiful jokes on incest and other terrible things, the whole episode concludes with the entire state being destroyed.

Best of all the season culminates in an epic finale. And, we are talking Avengers: End Game level epic. I can honestly say that safely because the entire school gains superpowers which culminate in a dodge ball game and a final battle. If nothing else this was a fun play on the popularity of comic book movies. But, it was also an entertaining way to conclude the season. The parody helped to accentuate the importance of how the season was wrapping up.

Big Mouth truly is one of the best adult animated shows out there right now. It is packed full of some of the best comedic talents that you can find anywhere. It is addressing topics that most shows don’t know how to handle yet. It has taken on the serialized sitcom format that streaming has induced and utilized it to their advantage. There is so much to be excited about. Honestly, there have been many concerns about whether or not this show can maintain its relevance, but if anything the series continues to improve. More than that, season three is leaps and bounds ahead of where things were just one year ago.