Season Review: Big Mouth Season Two

“Unleash your inner monster!”

The show all about the awkward, uncomfortable, mess that is puberty has finally returned for a second season.  When this show initially hit Netflix, it was an unexpected journey through a reality that we all faced when our own bodies changed.  In place of a shock factor that drives many other animated sitcoms, Big Mouth, succeeded at making us all squirm in our chairs as we recalled the times that we first masturbated, got our first period, or dealt with our hormonal peers.  It was like watching a hilarious car crash where everyone is talking about taboo subjects.

So, naturally, hopes are high for the second go-around of Big Mouth.

The first season managed to cover a lot of topics in ten episodes.  With taking this series further, they are left with two options: continue the formula of facing an uncomfortable subject in each individual episode; or, take these characters to the next level.  Thankfully, they chose the latter and season two pumps up the puberty game.  Not to say that they didn’t manage to find a few more taboo topics to touch on including shame, bisexuality, and delinquency.

Andrew was very much at the centre of season one as we followed him through his first masturbation, wet dream, and girlfriend.  However, he takes a step back as more of a supporting character in season two, as the rest of the cast goes through there own significant changes.  Still, Andrew is driven by his hormone monster, Maury, through some more embarrassment like getting beat up by his girlfriend and being caught masturbating at his best friends house.

It is Nick that takes his turn at coming into himself this season.  Unlike Andrew, Nick ends up with a rotating cast of hormone monsters, most of which causing more damage than good.  While Nick struggles at the start of the season with being behind in his development, he goes through some major moments from trying drugs to touching a boob.  You can’t help but cheer for this lovable character, maybe even more so than Andrew – he’s just a lot chiller about the whole thing.

Poor Jessi goes through the most significant character arch in season two.  After discovering her mother’s adulterous lesbian relationship at the end of the first season, Jessi faces the emotions of her parent’s separation.  This causes the young girl to go down a spiral that even her own hormone monster can’t get control of.  It’s a tough journey to watch as her life falls apart, but it is a real-world situation that allows the show to go in new directions.  Still, she is a lovable character, and you want the best for her.

The rest of the cast all have their chance to shine.  Each of them going through a big change, even Steve manages to have an episode about him losing his virginity – it also included the best intro.  Jay goes through plenty this season, but nothing as wild as him discovering his bisexuality.  Even Missy has to face her own sexuality as her hormones begin to come into effect.

There are some great new additions to the cast, but none with as much impact as the Shame Wizard.  The monster that pulls on the conscience of all the children feeds off of them feeling terrible about themselves and taking out their emotions.  A hilarious addition that helps to bring the whole season together, Shame Monster was a driving factor in many of the episodes.

While the show has a reliable formula that has taken it this far, it was nice to see them change things up for a couple of episodes.  “The Planned Parenthood Show” ended up being one of my favourite episodes of the series as a sex-ed class takes the cast on a journey of their imagination which includes skits from reality television to a sci-fi drama.  The other episode that stood out for me was “Guy Town” which put all of the male characters in a messy look at what being a man is like in the modern age.

Overall, I loved the whole season.  I can’t say that it was better or worse than the inaugural run, but more of a natural progression.  The complete awkwardness that everyone resonated with may not be as prominent, yet it is replaced by dynamic storytelling and great new additions to the cast.  All of the humour that drives this series forward has only gotten stronger, and the writers have seemed to have found their flow.  I could definitely see them pump out another season or two after this, but eventually, they will have to run out of places to take these characters.  For now, we can enjoy this uncomfortable humour.