Part 1 of season 3 of Disenchantment dropped on Netflix this month for fans and critics alike to eagerly dive in for more fantasy comedy/drama. The animation is exceptional, the music is original and memorable, and the voice cast is made up of some of the finest talent in the industry, but many feel the show still has not caught the wind in its sails. It would be unfair to compare the show to the legacy of The Simpsons or Futurama, yet even coming from the same creator, Disenchantment feels like it is missing that classic Matt Groening magic. Where is the show going wrong?
In the new world of streaming services, the joining of Matt Groening and Netflix back in 2017 seemed like a win for cartoon lovers. Disenchantment was to be the third cartoon created by the animation titan in a new genre, fantasy, to compliment the first two series (sitcom and sci-fi). They hired Rough Draft Studios to do the animation, the same company who made Futurama and subcontracted work for The Simpsons. They used similar writers and producers as the two prior shows, like David X. Cohen. They created an intriguing mix of cast members from both Simpsons and Futurama, like Tress MacNeille, Joe DiMaggio, Billy West, with renowned talent like Mauriche LaMarche, and newcomers Abbi Jacobson, Eric Andre, and Nat Faxon. Despite all that creative power, the first part of season 1 fell to a mediocre 62% on Rotten Tomatoes and part two inched up to a peak of 73%. Part three has no critical consensus yet, but the audience rating is hovering around 61%. So why is it that Disenchantment falls short of the Matt Groening series that preceded it?
Both The Simpsons and Futurama are episodic cartoons, meaning each episode is its own contained one and done story with little to no carryover. Futurama had more continuity than The Simpsons, but not in the way in which Disenchantment is setup.
The Simpsons and Futurama are designed to be a tight twenty-twoish minutes of jokes and gags. Disenchantment is a long-form narrative, with seeds and storylines that run all the way through the series. The problem, it seems, is that the fantasy cartoon meanders and deviates from its plots so much it feels unfocused. Fans of the comedy legends find the pacing of this show to be quite different. Unlike its older brothers, who flash and reset every episode, Disenchantment is taking its time getting to the payoffs of its slowly building narrative.
Although it was expected to be the new comedy of Matt Groening, Disenchantment is shaping up to be a drama. The fantasy cartoon’s focus is on the relationships of the characters and on the main characters recognizing their faults (but not overcoming them). It stews in their vulnerabilities and moods so much that it is sometimes just outright sad.
The Simpsons is full of fun characters fans want to cheer for, sing with, and imitate, like Homer and Bart. The same goes for Futurama. The Simpsons can also be topical, with episodes relating to something of current news and pop culture, and Futurama is referential to pop culture, Disenchantment lives solely in its own world with no connection to this one (except when it had a mini crossover with Futurama).
Like many comedies, Disenchantment is full of repeating jokes. From Herman, aka ‘Arrow in Window Guy,’ to Merkimer pig droning “saaaaaaaad,” to “Hi, I’m Elfo,” they reuse the same jokes throughout the series. It happens so often, however, that the laughs lessen each time. One, in particular, is repeated in each season, and twice in season 3. In season 1, Elfo whispers to Bean about the time he got in trouble and Daddy Elfo slapped him on the “bum bum.” Then he said it the same way in season 2, and a third time in season 3 but as a boast to the Explorer’s Club in Steamland.
In the seventh episode of the new season, “Bad Moon Rising,” Elfo takes part in a Trog moonlight ritual where they, surprise, slap each other’s bums. The writers of The Simpsons and Futurama kept the show fresh and original. In this show, which has more drama than comedy, the jokes they do deliver are not always new. Rehashed jokes like Elfo’s “bum bum” feel tired the third and fourth time around.
The phenomenon that is The Simpsons is unparalleled. It is an animation that has been running for thirty-two years and counting. It is an American cultural icon that is studied in University Pop Culture classes around the world. It has made as much of an impact on America as it has made fun of its citizens. Futurama was so beloved by its fans the show was revived five years after being canceled by 20th Century Fox. It would be hard to imagine Disenchantment having that kind of staying power.
This is predominantly because of the way in which the show is delivered to audiences. With The Simpsons and Futurama, the shows were aired weekly on television, and each season would come out over the span of a year. This gave time for audiences to ingest and discuss the humor and stories presented. After initial releases, both shows would go into TV syndication, playing reruns constantly day by day for years. This much time and this much content causes a firm connection to the material, vastly different than the methods used by Netflix. Disenchantment is dropped in parts of ten episodes for streamers to binge at their leisure.
The same type of discussion is not possible for Disenchantment fans as it was for fans of the earlier shows. One person’s experience with the show could be vastly different from the next person. Some people choose not to binge at all, and instead wait for the entirety of the show to conclude before starting to watch. Quotes from The Simpsons could become catchphrases in ways they never can for Disenchantment. There is no recess or water cooler talk for Disenchantment.
Neither The Simpsons nor Futurama were runaway successes when they first launched, and, if Disenchantment is playing the long game with its storylines, maybe by the series finale all will be well in its world. It is slowly laying the pipework to what could, hopefully, be a satisfying conclusion. Though it is certain part four will be released next year, it is still too early to have a definite date. Whether Netflix renews the show for another season (two parts) after that remains to be seen.
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