RHCP, Cats, and Jesusfreaks. An Overview of Love, Death + Robots: Season 4
“Love, Death + Robots,” Netflix’s mostly animated sci-fi anthology series, was released on May 5th. Tim Miller returns with some other regulars like Patrick Osborne and Robert Valley. The 10 short films season has a variety of animation styles and themes that don’t conform to only the expected technophobia. Is this season as good as its predecessors? I will review each episode shortly and concisely, “Small Review” style.
Can’t Stop
The season kicks off with a lame RHCP puppet concert. It mirrors how lame Netflix has become, and it is not a good way to start.
Close Encounters of the Mini Kind
This is some obnoxious shit a 13 year-old would make. But as far as obnoxious shit a 13 year-old would make goes, it’s some funny shit.
Spider Rose
It’s visually impressive, but it could’ve been a longer film with more character depth.
400 Boys
There is a reason Zima Blue is one of the most (if not the most) memorable Love, Death and Robots shorts. The animation style is superb. Robert Valley might be the best of the recurrent filmmakers.
The Other Large Thing
This one is about a cat and a robot joining forces. The humans are ugly assholes in this one.
Golgotha
What a horrible live-action short! I thought it was an Asylum mockbuster.
The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur
Tim Miller did two of my favorite Love, Death, and Robots shorts. However, his episodes this season are ridiculous. What a fall from grace. Mr. Beast is in it. Yes, you read it right. Moving on.
How Zeke Got Religion
The animated short is set in WWII. I barfed a little with the Christian propaganda.
Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners
A cute animated mockumentary about electronic appliances. Including a dildo. Part 2 will feature a Fleshlight.
For He Can Creep
A season with many intelligent cats, concluding with them fighting the devil. Too sad so many episodes sucked. They should’ve done a full-length about the kitties getting powers in 18th Century London, to taking over the universe four or five centuries later.
It should’ve cut all the bad RHCP concerts and WWII Jesus freaks.
The Entire Season
Overall, this is a ★★★ season due to the stronger episodes. Their idea was to comment on pets and religion as a commodity. Although they did a good job antagonizing humans against pets, they fell short on the religious themes. Naming an episode Golgotha and making Christian propaganda didn’t work for me. After all, isn’t this a show about humanity’s relationship with technology? They could’ve done better with the religion theme.
At this point, they should produce a full-length film directed by one of their best collaborators. Robert Valley’s animation is impressive; he proved he’s a great storyteller. David Fincher, give him money to do a movie. Unfortunately, this is their weakest season. But nothing on Netflix is as good as before anyway.
