SOLAR OPPOSITES ATTRACT AUDIENCES
Written by Evan Macedo
Although Solar Opposites was the number 1 watched show on Hulu for a time, still too many people haven’t heard of it. Since we are all supposed to be quarantined, there is no excuse to not watch TV. When I heard that one of the co-creators of Rick and Morty was making another show, I was very excited. Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan’s absurd and crude humor has created not only joy and laughter in the home, but also landmark events in the real world (Anyone else remember the McDonald’s riots over Szechauan Sauce?). How could this show compare to such an iconic masterpiece?
The short answer is: not horribly. The Hulu original has the marks of many of the streaming service’s original content: a great team, good concept, but does not quite reach the lofty expectations. Having said that, I enjoyed watching the show.
In short, the show centers around a “family” of aliens, living in middle America on a mission. They are waiting for their “baby,” called a Pupa, to take over the world. Korvo (Justin Roiland) and Terry (Thomas Middleditch) employ the tropes of father and wife, while their pseudo children, Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone) and Jesse (Mary Mack), play out different approaches to interacting with the humans. The family struggles to not only get along with each other, but with their community as a whole: relatable content for us all. Unfortunately, many of the storylines for the main family are better described as zany than laugh-out-loud funny. You watch, appreciating the humor, but it lacks the constant zingers that we have come to know from Rick and Morty. The show luckily keeps a similar sensibility to its creators’ predecessor, keeping the charm, even without all the flare.
Where this show excels, the reason why the show is worth talking about, is from its side story. The troublesome Yumyulack has a shrink ray—you know, as aliens do—and shrinks humans to put in his wall. Quickly, the trapped humans create their own society, and we follow the captives trying to overthrow the dictatorship that has emerged. This storyline is so compelling, I wish it were the full show. The resistance is so well developed, you forget that you’re watching a comedy and, instead, become enveloped in an animated war piece. This is not to say that there isn’t humor during these divergents from the main family. But calling that plotline a comedy is like calling ice-cream a dessert, as opposed to the divine gift that it is. That is all I can say without spoiling too much.
Although it lacks some of the comedic firepower, one of the improvements from Rick and Morty is the heart that the characters have. While you empathize with Rick and Morty, you don’t get too upset when they face challenges, knowing that everything will be okay. The side plot of Solar Opposites keeps you guessing, and your attachment to the characters never dissipates. The family is one that we can all relate to, despite being from another planet. Hulu has already renewed the series for season 2. The show is also wonderful for the Easter eggs in the background. There is not a wasted inch on the screen. Hopefully, the show will continue to find its voice and build on the outstanding characters it has developed. It shows the solar similarities that we have more than the solar opposites. If you like zany animation, sci-fi, or an excuse to stare at a screen, this show is a worthwhile binge. HustleTV we love our Hulu shows