Review: The Great North “Feast of Not People Adventure”

 

 

Overview:

The annual Not People Feast is coming up and the Tobin family has a lot to prepare.

In hopes of connecting closer with his father, Wolf convinces Beef to compete in the traditional cadaver hunt. A regimented plan has Wolf getting in his finest shape for the big event. Unfortunately, the effects backfire on him in the worst ways.

Meanwhile, the town can’t wait for the surprise feast cake that is made by a mysterious unknown baker. But the family doesn’t know that Ham took over for the last cake lady after she went to prison. And now, Ham is having performance anxiety in preparation for the most important cake of the year.

 

Our Take:

What a treat that Fox has so much adult animation currently in its line-up that they can afford to sprinkle these little bonuses on us. Within the last 16-months Animation Domination has doubled its content. The benefits are overflowing into providing us fresh content where Sundays would have been filled with reruns.

The Great North had its official premiere on January 3rd. Making it the first new adult animated series to premiere in what is promising to be a bolstered 2021. Early reception for the new show has been positive. Expectantly so with the talent and crew behind this series including Loren Bouchard, Nick Offerman, Will Forte, and Jenny Slate.

Thankfully, after just two episodes it is evident that The Great North has staying power. 

Unlike the other animated Fox ventures, this series sets its own pace.  Bless the Harts is attempting to revitalize a King of the Hill narrative, and Duncanville is a suburban family that could easily live next door to The Simpsons or the Griffins. But while The Great North ventures into Bob’s Burgers style humour, it delivers a unique setting and fresh approach.

It is good practice to get a few episodes into a new animated series to fully immerse within the world. The great shows have you hooked before that. For me, this second episode has me invested.  

The pilot was fantastic and accomplished its responsibility of introducing us to each of the main characters. Simultaneously, it substantially gave a deep understanding of their current status quo and some of their personal issues.

This second episode put it all on the table and allowed us to feast. Without slowing down to pander it presented as fully realized and experienced. In a way that other shows cannot find until their third or fourth season.  Nevermind the first episode after a pilot.

It is impressive that they have created something this dynamic this early. The dialogue is quick and witty and delivered with charisma. The plot is planted early, and it ambitiously grows while offering each character purpose. Most importantly, the story invests the viewer with early promises and worthwhile pay-offs.

Will Forte is built for voice-over work and this series gives him a chance to flaunt his overly excited dumb-guy humour. It is a surprise that he is not the headliner on this series, though that speaks volumes as to the comedy behind The Great North.

Jenny Slate is an absolute star and killing it with the Bob’s Burgers brand dialogue. Judy Tobin is the long-lost Belcher sibling. That would be if not for her Alaskan twin, Ham Tobin, played by Paul Rust. The siblings showcased their secret handshake within this episode, and it would fill the Belcher kids with jealousy.

To top it all off, we have all been granted a gift with Nick Offerman basically playing Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation in an animated sitcom. On Simpson’s logic, he can now play this beloved character for another 30 years. I would love to personally thank whoever managed to line that up.

They gave it all to us in the second episode and said, “here’s the show, here’s the whole package.” Honestly, it could not have happened any other way. This series has too much potential behind it not to click into place. All the pieces are here, and it is a winning dish.

Animation Domination just got a whole lot better. Plop this between The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers, and we have one of the best line-ups Fox has had in years. I cannot wait.