Season Review: Paradise PD Part Three

 

 

Netflix has become a dominant figure with its impressive line-up of adult animated sitcoms. Shows like Big Mouth and BoJack Horseman have shown us the possibilities of anthology storytelling in the media. But no series has been better served by the seemingly non-existent censorship than Paradise PD.  

In two seasons, Paradise PD has pushed the limits of what can appear in a cartoon. Likely, there is no other series on television that has shown as many penises. And still, the show pushes the bar farther becoming everything that Family Guy wishes it could be.

The show centres around the local police department of the small town, Paradise. Though it has grown to become much more than the star wacky officers. Paradise PD has utilized the anthology storytelling format to deliver something unique and satisfying for fans.

There has been an underlying rule in adult animation up until recently that a show must set back to a status quo by the start of the next episode. It has served shows like The Simpsons to remain relatively the exact same for 32 seasons. But there is something to be said for change.

One of the first shows to break that barrier was 1994s The Tick. A first season plot resulted in the face of the moon having the word “Cha” written across it, big enough to be seen from Earth. For the remainder of the series, those words were a constant in the night scenery. It worked as an ongoing joke but also was a gift for fans who remembered the origins of the moon’s scripture.

Paradise PD utilizes that same concept but incorporates it into the foundation of the series. On the surface, this is a silly animation full of dick and fart jokes. But as things progress through you see that every action has a reaction in the town of Paradise. A character that dies stays dead. A one-night stand with a dolphin becomes a marriage. If the town is destroyed, it must be rebuilt.

And that is where part three of Paradise PD kicks off. At the conclusion of the second season, the town was completely ruined by nuclear weapons. Where other shows could bounce back from that with a quick bit of dialogue, Paradise PD spends a significant amount of this next season dealing with the fallout.

Episode one of part three showcases how the star characters survived for months in sewers and bunkers. They come back to a town destroyed and full of mutants. The remainder of the season faces these new challenges including the mayor attempting to fund a town restoration. And by the finale comes, they are still dealing with the aftermath of the explosion – though they have some fresh problems.

Officer Fitz, who was responsible for the nuclear attack faces his own set of challenges. Getting over the mental affliction that caused him to become Kingpin, Fitz now faces the guilt of his actions. The townsfolk who have been mutated are out for blood and spend much of the season seeking their revenge. But Fitz has his own more pressing issues, including his newfound marriage to a dolphin and a child on the way.

Though the show lost one of its best villains in Fitz, he works just as effectively as the target. His new mortal enemies use some strange tactics to get back at him. But situations like attempting to get him to pee in the mouth of Peewee Herman tend to backfire.

Also, fans need not worry, as this season includes the return of the ongoing public service announcement gag, “Fitz Bitz”. This time around Fitz heeds warnings about fucking toasters and the inevitable coyote reckoning.

Chief Randall Crawford goes through the most changes throughout part three. The first new episode has the chief fighting for his family and learning the value of his relationships. Which leads him to want another child, a better one to replace Kevin. The show manages to overcome its own canon when it comes to Chief being sterile. And the latter half of the season has him facing the challenges of having a new baby on the way.

Additionally, Chief Randall’s ongoing feud with Chief Hancock reaches critical mass this season. Randall was able to get his rival good with the old loose saltshaker lid gag. But it takes his enemy over the edge and forces him to deliver his most elaborate scheme yet. “How the Cookie Crumbles” is one of the best episodes in the bundle and a must-watch for how these events climax.

That is not the only ongoing plot that finds a climax this season.

The romantic triangle between Kevin, Gina, and Dusty has been the source for many comedic moments throughout the show’s run. And this season delivers new heights for awkward relationships. Specifically, when Gina gets a new bionic clitoris installed and it takes over in the most sexually driven 2001 parody ever seen.

However, there are significant developments for Kevin who came out this season in better shape than he went in. Relentlessly, Kevin works on developing a relationship with Gina by getting her involved with LARP and even going to speak with her father directly. 

Surprisingly, this pays off. Unexpectedly, Gina has a change of tune late in the season and officially begins a relationship with Kevin.

Of course, it is not as simple as the two finding love as it does in other television sitcoms. There are many obstacles that stand in the way of their blooming relationship. Like the fact that Gina still has a bullet in her brain that causes her to be obsessively attracted to overweight men. But new problems also set in their path such as Kevin’s “real” Canadian girlfriend, Maplemoose Hockeybeaversyrup.

As for Dusty, he is as oblivious to Gina’s sexual harassment as ever. Thankfully, that leaves the doors open for much of his usual adventures of wackiness. This season includes the big man dressing up for parodies of Inspector Gadget, James Bond, and Dukes of Hazzard. But things get crazier for the character when he becomes the leader of a Weightwatchers protest group.

The other major comic relief character, Hopson, goes through his own whirlwind of surprises. At one point, the old cop is fired from the series and forced to try and find work on other animations like Big Mouth and Rick and Morty. The fourth wall breaking humour works as another ongoing gag throughout the season, often pointing out a literally broken wall.

Besides the major ongoing plots and character developments, there are some great stand-alone episodes within part three.

The topic of gun control takes the stage in “Trigger Warning” as the cops get a tour of NRA. Right in time for the release of smart guns with artificial intelligence. The episode involves a great musical number and everyone in town getting a gun from the mentally unstable to infants.

Chief gets a couple of highlight episodes. One of them involves an ass polyp that grows and attempts to take over his life. The other involves the unborn fetus of his soon-to-be child attempting to murder him.  

This show is weird.

And thankfully, we just got twelve fresh episodes of weirdness to enjoy.

From the way that this season went, it is clear that there are plenty of stories left to tell in Paradise. The anthological progression of the series continues to heighten the stakes and deliver on promises.  

Part three leaves off with some plots left in the air, but also gives satisfactory conclusions to some of the bigger stories. More importantly, the high-level of low-brow humour is as consistent and effective as it has ever been.

Paradise PD may not be for everyone. The series does not hold back when it comes to making light of sensitive situations. And as mentioned, there are more penises throughout this show than you would find scrolling PornHub. However, for fans of the comedy stylings of shows like Family Guy or American Dad, Paradise PD is a step up from those long-running sitcoms.