English Dub Review: Masameer County Season Two 

Overview:

Masameer County is back for a second season, filled with a cast of colorful and zany characters equipped with outrageous stories. The Saudi animated series offers a glimpse into social issues inside a changing country that looks to catch up to modern culture. Masameer County’s narrative plays out in a loosely connected anthology of misadventures and powerful tales filled with touching themes including the acceptance of knowledge, the pursuit of long-standing goals, overcoming fears and anxieties, and much more.  

From the creative minds of Abdulaziz Almuzaini and Malik Nejer, Masameer County first started as Masameer in 2011. The cartoon then moved to YouTube in 2014, where it grew in popularity. Since then, the show has amassed an impressive following and can now be seen on Netflix.  

Our Take:

Masameer County is an off-beat and irreverent comedy with a unique narrative style of its own. The show is quirky as hell and honestly makes no apologies for it. Some people may be turned off by the show’s whirlwind pace and oddly structured story. For others, Masameer County is a gold mine full of gross jokes and stomach-churning gags that’ll perfectly hit the spot. For the rest of the viewers, the show is an interesting and mostly lighthearted peek into Saudi Arabia’s evolving culture. Season Two offers an assortment of storylines and characters dealing with real-life issues in a comedic fashion. There are also sobering moments of shocking drama that are peppered throughout the season which ground the show just enough to remind viewers of some harsh truths and important life lessons. 

The narrative themes that are woven into Masameer County can oftentimes be easily overlooked if you’re not really paying attention. Some elements are so subtle that you could blink and miss them. Mental Health, the treatment of women, and the aversion to outside thinking are just a few of the concepts explored in season two. They are briefly touched on but stay on screen just long enough to raise awareness. On the other hand, there are times when story and character development take a backseat to the advancement of obscene onscreen jokes and outlandish scenarios, which would be fine if the season were longer than just six episodes. There is an inconsistency throughout the season regarding what type of show Masameer County really wants to be.

Masameer County is at its best when it trusts its writing and allows each episode’s self-contained story to unfold naturally. Unfortunately, that level of restraint is still hit or miss, but undoubtedly an improvement from the previous season. While some plot points are dished out rather heavy-handedly, like in the episode “Elevator Pitch” with in-your-face dialogue and hamfisted themes, there are moments of brilliant subtlety throughout the season that not only compliment the story but enhance it. “Clearance” is a thrilling episode that was as intriguing as it was thought-provoking. There were enough plotlines in this one episode to fill an entire season. The poignant message about the power of books is a relevant theme that will certainly resonate with many viewers today. “Do you see now what books can teach you?” is a hard-cutting line that aims at the destructiveness of censorship. This episode is a clear indicator of the increasing ability of the writing team. The fact that this episode was followed up by a story about a man using a spaceship to relieve himself of intestinal distress is also a clear indicator that poop jokes are still king though. 

The English Dub, for the most part, is fairly solid. Many characters do feel somewhat undercooked thanks in part to mismatched voice actors who don’t quite perfectly fit their roles, but that is far from being unforgivable. Trad is a one-of-a-kind character with similarities to Brian Griffin and Mr. Peabody. He is a wisecracking, mischievous, and “too smart for his own good” anthropomorphic dog that always has a scheme or two up his sleeve. Although his voice doesn’t quite align with his chaotic energy, there is still an unmistakable charm to it. There aren’t any standout performances from the rest of the English Dub cast, but there isn’t much to complain about either. They do their job. As expected though, the biggest flaw of the dub are the English subtitles. Translations are very difficult across different languages, but Netflix has dropped the ball in this case. The text on screen is oftentimes nowhere close to what is being said out loud. It is jarring. 

The strongest aspect of Masameer County is the animation. There are some incredible visuals that set the show apart from similar shows currently on Netflix. The character models are wonderfully distinct, with splashes of absurdity that make each character feel original in their own way. From murderous and bloodthirsty thugs with enormous hunchbacks to frail men with paper-thin limbs, no two characters are the same. The art style in Masameer County elevates this show from a well-made entertaining cartoon to a visual stunner with an array of interesting design choices. Several animated set pieces could almost make viewers forget they are watching a show that thrives on highschool level humor and poop jokes. The variety of scenery and locations make this show a treat to watch. 

As irreverent as ever with just the right amount of wholesomeness and gravity, Masameer County continues to make a name for itself as one of the most under-the-radar animated gems today. The Netflix show excels in creating a rich and engaging world filled with characters who may or may not always learn from their mistakes. The inconsistency in the quality of episodes and the adequate yet uninspiring voice acting are what keep this show from reaching its full potential. Despite its flaws, Masameer County is an entertaining watch that still stays true to its original YouTube roots.