Big Mouth tackles pubescent shame, boobs
Here’s what’s happening in the world of television for Friday, October 5 and Saturday, October 6. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Big Mouth (Netflix, Friday): Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg’s (Family Guy) colorful reimagining of their own pubescent years is back, and going through some very natural changes. The raunchy adult cartoon about middle schoolers navigating pleasures and pains of puberty with the help of their Hormone Monsters and talking pubic hairs elicited rave reviews for its imaginative and empathetic approach to adolescence, as well as its cast stacked with comedic talent, including Maya Rudolph, Jenny Slate, Fred Armisen, Jordan Peele, and Jason Mantzoukas (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The League). Shame is the name of the game this season when a “new” girl (Gina Rodriguez) causes a stir, leading the girls to reassess their bodies and the boys to reassess the way they look at them. Enter the Shame Wizard (David Thewlis), the mortal enemy of the Hormone Monsters, a personification of the guilt and embarrassment felt by each of the tweens, and especially the hyper-hormonal Andrew (John Mulaney). Meanwhile, Nick (Nick Kroll) confronts his disgust with his own Hormone Monster, which manifests itself as an filthy, creepy old goblin with a voice not unlike that of Smeagol. Jessi (Jessi Klein) finds strength in the face of her parents’ impending divorce. Check put Erik Adams’ review to see just how Big Mouth has grown since season one.