About:

Title: Strange Planet (Season #1)

Fix: Charming observations about life, cozy characters, cute animation
Platform: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ Summary:

Welcome to a distant planet not unlike our own, with hilarious yet poignant observations on life, love, and friendship—told in the most peculiar way. From creators Nathan W. Pyle and Dan Harmon.

FYA Summary:

I was drawn to click on this show because I’m a big Rick and Morty fan (Dan Harmon co-created that along with this), so I had no idea it was based on a comic series of the same name. But it really doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Dan Harmon or the comic or neither, because this series is just so damn charming. For once, I will say that the streaming service description is actually (gasp) accurate; this show is, in fact, hilarious AND poignant! It’s a big ole squishy alien hug is what it is.

So, Strange Planet mostly focuses on several main characters who are all connected to Careful Now, a restaurant perched precariously on a cliff. There’s the owner, an older being who wears a pink bucket hat and dispenses a blend of wisdom and nonsense, and then there’s the manager, a younger, hipster type who is trying to figure out life in general, and then there’s an ensemble of other characters ranging from a construction worker trying to navigate the void underneath the restaurant to a shy customer who falls for the manager. Oh yeah, and there’s no gender in this world!

While each episode has a plot, I really just enjoyed being submersed in this universe, where aliens say things literally (“greet” for hello; “mouth stones” for teeth; and my favorite, “tiny trash” for confetti) and talk about their feelings openly. It’s whimsical without being twee; it’s silly yet surprisingly profound; it’s funny while also legit bringing me to tears at some points. What I’m saying is, if you don’t like this show, call a doctor because you are MISSING YOUR HEART ORGAN.

Familiar Faces Voices:

Four cute blue aliens (with rounded heads) stand looking at each other in a restaurant. They all have socks on and one has a pink bucket hat, while another has a scarf, and another is wearing a vest and glasses

If you’ve watched Hacks, you’ll probably recognize Hannah Einbinder’s voice as the manager (the one with the vest and glasses), and if you’re a fan of Community or Mythic Quest, you’ll definitely recognize Danny Pudi as the regular (the one with the blue socks) who falls for the manager. The manager and the regular are both kinda lost, and therefore I found them mostly endearing and slightly exasperating. Also MAJOR shout-out to the manager’s cat, who absolutely steals the entirety of episode one.

My favorite character, the restaurant manager a.k.a. the guide (pink bucket hat), is voiced by Lori Tan Chinn, who was on Orange Is The New Black and Joy Ride among many other things. The guide is… maybe kind of deranged? And possibly a thousand years old? But also, the guide is quite sage when they are not being bananas ridiculous, and okay honestly, the guide is pretty much life goals for me.

Couch-Sharing Capability: Limbshake

Beings on Strange Planet call a school dance an “adolescent limbshake,” and while I don’t think you should invite, like, the entire senior class to your living room, I do think this show is more fun to watch with a few close friends and/or loved ones. It’s just so sweet, you guys!! You’ll want to hug everyone SO MUCH so you will NEED PEOPLE NEARBY TO HUG. Also, you will find yourself quoting the series and if you say “Greet!” to someone and they don’t get it, that’s just really disappointing.

Recommended Level of Inebriation: Moderate Mild Poison

Alcohol is referred to as, you guessed it, mild poison, and while I typically hate weirdly colored cocktails or gimmicky shots, I’ll be damned if I wasn’t itching to drink something blue while watching this show.

Use of Your Streaming Subscription: Good For Your Bloodpump (Heart)

Straight up, this is a feel good show that also happens to be smart and wry and observant. I never say this phrase but it’s apt for this series: it will tickle your funny bone in the most delightful way! (And also give you the deep desire to own a little plushie blue being with socks so you can squeeze it.)

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Sarah lives in Austin, and believes there is no such thing as a guilty pleasure, which is part of why she started FYA in 2009. Growing up, she thought she was a Mary Anne, but she's finally starting to accept the fact that she's actually a Kristy.