Strange Planet (2023– ) User Reviews

A very human show about inhuman characters

[kairyrandom · 7/10 · 11 August 2023]

I had no solid expectations when starting the show since although I'm a longtime enjoyer of the comics, I was very intrigued as to how well the format would translate into a whopping 24 minutes per episode show. The veredict: Not very well. HOWEVER, that does not make it a bad show. Pros: The storylines are sweet and down to earth (ironic ik), the characters are likeable, the backgrounds are pretty and the animation works well enough (smoothly animated rigs) and it even made me smile a few times. Cons: It can get long and slightly confusing since characters are not given names and their appearances outside of clothing items are all the same. Also the joke about them using literal descriptions for everyday things gets old quick and is also strangely inconsistent (Alcohol = Mild Poison but Restaurant = Restaurant?) plus some of the wordings had me seriously scratching my head at times (took me a while to understand that fabric tubes meant socks).

Something that's noticeably lost from the comics is the naivete they gave off. The funny aliens were often discovering new earthly concepts and hence their literal alien descriptions and feelings towards them made more sense, while here it's just an alternate earth that works just about the same except humans are aliens, some animals have three eyes and they use funny words for some things.

Overall this really felt like an Apple TV original to me, same vibe as say, Central Park in that very relaxed and human tone, something nice to have on in the background while doing something else but that might feel overly long if sat down to watch. I am curious as to if and how the stories will continue to interconnect and if a consistent main character or characters will be set.

Good show, underrated

[cegielskil · 7/10 · 15 August 2023]

Lots of folks have different thoughts about the show "Strange Planet." Some people don't think it works well on TV, saying it's too slow and dragged out. But when I look at it without any bias, I think some of these complaints come from folks who never really wanted it as a show in the first place. They were set on not liking it. Personally, I think "Strange Planet" is a nice and good show to watch.

Also, it's worth saying that sometimes people don't like adaptations that stick too closely to the original. It's tricky to find the right balance between staying true to the old stuff and making it work in a new way. Not everyone's gonna be happy. This show is all about digging into what makes us human. It sneaks in funny similarities to how we act and think, making us think about what being human really means.

To wrap up, not everyone will be into "Strange Planet," but it does give us a new way to think about our lives.

It's rude to give it less

[cmburton-29875 · 6/10 · 20 August 2023]

I'm sorry but people just really don't understand how to review something. Is this show good? No not really. I love the cartoon and all it's genius. But this show just doesn't adapt from the comic. They're also just not staying true to the comic. Too much regular dialogue like a human would have. I think what's going in is a bad combination of it being boring, storylines are just kind of random, and again it poorly adapted. I'm noticing here on episode 3, a repeat character. If they continue to do this, we might get some theme and actually develop some substance. However if they don't get some consistency, I'm good to stop soon. Just don't give it 1 star, that means it offended you to your core.

Gratitude.

[not_an_octopus · 9/10 · 9 August 2023]

As a fan of the comic, the tv adaptation of Strange Planet is not exactly the same as the source material, but that doesn't mean it's less creatively valid. In fact, the series adds layers of depth and nuance to Nathan Pyle's characters that is indelibly charming and comforting. That warmth is not subtle, it's intentional. It's the series' heart-on-its-sleeve approach that adds an emotional depth and dimension that's filling a certain entertainment gap. There are so many lonely people in the world, and Strange Planet is about connection. Shows like Community are hungered-after cult classics for a reason. Hopefully Strange Planet is allowed to stick around long enough to make a similar impact.

Adaptation doesn't translate

[petermares-169-410713 · 1/10 · 9 August 2023]

Love the comics on Instagram, but I don't feel like they translate to this adaptation. In the comics, to me, the beings are learning and observing things for the first time, in a very alien like approach.

In the show, the beings fully understand their world. It's not a new experience or sensation to them. The world is just beings doing basic human tasks, but with over complicated lingo that they speak and understand fluently.

That's where the problem lies. The beings have no reason you get invested. It's like a bad episode of a 90s sitcom, but without a story line you want to follow. Halfway through the first episode, I've paused it, as none of the nameless creatures presented offered a reason to care what happens next to them.

I love this show

[gordysemail-06324 · 10/10 · 20 September 2023]

This show is great!!! I never really read the comics or books but am familiar with them.

It gives you such a different yet simple way of looking at things differently. Full of feel good little wisdoms and strange yet relatable perspectives. Nathan W Pyle is a genius and anything Dan Harmon makes I'm at least going to try. So yeah, if you're feeling low or in a funk give this show a try it may just lift your spirits or give a laugh you needed. The latest episode was on ink stains (tattoos) and it gave me a way of thinking of them I had never considered before.

"They capture a moment in time you want to remember, so even if you regret it eventually. You will always remember circumstances that led you to getting it. For better or for worse. They Mark your journey" I really like that.

Misses the point of the comic

[jameseclissett-14192 · 3/10 · 9 August 2023]

The comic that this originates from depicts the aliens coming to Earth and getting accustomed to things that we humans consider normal, and putting the minor human grievances/annoyances we experience in our day-to-day lives in very literal matter-of-fact ways. In short, it's aliens experiencing the most mundane things to us as unusual to them.

In this adaptation, the aliens are on their own world experiencing things that they are accustomed to already. They just speak in literal and unusual ways, but this is not the reflection of their inexperience as it should be from the comics. It completely misses the point of the originals, and isn't any funnier than any other mediocre animated series. I'll still watch the rest of the first season to see if it gets better, but as of now it doesn't seem worth bothering with.

A solid recreation!

[gabriellefaw · 8/10 · 9 August 2023]

It's Strange Planet, what more can I say?

Firstly, if you're expecting an intricate, raunchy show with heavy nuance then you're going to be disappointed.

The show is what it says on the box.

It does what it sets out to do, which is present episodic stories about the human experience through unique dialect and grounded storylines with a generous, dry sprinkle of humor.

The characters, considering they all have the same basic appearance, were delightfully realistic - from character design to animation movements to each one's chosen VAs.

The overall vibe is amusing, wholesome, and well grounded in this particular reality not far off from the one we live in today. There's also loads of easter eggs and references to both our society and the society within the context of the OG comic posts.

If you don't like one episode's storylines or characters then good news! Each episode shows us different beings and perspectives with different motivations and outlooks, much like the beings in our world.

It's exactly what I would've expected as a long time fans of the comic shorts - with animation and voices added that only elevate the messages told within. I found it very engaging, if not slightly predictable (which of course it is bc these are stories about people going through relatable situations and coming out the other side).

So don't let the negative reviews keep you from giving it a try!

It's a good show and I personally look forward to seeing more!

One star for one note show.

[jwcstorage · 1/10 · 14 August 2023]

I really enjoy the comic Strange Planet, which is just short and quippy enough to tackle a hyper specific topic and show the absurdities in them. When I learned just recently that Apple was releasing a series of this, I was hoping for a fun little continuing story that had their odd mannerisms peppered throughout as they attempt to navigate towards whatever their nebulous goal is.

Its not that. Its a sketch comedy show essentially, and I use that term very lightly.

The series, unfortunately, is blandly one note. Its less interesting than the comic because it has to try to tell snippets of a story for a couple minutes, but the story of these strange aliens engaging in normal human behavior and showing the silliness of everyday life is lost in translation here.

When reading the comic you will use any voice you want for these aliens, and with their very specific styles of speaking (often with "Oooooh"s), its easy to imagine them with the typical "alien" voice. One that is higher pitched, kind of silly, and not a standard American English. These aliens speak like American actors, which tends to break the scifi/fantasy/mundane style reality of their world.

This translating into a show from the comic seems like a no-brainer easy win, but they seem to have forgotten part of what makes the comic enjoyable: being funny. I feel part of it is dragging out a 4-panel comic to a 10 minute sketch/joke. Theres just not enough there to realistically buy into it and the humor is stretched way too thin and way too repetitively.

I gave up on my first viewing about 75% the way through the first of two skits in the first episode, but came back to give it a full chance. I regret it. I watched episode one and two and did not even so much as gently blow air out of my nose in amusement, as the aliens would say. Its sad to say that the show is about as funny as my review was.

More, please.

[tailsofthewind · 10/10 · 14 November 2023]

It's not vulgar, there's no violence against anyone or defense of items of war, nor any willingness to go to war, and episodes don't involve kidnapping a woman to kickoff the theme of this week's show, which is remarkably similar to last week's, if we were watching, well, fill in the blank. Movies love that over used trope, too.

But here, in this quiet, fresh, funny, part of the universe, you can sit back and relax and watch a show that makes you feel good and think about things for just a few more seconds because they've renamed almost everything with funny vocabulary.

The storylines are heartwarming not terrifying or heartbreaking or disgusting or even disturbing. So, yes, if, your life is so bent, that you can't cool down and breathe easy, if you can't laugh at quirky, and you need adrenaline and blood, guts, murder, office-gossip, and hatred, it's no wonder that you don't approve of this wonderful show. Too bad; it's awesome.

Nathan W. Pyle Cash-out

[therealkimtae · 2/10 · 9 August 2023]

I've long been a fan of Nathan W. Pyle's comic, its witty observations giving insight into just how strange and ritualistic humanity is in such a pithy, short format.

When I heard that there would be an animated adaptation, I thought at best it was going to be a series of 5 minute shorts but when I fired up Apple TV and saw the half-hour episodes, I had a bad feeling.

Each episode takes the (admittedly thin, but medium appropriate) concept of the little webcomic and tries to stretch it out only for the entire sheer fabric of the show to rip itself into a tattered waste of time.

Just read the webcomics and save yourself the 5 hours.

Just chemicals and flesh wires, but . . .

[kdrii82 · 9/10 · 13 August 2023]

I love this show! To begin, I have never heard of the comic before this show. It is because of Dan Harmon's attachment to Nathan W. Pyle's creation that I was introduced. This new series is entertaining, heartwarming, and funny. The animation is unique, and the voices are provided by some awesome actors. Personally, I enjoy watching shows that have some amazing episodes, and that also contain a few episodes that are just okay. It's the combinations of these episodes that make a series a fulfilling roller coaster ride, rather than an exploding short burst that becomes forgettable sooner than later. Strange Planet has the potential to last long into the future, and into our hearts. I'm only three episodes into the show, however, I'm a fan. The show is imperfect. Maybe, that's the takeaway. We're all imperfect and strange, but we should enjoy Strange Planet for what it is anyway. I look forward to watching more as the series progresses! Gratitude!

Missing the magic

[steve-pye-443-693966 · 2/10 · 9 August 2023]

The comic is funny because of its short nature, and the innocent naivety of the aliens interacting with their world. In the animated series, it feels more like a teeny bopper show without any comedy overlaid onto the aliens, and zero innocence. You could literally substitute any animated characters and nothing would change. Overall, it feels like a compromised version of the comic that is more likely to kill off the enthusiasm about the comic, than a supportive alternative representation of the comic itself. Almost as though the characters were mapped onto a different show, with just enough wording changes to seem like Strange Planet. I think the only thing going for it is the brand. Here's hoping it's not wrecked.

Unbiased opinion here!

[prettybrownjane · 10/10 · 21 September 2023]

Id never heard of the comics or artist before this show, i had just watched this show. From my perspective, the show is great. Its a new fresh look on how other life could interpret this world and its down right funny. I love it and i hope for more episodes!

With that being said everyone who is comparing these to the comics is not giving the artist room to be creative. You have to realize all the changes that were made behind the scenes of our favorite tv shows that air today. Changes we dont even know about that made the show great in the end. Im sorry its not your version of perfect, but my outsider looking in view saw nothing wrong with this great show. It has room to grow into something great, lets not beat it down at the start.

Another failed animated show

[sami108 · 2/10 · 9 August 2023]

Maybe writers should be on strike indefinitely if this what they consider good writing. The show only consists of boring mundane scenes but with phrases changed, so drinking alcohol is "ingesting mild poison" thank you is "gratitude" and it just goes on and on. Chat gpt would be able to crank out 100 seasons in minute.

At least the webcomic made you see ordinary human things in a new light, this one just fails in that way and so many others. I just don´t see why it was made, it´s not funny, not exciting not anything. Watched two episodes because sometimes the pilot episode is not very good, but in this case the second episode was even worse.

Full of heart with rich story telling

[chipindip · 9/10 · 13 August 2023]

I am shocked at how well this show holds up. Originally, I wasn't sure how the comic would translate. While things are a little different, I say this tv show is a perfect adaption of the comics.

Is it perfect? No. Nameless characters is weird, and the speech pattern can be hard to get used to, but it doesn't take long to get the flow of the show. Plus, how would the show exist without the strange speech pattern?

The art and animation is beautiful and there are some effects that baffle me. Once again, an amazing adaption.

Overall, I'm impressed. I'll be on top of watching every episode, and I already hope for a season 2.

Bland Planet

[RogerRoger77 · 2/10 · 17 August 2023]

I've never seen the webcomic on which this is based, but I read good things about it, so thought I'd give the TV show a go.

However, I only made it through the first episode before giving up.

As far as I can tell, the series is about a race of aliens that live on a planet that is pretty much a replica of Earth - so the use of the word 'strange' in the title is probably some sort of hipster-ish attempt at irony.

What's the point, then, of setting the series on an a different world? The central conceit is that the aliens describe everything literally - a plane is a 'flying machine', alcohol is a 'mild poison' etc.

I had two basic problems with this.

First, this was not just *a* joke, it seemed to be the *only* joke. I was already bored of the characters affected way of speaking after about 10 minutes - it's mildly amusing once or twice, but to base a whole series around this one conceit suggests a very optimistic view of your audience's tolerance for light whimsy. How about, you know, some *actual* jokes?

Second, the conceit seemed to be a substitute for properly fleshed out characters and plots. Sure, I only watched one episode, but having all your identikit characters speak in the same way, and with very little in the way of (interesting) personalities, makes even the short running time of the episodes feel long. As for plot, nothing much happened in the one I saw - maybe this was the point, but I see no reason why I should I waste my time indulging someone else's desire to make tedious observations about the banality of everyday existence.

A big yawn.

Great voice acting, nice animation, and cute short stories

[graceannerobbins · 8/10 · 30 August 2023]

This show is a bit different from the original comic series it is based on, but I don't mind that. A really great cast comes through to voice each unique character with writing that often leaves us feeling humbled and grateful. There is definitely a lot of development and learning in each short episode. There is a lot of emphasis on community and interpersonal relationships. I personally enjoy the different nouns they have come up with for careers, items, locations, etc. If you don't like being prompted to reflect on yourself or to shift perspective, you should probably skip it. They also utilize "they/them" as the general pronouns of all beings, which is a very nice change.

a departure from the comics

[therigelmonster · 2/10 · 12 August 2023]

The Strange Planet animated series has been, so far for me, a disappointment, replacing what was fun and unique in the comics with what now feels like formulaic television. Whereas the webcomic beings discover different aspects of the human condition/experience and express them with logical, precise language, the beings of the animated series seem to already understand and feel quite comfortable with their humanness, albeit with distinct linguistic quirks. The series is certainly not without its positive attributes: it's colorful and uplifting. And the beings are downright adorable; they're just not the same beings that originally piqued my fascination, the ones with whom I felt a connection.

A misunderstood masterpiece

[rachelaweiner-67082 · 10/10 · 27 September 2023]

This show is not about aliens coming to Earth- rather, it is a view of our own world, viewed from a different angle. That is why it is called 'Strange Planet'- because our world, in truth, is very strange, yet often we are too caught up in its flow to realize this. Strange Planet (both the show and the comics) seek to remedy this. By using unfamiliar terminology to address things we are familiar with, and rearranging the wording of situations, it highlights the absurdity of everyday life. The world in Strange Planet is not exactly our own- certain animals have three eyes instead of two, there are two moons, and the beings that inhabit this world are very physically different from us. And yet, through this funhouse mirror of a show, we can more clearly see our own world as it truly is. One marked difference in the show, however, is the addition of 'true' sci-fi elements, which I will not go into for the sake of spoilers. It is truly amusing that in a show populated by beings of stereotypical 'alien' appearances, it is the inclusion of these elements that feels truly alien. That said, this does not take away from the quality of the show, and those elements are left to linger in the background, providing an underlying mystery to drive a story forward, while the stories of the main cast take center stage. These main stories truly offer valuable lessons, and are aimed mostly towards adults navigating their way through life. In conclusion, while this show may not be exactly the same as the comics, it does not need to be, as it does exactly what it sets out to accomplish- to tell our own stories through a different perspective.

Has Dan Harmon lost it?

[newdesignpixelz · 1/10 · 12 August 2023]

I was expecting this to be fun to watch. Is not! In all honestly is blank, unsatisfying and hard to follow. The artwork is nice looking and the animation is smooth, but, the color choices is bad, it hurts my eyes like teargas and keeps me up at night (get it?). The only thing that I did enjoy was the songs from the 1st episode. I had really high hopes considering Dan Harmon was working on it, but, think that was just a selling point/marketing stunt. I wish I could continue to watch maybe out of sheer curiosity, but, I really don't like it... and I will not return for more episodes, 3 where enough for me.

This is a great show. Show it some love.

[wdmfvws · 10/10 · 6 September 2023]

I don't ever write reviews but if this show doesn't get more seasons, I'm not sure how I will live the rest of my life.

I've been a fan of Strange Planet for a few years now, even bought the book, so I was super excited to check out the show. It's so fun and lighthearted, it's becoming the only high point in this train wreck of a summer.

No, it's not exactly the same as the comic, but I don't care. I can enjoy the clever writing and hilariously drawn characters in a multitude of ways, and neither way detracts from the other.

The voice actors are all excellent and as someone who can be totally thrown off a cartoon by bad voices, I'm actually glad to hear some familiar voices and I'm enjoying all of the new ones I'm starting to learn. I will say that the theme song is screaming out for a rewrite by Owl City, but that would be a great upgrade for season 2.

If you're looking for a clever, funny, different kind of vibe for some light evening viewing, this show will perfectly fill all those requirements. Younger children probably won't understand the dialogue, but I'd say it would be enjoyable for everyone. And that's hard to find in media these days.

Gratitude for this delightful show. Gratitude a lot.

Written by ChatGPT?.. Unfunny, Uncreative and Unwatchable(unless trying to fall asleep)

[budd-97280 · 3/10 · 9 December 2023]

I want to start by saying my three favorite genres of tv are Animated,Sci-fi and comedy. So i figured this was going to be very enjoyable, I did see mixed reviews prior to watching but i shrugged off the bad reviews figureing it was because it wasnt a fast paced barage of comedy and action like Rick n Morty and thought I would fall in with the higher rated reviewers... I was very wrong

This show which is supposed to be about human expieriece very much seems like it was made without humans at all. I would not be a bit suprised if this turned out to be written completely by Chat GPT. If your idea of funny and creative is simply a snippet of daily life but cherry pick some normal words and swap for literal discriptions like Socks as 'fabric tubes' or Airplane as 'flying machine', Coffee as 'jitter juice' or alcohol as 'mild poison' or Thanks as 'gratitude' and on and on maybe its for you. I thought It was cute for the first five minutes of the first episode but quickly gets tired and it seems like the shows only trick to make it seem 'smart' other then slapping a 3rd eye on every animal. Imo its just lazy and lame

Again some of my favorites are Scavengers Reign(Highly recommend), Infinity Train, Rick n Morty, Midnight Gospel, Futurama, ST Lower decks and Fired on Mars. All of which are more engaging, creative, thought provoking and funny then this mess. It even makes Solar Opposites, which is just ok, look like an award winner in comparison

I watched the first 3 wanting to like it, last night i had trouble falling asleep so put on ep 4, I was out cold in five minutes!

Ps. I did not see the comic prior to watching so that did not effect my rating.

Strange Planet

[andybedford71 · 9/10 · 15 August 2023]

I am writing this off of the back of a long term affinity for the comic series - which I have been a fan of for years now, so there is probably a sprinkling of bias here!

The show takes the same concept as the comics of making light of the human experience and runs with it.

I'm here for a wholesome show with dialogue that I personally really enjoy, and think that the joke still lands in an animated tv format, so in that sense it's mission accomplished.

Admittedly the comics probably lend themselves better to the concept, in that it's easier to find little pockets of every day situations to make light of, but ultimately the show is still enjoyable, and does a pretty good job of organically bringing about these situations to match the signature style and wit of the source material.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the show, and only docked it a point because I enjoy the comic marginally more!

Blech....

[NullUnit · 2/10 · 9 August 2023]

Don't know the comic... didn't know there was a comic... don't care theres a comic...

All I can say is I made it 1 and a half episodes of the series and then said to myself.. "Why the heck am I watching this??"

It's boring, unentertaining, condescending, and uninteresting.

Seems to deal with adult-oriented topics - no not THAT "adult" - I mean ordinary adult topics... jobs, work, family, life, etc. As an adult.

BUT.. it's presented as if its made for 8 year olds.. slow and shallow... focusing on a "moral" more than any actual entertainment.

This is one of those animated series that is animated just to be animated and possibly save money. What I saw COULD be done as live action if the money was there. There's no reason this is animated since it's just about normal life for the most part.

I can see how it MIGHT work in a comic.. since its panel by panel by panel. The blue blobs would make the visuals interesting while the narrative is broken up and ingested differently. But as animation... with a streaming narrative.. it's just horrible in my opinion and the overly similar and repetitive animated characters doesn't make for any interesting visuals.

Blech.. Pass.