The sixth season of Big Mouth is finally here, and since season five, the only thing we’ve got to keep us entertained is a spin-off. Their recipe has been proven and true over a long history, and a Big Mouth style has developed; this season does not fall short in either of these areas.
Where I criticise, I do it from the perspective of a dedicated supporter. What I applaud is consistent with the opinions I shared in my review of the previous season: the growth of a brilliant ensemble with the addition of Peter Capaldi as a senior Scottish granddad.
The show’s focus and objective have always been to provide insight into current debates about social concerns and issues relating to sexual health. The discussion now includes issues like gender neutrality and asexuality. I’ll keep praising this programme for how it balances humour with more serious gay issues that are rarely covered in the mainstream.
Two primary aspects are the focus of my critique. The first is a letdown for the programme because the characters from the spin-off weren’t properly integrated. The Addiction Angel and The Logic Rock are not present in this season.
I would have also preferred to see a return to the show’s usual structure, which calls for the introduction of a new theme and chaotic narrative mechanism, followed by hilarious resolves in the final few episodes. For instance, in season 5, the kids at Bridgton Middle School battle with love and hatred, which are represented by Lovebugs and Hateworms, respectively.
Such a clearly defined point of conflict was absent from this season. However, by doing this, each character’s agency and tale receive a distinct narrative treatment than what has previously been seen on the programme.
Despite these little setbacks, the plotlines continue to be the slapstick comedy that Big Mouth fans have come to love. Climbing Nick Birch’s family tree and finding his nipple-twisting grandpa, Seamus McGregor, is one of the season’s main themes. One piss-can at a time, the audience pieces together a terrible tale of intergenerational trauma and the effects of male identities on the Birches.
Although there has always been a musical component to the programme, season 6 may have the most musical numbers in each episode. This manifests as a vibrant parody of a boy band from the 2000s called BOYZ 4 LIFE, one of whose members is voiced by Maroon 5’s now-notorious Adam Levine.
The songs throughout the season are vital and frequently humorous when tackling major discourse topics like gender neutrality. It did cross my thoughts whether or not to put some songs on a playlist even if they may not be catchy. This is not a season to miss if you like early seasons of Big Mouth or even Human Resources.