Robot Chicken Season 3

I have always loved stop-motion animation. From the California Raisins to Jack Skellington I have been mesmerized by storytelling using clay-covered wire. It was no surpise then, that I instantly enjoyed Robot Chicken. The premise was simple: create an incredibly short television show using old 80’s toys as actors. Oh, and add in a bunch of genitalia and flatulence jokes.

The first and second seasons were fantastic, filled with memorable sketches such as Inspector Gadget becoming the Terminator; Hulk Hogan’s Heroes; and the Scooby Gang going to Camp Crystal Lake. The comedy is fast, smart, and completely reliant on the audience having a working knowledge of cartoons based on action figures. So I had high hopes for Season 3, and, unfortunately, those hopes were dashed.

Robot Chicken has run out of smart ideas and filled the void with coarse language, scatological humour, and nudity while trying desperately to offend everyone while mocking the mentally challenged. Cheap laughs.

I should point out that originally the language and nudity was censored for broadcast, but the DVD release is completely uncensored (in one case even showing actual female nudity). Parents should not be fooled by the PG rating on the box; a mistake has been made.

The season isn’t without its gems though, I almost laughed up a lung at the Car Voltron sketch and the “Reverse Wonder Woman” sketch is worth the price of admission. However, all in all the season seems lacking, with the humour being gross or mean-spirited. I can only hope that Season 4 goes back to basics.

So should you buy this? It will take about 5 hours to watch all the episodes and extras, so at $30 for the box set it is cheap per hour entertainment. The problem is that the majority of the season isn’t funny enough, and you can easily find some of the best sketches online (not that I condone that sort of thing). If you enjoy stop motion animation, 80s toys, or jokes mocking the deaf then pick up Season 3. For all others, watch reruns of the first 2 seasons.