Solar Opposites: Season 3 REVIEW – Alien Patchwork
Justin Roiland’s first season of his domestic sci-fi animation Solar Opposites was always going to be somewhat under the watchful eye of Rick & Morty. Although Dan Harmon cannot be there to guide Korvo and his misfit alien humanoids through their adventures, it wasn’t easy to talk about Hulu’s animated sequel project without mentioning the Adult Swim megahit.
Perhaps this is an issue that Solar Opposites has addressed as it moves into its third season. The sophomore episode of 2021 felt like an improvement over its debut. It expanded the story of the Shlorpian humanoids and explored the intricate ‘B’ plotline. The danger with the third season is that it fails to build on the momentum of the first.
Season 3 has plagued this mix of conflicting expectations, great ideas, and annoying intra-show memes. The evolving family dynamics are back, which was a strength of Season 2. Also, the mind-bending sci-fi adventures and internal machinations courtesy of Yumlulak’s bedroom walls are back.
There are also some things you wish you could have thrown out when you had the opportunity: overreliance on ultraviolence, swearing as a joke, and endless cultural references. These references tread the line between irony and sincerity but don’t bring you many laughs; however, you decide to take them.
It is a shame that many of Solar Opposites’ most pressing issues have not been addressed between seasons 2 and 3. It is still very confusing tonally.
Solar Opposites wears Jessie’s polka dot and bow outfit, the middle daughter of the family. They appear as innocent and colorful as any cartoon on Cartoon Network. However, they occasionally throw random instances of gore onto the screen. It can be as disturbing as watching a series of horrific murders on Sesame street.
