I never thought I'd make a self insert in big mouth and my own creatures. Tito's the same though, the only other anxiety creature I've seen is the anxiety armadillo and no way am I drawing an armadillo
After finishing the fifth season, I think I can say that it is definitively the best season so far. Up until now, I never felt like anything lived up to the good writing of season 2. So, it was amazing to see season 5 step its pussy up and slam it home so effectively. Where season 5 shines the brightest, it gave even a little spotlight to previously irrelevant side characters like Ali, Samira, and Charles Lu. It also felt like everyone was getting something this season, whereas previous seasons sometimes left characters treading water in their development. All things considered, the pacing was great, and the characters' individual stories played off of each other nicely. The season has tight writing and I have to point out how well they did it this season to all tie into a central theme. It's also kind of fitting that at the end of the day, the events that triggered all the hate... were really insignificant and petty things that an immature 12 year old WOULD take that seriously, but also kinda lets the characters admit they made a mountain out of a mole hill. I laughed much more than I did in season 4.
The biggest problem I with season 5 is that it tried to wrap up too much in one episode. The Christmas episode was pointless filler, and should have been cut to split the finale into two episodes to keep the ending from feeling rushed. Especially the extremely rushed Matthew and Jay thing. Matthew confesses feelings, basically their next scene, Jay drives the car, they fight, and then Matthew shows up to New Years to win Jay back? All in the span of one episode? It's too short. The weight isn't allowed to settle, and as a result, there's no impact. It's just kind of white noise. It doesn't really sound like anything and it's better off tuned out. Matthew and Jay crashing the car should have been the end of one episode and then show them missing each other to where them getting back together is paced better. It's like playing Yo-yo with the audience's investment. Matthew and Jay get together, break up, and get together again in the span of a single episode with no breathing room between relationship beats.
I love not only that Shane Lizard made a glorious return in the second episode, but that he played a vital positive role in the finale. Proving that his rhetoric of a little dose of shame being a good thing actually holds weight.
This is the first season to not mention Andrew's cousin, and I for one am relieved. I never want that joke to show up again.
I'm glad the Lea sex scene returned to using more abstract imagery as a metaphor. I was not comfortable with Jessi being in the presence of Michaelangelo's talking penis. Even the stylized Jay and Lola fingering was a little too on the nose for my liking. So the return to more abstract symbolism was a welcome relief.
I really enjoyed Diane and Elliot having a fight this season. They’ve rarely ever fought, and this felt like the kind of thing they would realistically fight about, and both of them have a point. It feels appropriate for their characters.
Andrew bonding with his father was nice. It was the first time that Marty felt like a real person, not just a punchline. Andrew trying to break the cycle of anger in his family was a welcome change.
Before it developed that Charles wasn’t really interested in an open relationship with Jay, I actually really liked the chemistry that had been developing between them. To the point that I thought maybe the show was building up to a Matthew vs Charles thing. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see that later on.
It’s interesting that they didn’t wrap up the Charles Lu affair this season, which means they’re probably saving it for next season. It’ll be nice for Gina to be relevant again.
I’m kind of tired of Nick not really developing as a character. Nick pretty much hasn’t changed since season 2. Connie became his hormone monstress and he became a sensitive, emotional bitch for a few seasons, accepted himself for who he is, reclaimed Rick as his hormone monster... and still is acting the exact same as he did with Connie. All that writing about accepting himself and not turning into Nick Star did little when he turns into a hateful little shit. I’m just kind of tired of Nick being the lead anchor among the main cast.
Not a fan of what happened to Devon. He’s teased for Missy, he’s put off by her backne, he smashes the abandoned house with the guys, and then the next thing we see, he’s scampered back to Devin. I had hoped he was going to get developed, but instead, he just backslid into his old role again.
So, is Jessi still going to therapy? My biggest problem with Big Mouth is its inability to keep up ongoing plot points. Jessi going to therapy is brought up in season 3, she goes to therapy once in season 4, and then it’s never mentioned again. I wanted for therapy to be an ongoing thing for Jessi, even if it’s just for a little while. It makes it seem like she only needed one session to clear up all of her problems, and that’s just not realistic.
So. Andrew got a crush on his teacher, stalked him, and threatened his fiancée. Was I supposed to find this funny? Because it very much was not funny. Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, was funny. I liked her.
