Stephen Conrad's style was an acquired taste for me. The first season of Patriot was watched over the course of a couple years. Of course the arrival of its second season prompted me to finish finish the series hooking me on a binge and I became more fluent in The show runner's visual language. The way he lingers on a wide shot or his devotion to (Side note: are show runners considering themselves auteur's now?) Something about it is like a really good folk song that lingers on some moments uncomfortably long while lingering on others that seem equally important. Plus there's a lot of mumbling and incomplete sentences. For the record this shows also rocks.
I know what your thinking. Why am I talking about this other show on the opining paragraph for a review on excellent genre bending gritty puppet caper. Because Ultra City Smiths has the same acquired taste that has the audacity to require the audience to be an active participant. There are moments that happen in the background (sometimes out of focus) that are important later in the story. There are narrative beats that feel off in the first episode that hit a cool rhythmic folky feel like a woody Guthrie balled.
Also, the actually the music is hella tight. So far is Street hustler boy's number is my favorite. I am surprised none of these bangers are trending on tic tok.
As much as I love this show, it's hard to recommend this to anybody right now however I believe this will be a cult classic for sure. And who knows, supposedly there's a big animation boom so maybe the Charlie Kaufman's and Stephen Conrad's of the world will get to keep making cool stuff.
I know what your thinking. Why am I talking about this other show on the opining paragraph for a review on excellent genre bending gritty puppet caper. Because Ultra City Smiths has the same acquired taste that has the audacity to require the audience to be an active participant. There are moments that happen in the background (sometimes out of focus) that are important later in the story. There are narrative beats that feel off in the first episode that hit a cool rhythmic folky feel like a woody Guthrie balled.
Also, the actually the music is hella tight. So far is Street hustler boy's number is my favorite. I am surprised none of these bangers are trending on tic tok.
As much as I love this show, it's hard to recommend this to anybody right now however I believe this will be a cult classic for sure. And who knows, supposedly there's a big animation boom so maybe the Charlie Kaufman's and Stephen Conrad's of the world will get to keep making cool stuff.