We’ve all had a day where it seems like absolutely nothing can go right. Well, for Milo Murphy, that day is every day. A descendant of the namesake for Murphy’s Law (which states that "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong"), Milo has perpetual bad luck. Even something as simple as waiting for the school bus inevitably turns into a misadventure for him.
Despite the fact that most of his classmates try to steer clear of the jinxed kid, Murphy does have a few companions: the savvy, fun-loving Melissa, and the more cautious but loyal Zack. Milo also has a cute dog named Diogee (say it out loud) that always follows him around, no matter what.
Milo Murphy’s Law was created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the co-creators of the ever-popular Phineas and Ferb, which ended in 2015 after an eight-year run. So, naturally, people tend to compare this show to its predecessor.
I think it’s better to just take Milo Murphy’s Law for what it is: a new show that’s starting out. It’s not going to be perfect right away, but it’s doing pretty well so far. It doesn’t have to be exactly like Phineas and Ferb, but it doesn’t have to be completely distinct either. Phineas and Ferb worked because it had a unique, intelligent, quirky brand of humor that was developed over time. I think Milo Murphy’s Law has potential to build the same rapport with the audience, albeit with a different premise and cast of characters.
Whether or not you enjoyed Phineas and Ferb, Milo Murphy’s Law is a genuinely fun show. Despite the fact that Milo’s life is filled with constant disaster, he’s always able to put a positive spin on it. He also keeps a handy backpack of supplies for any eventuality. Milo is a great character, because his upbeat optimism doesn’t come off preachy or annoying; it’s always sincere and encouraging.
Phineas and Ferb taught kids to seize the day; Milo Murphy’s Law has a different maxim: Keep moving forward, even if it seems like everything’s going wrong. Not everyone can build a rollercoaster or travel through time, but we’ve all had our fair share of bad luck.
Also, the great thing about Milo Murphy’s Law is that the premise of the show (Milo’s ridiculously bad luck) makes it easier to buy in to all the convoluted, far-out disasters that permeate most cartoons, regardless of genre. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, so the sky’s the limit with the conflicts the writers can throw at Milo and his friends.
I’m also really enjoying the voice acting. Weird Al voices Milo with his iconic high-pitched tone. Sabrina Carpenter (a regular on Girl Meets World, ironically another show that is often compared to its parent series) plays Melissa, and Mekai Curtis voices Zack. There’s also frequent cameos of the creators, along with actors from Phineas and Ferb (Vincent Martella, the voice of Phineas, plays a more negative recurring character named Bradley).
One of the fun things about Milo Murphy’s Law is that while the writers don’t have to put a song in every episode, like Phineas and Ferb did, they get the privilege of working with Weird Al, who’s already performed the theme song, the ending credits, and one song in the episode “Rooting for the Enemy."
So if you’ve got 22 minutes to spare and want a good time, check out an episode of Milo Murphy’s Law. Disney XD actually posted the first episodes on YouTube in advance, so there’s no reason not to give it a try.
