*Contains some explicit content*
This past week, I've started watching Netflix's new animated comedy "Big Mouth." When I first saw the trailer, I was highly skeptical of what kind of show this was going to be. I initially got the impression that this was going to be just another raunchy comedy that was borderline animated porn (the girl talks to her vagina for Yeezy-sake). If the trailer's like to dislike ratio was any indication, I wasn't alone in my early opinions. Fortunately, by the time I got through the first episode, I can safely say that I was pleasantly surprised.
I will start off by saying this show is definitely raunchy and vulgar. However, it is freaking funny and has a ton of heart. "Big Mouth" centers around middle-schoolers Nick (voiced by series co-creator Nick Kroll) and Andrew (voiced by John Mulaney) as they go through the horrors of puberty. The boys are accompanied by Maurice the Hormone Monster (also voiced by Kroll), who serves as a Devil-esque character encouraging our horny heroes to make some questionable decisions.
What I particularly love about this series is just how honest it is. Most of what I know about sex and going through the "magical changes" came from hanging out with my friends in middle and high school, not textbooks. Of course, a lot of misconceptions come along with the discoveries, which is where a lot of the show's humor derives from.
The episode "Girls are horny too" is a prime example of this. In the episode, Nick can't figure out why girls are going crazy for this steamy historical novel. When his older sister reveals to him that girls get horny too, his head literally explodes. While I find this discovery to be really funny now, I reflect back on my middle school days when I thought girls could get pregnant from kissing.
I also find the Hormone Monster to be a really clever analogy for all of the poor decisions we make when we get aroused. I cannot even begin to count how many mistakes I've made just because I couldn't resist the power of the boner.
Another aspect of the show I respect is the depiction of a pubescent girl's experience with the character Jessi (voiced by Jessi Klein). While dealing with puberty is awkward for guys, it seems like an absolute nightmare at times for women.
In the episode "Everybody Bleeds," Jessi has her first period on a school trip to see the Statue of Liberty (making the Statue a blunt French woman was a main highlight). To her horror, the nearest bathroom has no toilet paper or feminine hygiene products. At the end of the episode, Nick and Andrew speculate what it would be like for guys to have periods. "Can you imagine bleeding out of your penis once a month?" No I can't, which is why I greatly respect and admire women.
"Big Mouth" is a solid addition to Netflix's catalog of shows. If you like animated comedies with a good mix of heart and vulgarity, I fully recommend it. If you've seen the show, share your thoughts in the comments below.