There are few better feelings than being pleasantly surprised, especially when you expect little from something, but it turns out to be well worth your attention. Luckily, that feeling is what I took away from season three of “Gremlins: The Wild Batch,” released Thursday, Oct. 3 on Max.
My initial worries about this release were simple: it’s an animated Disney-esque show that is supposedly a prequel to the original “Gremlins” movie series. I remember the 1984 “Gremlins” movie with nostalgia and praise. Its creepy blend of cuteness and violence works perfectly with the crusty special effects work of the pre-CGI film industry. The titular creatures begin as cute little Mogwai that look something like a Furby. Should a Mogwai eat after midnight or get wet, however, then they morph into wrinkly green goblin-like menaces. The character design and unsettling scenes of a grim 1980s suburbia worked wonders for the film. So really, how on Earth could an animated TV show capture the same feelings?
Well, Season two currently has five episodes released and each one — about 20 minutes long — is both self-contained and part of a larger plot spanning between Shanghai and San Francisco. Every episode feels fresh and distinct while carrying over plot elements from the previous. Likewise, the cliffhanger ending of season one is certainly addressed early on in this season. Fans eager for more after watching the previous releases will certainly be happy.
The first episode of season one, “Always be Ready for Adventure,” introduces the 10-year-old Sam Wing (Izaac Wang), his friend Elle (Gabrielle Nevaeh Green) and their little Mogwai Gizmo (A.J. LoCascio). It’s a loveable cast featuring brilliant voice acting. And the scenery helps, as the opening episodes are set in the wonderous, and oddly magical, city of Shanghai. As in season one, the show expands upon the vague origins of the Mogwai in China. It’s a story too detailed to explain in this review, but it certainly fills plot holes while introducing new stories altogether. The three younglings, the first season’s s saviors of Shanghai, are now monitored by Sam’s parents who rightfully want to keep them away from further danger.
Like with many helicopter parents’ efforts, this plan fails, only encouraging the kids to adventure. Within the first two 20-minute episodes, Sam and Elle follow Grandpa Wing (James Hong) through a magical portal to San Francisco, with their goal being to find the evil Gremlin Noggin (George Takei) who has been wreaking havoc in the city’s Chinatown.
Minor Spoilers Ahead!
In a humorous twist, the portal to San Francisco leads the group to Alcatraz Prison. This is where the show’s plot twists and animation style start to really click. The next three episodes cover the sophisticated and oddly understandable Gremlin leader Noggin and Sam’s friends’ struggle in the foggy cells of the prison.
After a brutal and genuinely scary sequence, the group escapes Alcatraz with the help of Chang (Simu Liu), a former second-in-command in Chinatown. His character arc is beautifully done. He isn’t just a side character or plot filler; he really feels like a part of the story and integrated within whatever outcome may be reached. In the end, his story gives the viewer some insight into the difficulties of high expectations and family pressure. The attention to plot detail in characters like Chang shows that this film is capable of telling stories that may not be evident when considering the rather welcoming animation style.
Speaking of the animation style, it is certainly a lot to get used to. The oblong heads of characters and oversized eyes certainly make it hard to get quickly immersed in the horror elements of the show. However, about halfway through this season’s first episode, it clicked. The characters are usually highly emotive and at best the show works as well as something like “Over the Garden Wall” — though at worst it looks almost like “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.” I will add that it’s far more like the former than the latter, but moments of clunky animation do stand out.
All-in-all, the new season is a great watch for October, though perhaps a bit too tame for the college student demographic. If you are interested in some easy watching (with the potential to get invested), then this is certainly a good option.
Rating: 3.8/5 Mogwai