“Big Mouth” is a weird, messed-up show, and it is back for 10 more offensive, perverted episodes for anyone lucky enough to have a Netflix account or a friend with one. With that being said, it is still one of the funniest shows on the platform and offers a generally positive message under plenty of offensive content.
“Big Mouth” is mostly known for its perverted jokes and themes. After all, it is a show about kids going through puberty. At its heart, “Big Mouth” is a progressive show, and its second season hammers that home once again. All the favorites are back: Nick (Nick Kroll, “Portlandia”), Andrew (John Mulaney, “Portlandia”), Jessi (Jessi Klein, “Inside Amy Schumer”), Jay (Jason Mantzoukas, “I’m Sorry”) and Missy (Jenny Slate, “Bob’s Burgers”). There are also some new faces, like Tyler (John Gemberling, “Dog Days”), Nick’s new hormone monster, and the Shame Wizard (David Thewlis, “Fargo”).
One of the biggest and most welcoming changes with the new season is the expansion of its lore and world-building. In the last episode of this season, similar to season one, viewers are treated to the exploration of a whole new world, this time, the Department of Puberty. Think “Inside Out,” but “Big Mouth” style. Viewers who wanted their lore questions answered got it this season.
A pleasant return is the meta moments where the show essentially pokes fun at Netflix as a platform, and every quip is hilarious. There is also an episode with a new format, not unlike “Saturday Night Live,” to send safe-sex messages with a Planned Parenthood endorsement. Even if the style is a bit off for the show, it is still funny and educational.
Aside from the world and plot, the complexity of the main cast of characters only gets stronger. Nick tries to get with the girl who suddenly grew breasts and goes through three hormone monsters. Andrew comes to terms with being a perverted creep. Jessi acts out because of her parents’ divorce, Jay is bi-curious, and Missy shows her sexy side. All the arcs fit their characters perfectly, and though it can be sad to see the teens sabotage themselves, it makes it that much better to see them recover.
That is one thing that makes “Big Mouth” different from a certain other popular Netflix Original, “Bojack Horseman.” Sure, its plot can be depressingly realistic at times, but at the end of the day, the message is a generally hopeful one. Some of the underlying and well-conveyed morals include: bisexuality is real; depression can be suffocating; every body is beautiful; and shame can be a useful, if annoying, feeling.
Speaking of shame, the biggest new presence by far is the Shame Wizard, played by Remus Lupin himself, who makes the characters feel ashamed of their bodies and deviant behavior. Though he does fit in with the lore of the show in the end, his introduction brings up a lot of questions, like where the heck was he the last season? The characters have done far more shameful things before, so he feels shoehorned in.
Another complaint is that Coach Steve (Nick Kroll), who has always seemed like a combination of Jar Jar Binks and Forrest Gump, gets the “Cars 2” treatment and is bumped to main character status, complete with his own annoying and unnecessary episode about losing his virginity. The repeated joke is that he is stupid, and it is not even redeemed by a nice message.
Overall, “Big Mouth” has done it again with plenty of perverted jokes for twisted minds and enough messages to keep it uplifting. For “Big Mouth,” life may be a f*****-up mess, but that does not mean all hope is lost.
Image from Netflix via YouTube
