One Of The Best Netflix Shows Ever Made Returns Today For A Wild New Season
Love, Death + Robots
One of the very best Netflix shows returns today with ten new episodes, or rather ten new shorts each telling its very own, very peculiar story.
Love, Death + Robots features some of the best, most unique animation of any TV series out there. The sci-fi series has given us everything from mutant super-soldiers to all-out war between a farmer and an army of rats. Space exploration, time travel, talking cats and inquisitive robots all make up the various stories of the first three season.
This new season is comprised of ten episodes, all of which drop today, spanning T-Rex gladiators, household appliances in a search for work-life balance, and aliens, demons, Nazi demons and lots more. Including, yes, more talking cats. It's like an obsession at this point. This show may as well be called Love, Death + Cats.
The animation varies wildly from one episode to the next, with different teams of animators and writers working on each (very short) short. Some are adaptations of science-fiction stories. One even has live-action featuring the always hilarious Rhys Darby (pictured above).
In Season 4, expect more off-the-wall storytelling, a bunch of celebrities lending their voices – and sometimes faces – to the characters, and even some musical performances.
Love, Death + Robots is created by Tim Miller and executive produced by David Fincher, who also directs the first Season 4 episode, 'Can't Stop', which features the band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
'Our hope is that people begin to understand that this is a boundary-less sandbox,' said Fincher. 'You know, we want to be able to play. We just want to be able to surprise people and show them stuff that hopefully scares them, or gives them the giggles: eye candy worth 11 minutes or six minutes of their time.'
The show isn't just bringing in popular 90s bands. It's taking a crack at the younger audience by giving YouTuber MrBeast a major role in one of the episodes. Other stars include John Oliver, Amy Sedaris, Kevin Hart and more.
Here are the synopses for each of the ten episodes.
Can't Stop
Synopsis: A unique take on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' legendary 2003 performance at Slane Castle, Ireland, with band members Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, and John Frusciante recreated as string-puppets. Directed by David Fincher, who originally made his name with music videos in the 1980s and early '90s, before segueing into unforgettable feature films.
Animation Studio: Blur StudioVoice Cast: Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, Chad Smith
Close Encounters Of The Mini Kind
Synopsis: Tiny terror is unleashed in this mini alien apocalypse as directors Robert Bisi and Andy Lyon pay loving tribute to classic sci-fi stories of alien invasion and human stupidity using tilt-shift techniques that make the end of the world look almost cute.
Animation Studio: BUCK
Spider Rose
Synopsis: A return to the fantastic cyberpunk universe of 'Swarm' (Vol. 3), created by visionary sci-fi author Bruce Sterling and directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson. On a remote asteroid mining operation, a grieving Mechanist gets a new companion and has a chance to avenge herself against the Shaper assassin who killed her husband.
Animation Studio: Blur StudioVoice Cast: Emily O'Brien, Feodor Chin, Piotr Michael & Sumalee Montano
400 Boys
Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic city where warring gangs follow a bushido-like code of honor, a new gang, the 400 Boys, forces them to unite. A blend of beauty and brutality from Canadian director Robert Valley, whose LDR episode 'Ice' won the Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Animation.
Animation Studio: Passion AnimationVoice Cast: John Boyega, Ed Skrein, Sienna King, Dwane Walcott, Rahul Kohli, Pamela Nomvete & Amar Chadha-Patel
The Other Large Thing
Synopsis: From the mind of prolific writer John Scalzi comes the story of a cat who plans world domination. Sanchez, as his puny human 'pets' know him, is helped by a new robotic butler (voiced by Last Week Tonight host John Oliver) who can hack into the World Wide Web and is eager to help his new master.
Animation Studio: AGBOVoice Cast: Chris Parnell, John Oliver, Fred Tatasciore & Rachel Kimsey
Golgotha
Synopsis: In a rare live-action entry in Love, Death + Robots, a conscientious vicar – played by Rhys Darby, (What We Do In The Shadows) – plays host to an emissary of an alien race who believes their messiah has been reborn on earth… as a dolphin. So, uh… yeah, Dolphin-Jesus. Directed by Tim Miller.
Animation Studio: Luma Pictures (VFX)Voice Cast: Rhys Darby, Moe Daniels, Graham McTavish, Phil Morris, Michelle Lukes & Matthew Waterson
The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur
On a space station orbiting Jupiter, decadent aristocrats gather to witness a brutal contest of genetically modified gladiators — fierce combatants riding deadly, engineered dinosaurs. A tale of visceral violence and unlikely emotion, directed by Tim Miller, based on a short story by Stant Litore.
Animation Studio: Blur StudioVoice Cast: MrBeast & Bai Ling
How Zeke Got Religion
B-17 Flying Fortress Liberty Belle has the oddest mission of World War Two: a journey into occupied France to bomb a church before the Nazis can raise an ancient evil. John McNichol's short story of blood, fallen archangels, occult magic, and ultraviolence is directed by Diego Porral (lead animator on previous LDR classic 'Kill Team Kill').
Animation Studio: TitmouseVoice Cast: Keston John, Braden Lynch, Roger Craig Smith, Gary Furlong, Bruce Thomas, Andrew Morgado & Scott Whyte
Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners
From an angry toothbrush to an overworked smart showerhead and an intelligent toilet, various household appliances divulge tales of bemusement, scorn, and wonder about their human owners. Directed by Patrick Osborne, of Vol. 3 favorite 'Three Robots: Exit Strategies.'
Animation Studio: Aaron Sims Creative Voice Cast: Melissa Villaseñor, Ronny Chieng, Amy Sedaris, Kevin Hart, Josh Brener, Nat Faxon, Niecy Nash-Betts & Brett Goldstein
For He Can Creep
London, 1757. A poet confined to an insane asylum believes Satan wants him to write a verse that will end the world. And the only thing standing between him and the Prince of Darkness (voiced by Dan Stevens) is his cat, Jeoffry. Emily Dean directs this wildly inventive period adaptation of Siobhan Carroll's short story.
Animation Studio: Polygon Pictures Inc. Voice Cast: Dan Stevens, JB Blanc, Jim Broadbent, Nika Futterman, Jane Leeves & Dave B. Mitchell
These all sound pretty great, and I'm excited to dive headfirst into the new season this weekend. Some of these animation studios, like Titmouse, have produced some of my favorite animated series. Titmouse animates the wonderful Legend Of Vox Machina, for instance, which you can (and should) watch on Prime Video. Blur Studio has worked on all kinds of things, including the 'Heaven and Hell" sequence from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (which remains one of the greatest musicals of all time).
What's your favorite Love, Death + Cats … er … Robots short? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.
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