(Short) Reviews
First I'll shortly describe each and every episode; after which I'll give you a top three (and a bottom top three while I'm at it).
Sonnie's Edge
The first episode is a great opener. The graphics are
amazing, the voice-acting practically flaweless. It makes you appreciate how
far we've come since the days of Animatrix.
The plot itself, however, is a bit predictable (plus the
obvious lesbian sex scene keeps reminding you that you are watching Netflix -
more on that in a moment). But that shouldn't bother anybody since the bulk of
the episode is just monsters smashing into each other.
Three robots
Three bickering robots on a tour through a post-apocalyptic
city we humans left behind. The end twist is fun. But most of all this episode
hinges on robots trying to understand us silly humans -which they can't. This
could become an ongoing series of these three robots trying to make sense this
ancient human civilization.
I didn't really enjoy the voice-acting/dialogue though.
But I can't really put my finger on it.
The witness
And here we are at the Netflix-par-excellence episode.
Storywise this is the weakest of the bunch. You can guess how it's all going to
go down one minute into the episode. The rest is just a naked woman (and, thus,
to even things out, the obligatory penis appearing as well) running around.
This episode felt more to make of showing some flesh than it
was to tell an intriguing short story. The visual style is nice though.
Suits
Reading the title and seeing a farmhouse as the very first
shot I was expecting some M.I.B. shenanigans. But this episode offers far more.
The animation style takes a minute to get accustomed to but
once you do you are in for a fun ride with explosions and the lovechildren
between The Mist and Starship Troopers.
Sucker of souls
oldschool 2D anime (western at least) animation. A lot less
robots in this one; but a lot more gore. This episode is
the male fourteen-year-old daydream fantasy in the flesh as it were. Just the
tiniest of plot to move things along and to get the bloodsplatter going.
When the yogurt took over
Six minutes. The shortest episode of the bunch and one of
the silliest (that is; if you stick to the metaphor of yogurt). I didn't really
enjoy the animation, a bit too cheaply made on the character department. But
the story was intriguing enough to spark a series of possible narratives.
Beyond the Aquila rift
Some spectacular 3D animation here. This episode proves two
things. First, that we are very, very close to actually creating 100% looking
humans on a computer. And, two, that this is a story that can only be told by
using the powers of animation.
Sure there might be some live-action way; but reality simply
can hold a candle to the imaginative powers of animation.
Beyond the Aquila rift is one of the best episodes of the
series (even with the shoehorned sex scene - really Netflix?).
Good hunting
Steamboy (2004) style animation this time with a
Steampunk-story set in Hong Kong. Moreover it features the ancient legend
surrounding foxes (that's as far as my knowledge of that particular legend
goes).
I was kind of hoping for a lovestory between a hunter and a
prey. Instead I got the 'other' famous story about hunters and prey.
Still, what I got was very well executed with a minute eye
for detail in the animation. Still I prefer the innocence of Steamboy over the
harshness of Good hunting.
The dump
And another d*ck joke. By now it's becoming rather obvious
that Love, death and robots is a bit uneven. Some, horror or Sci-fi but
sometimes it feels like the smallest of stories is used as an excuse to throw
some animated nudity your way. Like The witness, there's not always a need.
Still The dump reminded me of the Tales from the Crypt
episodes of the early nineties. Which is a good thing. And the animation style
was comical enough not to take the episode too seriously (like anybody could).
Shape-shifters
And, as usual, whenever you make a statement a show
immediately proves your point. In Shape-shifters (or 'Dog Soldiers:the sequel')
there's actually some functional nudity.
Because this episode takes place at a military compound in
the Middle-East each and every American soldier has a bob-cut. This, however,
automatically highlights the facial features (especially during daytime). Which
is one of the things 3D animation hasn't fully managed yet.
Especially in 20 to 40-so people. Very young and very old
people are easier to animate.
So the limits of realistic human animation is front and centre in this episode. Still, when night falls and the protagonist starts investigating (some very clever shots here) the story wins you over and you are in for a brutal thrill-ride.
Helping hand
As I said above; realistic human 3D of young people doesn't
really work but it helps if it is night (or the vacuum darkness of space). A
nice little story this time around which toys around with some real science
concerning action/reaction.
Fish night
A more fantastical episode (that ended a bit more brutally
than it should). The animation style is fitting for the story it's telling. The
bright colours help to sell the fantastical aspect. The story, however, is
-well- practically translucent.
Lucky 13
A sentinel ship. This episode is more drama than action,
gore and lewdity. It is about a love between a pilot and her ship. It works
just like those stories about Seacaptains knowing their boats. When the trust
between the machine and the human is there they will look out for each other.
And in Lucky 13 this concept works like a charm.
Zima Blue
Square, square, square! A throwback to the philosophical
(drug fuelled) Sci-fi novels from the seventies Zima Blue is the more 'out
there' episode of the bunch and therefore the most divisive. I didn't really
enjoy the spiritual motive it tried to force on the audience, nor did I like
the chosen animation style.
This episode is the one people online like to praise best. I
disagree! I think this episode was trying at best.
Blindspot
One of the sillier episodes. Basically it feels like a mix
between Solo: A Star Wars Story and Pokemon. It's silly fun (and the animation
takes a little getting used to) but overall a happy crime-caper of a story.
Alas it is also easily forgotten.
Ice age
And suddenly a (mostly) live-action episode.
And one of which I'm certain I read the original story
once.
I really enjoyed this episode because of the humour, chemistry between de leads and the whole absurdity of it all. I would definitely love me a refrigerator like this.
SPOILER: I'd put in a Lego doll and watch the little people
worship it as a deity.
The title alone grabbed me - then I was rewarded with some
of the strangest Hitler shenanigans I've ever witnessed (and I saw Hitler on
ice in The history of the world part I). This is one weird, weird episode of
which I kinda wished they played it straight. Still the whole Hitchhicker's
guide to the galaxy vibe (and seeing Hitler die six times over) made up for it
a little.
The secret war
Saving the best for last. If there's one thing the Russians
are very, very good at it is computers. This computer animation proves it!
Making usage of the mysterious felled forest in the Ural and the occult rage of
the early twentieth century, The secret war concocts a visually stunning story
of a Soviet platoon's last stand against the beasts of the underworld.
Ranking
so there you have it! 18 short episodes quickly reviewed.
Which did I prefer? Strangely enough it are the more photorealistic animations
I liked best. So here's my top three:
3. Sonnie's edge
A visually stunning episode that features an amazingly
choreographed death match. It uses violence and sex as a motive instead of
something for the perv’s to ogle at.
2. Ice age
Because this story was so enjoyable without any 'real'
consequences. I never thought I would enjoy mass-extinction so much.
1. Beyond the Aquila rift
The sex-scene is a bit forced in there but beyond (ha!) that
this episode brings forth an amazing little tale that makes fine good usage of
the animation possibilities.
So those are my top pics; which then, to me, are the bottom-dwellers?
3. Zima Blue
I simply couldn't be bothered by it, nor did I enjoy the
visual style. A shame really because if the episode bothered to be less forced
philosophical it might have brought its point across better.
2. Alternate histories
'Killing Hitler' has been a though-exorcise for ages now.
And even though I understand the joke behind it this episode simply could've
been far better.
1. The witness
Sometimes, playing something straight doesn't pay off
either. The witness is too reliant on its twist (which is obvious) and
therefore feels like a weak excuse to have the protagonist running around with
no clothes on. The animation is good though.
Luckily there are far more better episodes in Love, death
and robots than there are bad ones. Still a lot of the episodes feel
like a technical achievement of pulling off awesome animation instead of
telling a truly fulfilling story. Maybe that's something the show might want to
tackle in the future.
