Jan. 29, 2016
The Collegian
Page 8
‘Over the Garden Wall’ Dancing through A microcosm of human life
Casey Latario
Jake Sziraky
Contributing Writer This past summer I found myself in the dreaded position of not having a show to binge watch. I had just finished up a few series that were on my list, all of which were rather dark and heavy watching (“True Detective” and “Better Call Saul”) and wanted something that would not leave me contemplating subjects best left for Humanities 302. A friend from home suggested “Over the Garden Wall,” and from the first episode I was in love. “Over the Garden Wall” is a 10-part Emmy awardwinning miniseries from the mind of Patrick McHale, which aired on Cartoon Network in November of 2014. McHale is known for his work on the animated shows “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack” and “Adventure Time.” Where both of those series display uniquely creative characters and zany universes, “Over the Garden Wall” succeeds where they fail by grounding its plot in the relationships of its protagonists. The miniseries follows the journey of two brothers, Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Greg (Collin Dean) who inexplicably find themselves lost in a wood filled ghosts, gentlemen frogs, pumpkin men, an old-timey schoolhouse for animals, a forlorn woodsman (Christopher Lloyd), a lonely but extremely wealthy
the decades
Entertainment Editor
http://wallpapersboom.net/
tea salesman (John Cleese) and a dark beast (Samuel Ramey) who stalks them through the Unknown. Along the way, they become friends with a bluebird named Beatrice (Melanie Lynskey), who promises to help bring them home. Though it may seem that the show has its hands full juggling all of the creative directions it follows, the beautiful artwork and charming voice acting has no difficulties uniting the creativity with realistic execution. All the while, Greg and Wirt are accompanied by a fantastic early 1900s-style soundtrack and several catchy songs that will be stuck in your head days after watching. In the end, what really
makes “Over the Garden Wall” deserving of its Emmy and Reuben awards is how it goes beyond an imaginative plot and beautiful artwork to describe a microcosm of human life. Wirt and Greg’s journey captures the simple wonder of childhood adventures in the woods with your brother. The possibilities of imagination and excitement of discovery, the interplay between siblings and new friendships and the growth of maturity into young adults are all themes that are explored. “Over the Garden Wall” has shown “that life really is as sweet as potatoes and molasses.”
In one way or another we are always looking back to yesteryear, whether it be looking for the perfect retro top to wear or indulging our increasingly nostalgic tastes in movies and television. How else do you explain the success of such franchises such as “Downton Abbey” and “Back to the Future”? This is not a new phenomenon; people have been nostalgic for the past for as long as there has been a past. There is something about the human race that simply longs for the past. That is why the Dance of the Century continues to be such a huge success. For those of you who were unable to attend last week’s festivities in Old MAP, the Dance of the Century is basically an entire evening dedicated to days gone by. For those of you who had an 80s theme f0r your sweet 16, it is something like that, only add in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 90s and early 2000s as well. However, it was not a chronological countdown. The night did not start with Elvis Presley and crescendo with Bowling for Soup. They played a good mix of time periods throughout the evening. It is as if they took the “Best of …” for every decade, threw it in a blender and played what came out. It was a celebration of our entire musical past from the last
There is something about the human race that simply longs for the past. 60 years. And just to keep it truly funky fresh, a live band performed several numbers and succeeded in rocking the house. The music and dancing were certainly a high point of the evening, and without a doubt the reason most people attended the event in the first place. However, the details of any event will be what ultimately makes or breaks it. The traditional photo booth outside the dance hall certainly kept up its history of funny poses, outrageous faces and downright silliness. The free drinks and fruit provided were much appreciated to cool the avid partygoers and the costumes that most of the dancers wore gave the night a flair of whimsy and fun. Unfortunately, we are not Marty McFly or Doctor Who. We cannot go back in time to truly experience things how they really were. But with events like the Dance of the Century we can certainly recapture the fun of the past without unpleasantries like segregation and the Vietnam War.
‘Bob’s Burgers’: a much-needed break from Seth MacFarlane
Grant Wishard Staff Writer
“Bob’s Burgers” opened for business in early 2011, and has become TV’s oddest success story. The unlikely show, created by Loren Bouchard, who wrote and produced “Dr. Kratz,” and Jim Dauterive, who wrote and produced “King of the Hill,” has endeared itself to audiences, and is now in its sixth season. The cartoon sitcom is centered on the misfit Belcher family and their hilariously desperate efforts to keep their boardwalk burger restaurant in business. The burgers are good; fry cook Bob has a talent which easily beats the fine-dining competition. He is backed by his enthusiastic and long-suffering wife Linda (voiced by John Roberts). It is everything and everyone else that threatens to sink the family’s small-business. The health department, town council, food critics and the yacht club make life difficult. Landlord Fischoeder’s many demands, Jimmy Pesto’s rival Italian restaurant and crazy Aunt Gale’s disturbing artwork all help drive away the customers. The kids, Tina, Gene and Louise, are hardly helpful. Whatever the problem, the struggle for daily survival is hilarious. The viewership of “Bob’s Burgers” has swelled past its cult following to millions of viewers each week. The critics, especially the top eche-
BOBSBURGERSCAPS.TUMBLR.COM
lon, are undecided. The New York Times called the show a “good-news, bad-news proposition” but praised it for not being “another grating half-hour from the mind of Seth MacFarlane,” who monopolizes adult animation television with “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “The Cleveland Show.” “Bob’s Burgers” is hilarious because of its characters. Bob, Linda and the three kids are each fully drawn so as to be distinct from each other, and, ironically, three-dimensional. Each character is both realistic and absurd. Linda is optimistic, loud, supportive and fiercely protective. She is always becoming absorbed in a new, ridiculous obsession and never loses faith in her “Bobby,” even as a lover, though Bob could not be less romantic. Linda is prone to bursting into song, and is often suckered into completing school projects for the kids.
Though she loves her family and their restaurant, she cannot help but wish for the finer things. The rest of the Belcher family is just as vivid and equally fun. Louise, the youngest child, voiced by Kristen Schaal, always wears her pink rabbit ears and is the evil genius anti-hero of the family, showing herself to be diabolical, intelligent and sarcastic. The show only becomes more entertaining as you come to understand these characters. They never break character for the sake of a joke, and are comical simply by being themselves. The humor of “Bob’s Burgers” is found in the personality and everyday development of this dysfunctional family. Admittedly, “Bob’s” is a weird show. Everything, from the anti-jokes and deadpan humor to how the characters are animated, described by one critic as “sen-
tient carrots,” is offbeat. But it is also endearing for one reason: the Belchers love each other. Sure, put them all in one place, like around the dinner table or in a food truck, and chaos breaks out, but as in most families, this does not get in the way of their loyalty to one another. The third season episode, “Mother Daughter Laser Razor,” is perhaps the best example of the family’s love for one another. As usual, Linda and Louise are not on the best of terms. Linda is worried that they do not have the best relationship since they do not do makeup, hair and shopping together like girlfriends should. She tries every sucker solution suggested by the mommy blog “Phenomemom” (Bob: “hmm that’s fun to say”), and even drags Louise to a laughable “mother-daughter healing seminar.” Ultimately though, Linda and Louise
learn to understand and love each other for who they are. They stop spatting, and literally fight back-to-back to defend each other in a laser tag showdown. This episode, like most episodes of “Bob’s,” ends with forgiveness and reconciliation. Getting to know the characters of the Belcher clan is highly entertaining. Watching Bob, Linda, Tina, Gene and Louise, learn to love each other more makes the experience enjoyable. Yes, there is often yelling and chaos. Yes, the humor can be edgy like any modern comedy. Yes, there are angsty moments, like when you decide you are Dina now instead of Tina. And of course, there are weird characters and odd smells. In other words, the Belchers are a real family; perhaps, a lot like your own family. I am certain Linda would be great friends with my mother, and Gene often reminds me of my brother. Most viewers may not take to the show immediately, so at least two 20 minute episodes are recommended. If you are already a fan, you have likely found that your friends only indulge you for the chance to prove you wrong. But stay where you are, do not budge, forgive your unappreciative friends and make room for them on the couch. “Bob’s Burgers” is too much fun to pass up.