Solar Opposites Season 1 Review

First, I want to say sorry that I didn’t put up my review/recap of the new chapter of One Piece yesterday. I apologize, it’s up now. Secondly, the reason why I was quiet this weekend was that I was watching Hulu’s new show. It’s called Solar Opposites, it is made by Justin Roiland, and it’s hilarious!

What’s it About?

If you haven’t heard, here’s the premise of the show. These four aliens flee the destruction of their home planet and crash land in suburban America. They have to fix their spaceship and get off-planet before their organic computer, the Pupa, evolves into its pure form and terraforms Earth into a replica of their home and kills everyone. Too bad most of them want to mess around on Earth.

Leading the group is Korvo, voiced by Justin Roiland. He’s Rick, but not as deep-sounding or as cynical. He’s the only one dedicated to their mission and acts like he hates humans and Earth. Yet deep down, he can’t stop from getting enamored by aspects of Earth culture. 

Next is Terry, played by Thomas Middleditch. He’s the eternal optimist who loves everything about Earth and just wants to enjoy it. He doesn’t realize how much stress he causes Korvo and how no one likes him or his group. He’s hilarious. 

Then we have Jesse and Yumyulack, their kids? They’re called replicants, we don’t know what that means, but they act like the kids, so that’s what we call them. They’re super smart and argue like siblings and about what’s good on Earth. Jesse’s the more optimistic one who tries to see to the good in everything. Meanwhile, Yumyulack’s the cynic who acts like a jerk to everyone. They also shrink humans down and keep them in a glass wall that will come up later. 

Lastly, there’s the Pupa, their sentient computer in the form of a pet. That’s pretty much what it is, too: a pet. It gets into trouble when everyone’s not looking and acts like a pet, except when it evolves, it will kill everyone. 

Blending Multiple Shows

If I had to describe the humor and structure of Solar Opposites, it would be like this: it’s a mixture of the fun and black comedy of Rick and Morty and Invader Zim with a plot structure similar to Regular Show. Let me explain.

Since Solar Opposites’ made by Justin Roiland, it’s got a lot of the same humor as its sister show. However, it doesn’t wax existential or philosophical like Rick and Morty, choosing to focus on the improvised comedy Justin Roiland’s famous for doing. Also, while it’s got a lot of the same sci-fi and black comedy of Rick and Morty and Invader Zim, it’s nowhere near as dark. Yeah, the aliens are jerks to humans, but at least half of them don’t realize they’re jerks. That’s what makes their antics so funny.

Speaking of antics, here’s where the comparison to Regular Show comes in. The plot of an episode of Solar Opposites follows the same basic formula:

1. The aliens get invested in some mundane things about Earth’s culture.
2. Korvo may or may not resist at first, but then joins in by saying its part of their mission (which it’s not)
3. They use their technology to take said mundane interest to extremes and cause problems.
4. They then have to resolve the said problem before returning things to regular and remaining unpopular and hated by humanity.

It reminds me of a lot of the structure to Regular Show. That show focused on some mundane task the cast had to do and get into some surreal situation as a result. Or maybe I’m the only one who sees the similarity.

The Best Dang Sub-Plot I’ve Seen in Years

By its nature right now, Solar Opposites is a very episodic show with little continuity. It’s only in its first season, so that’s expected. The one thread that ties the episodes together is this recurring sub-plot that I call “The Wall.”

Jesse and Yumyulack (mostly Yumyulack) use a shrink ray to shrink down humans they think are jerks (so, for very petty reasons). They keep them in a system of interconnected terrariums in a wall in their bedroom, hence its name. The shrunken people end up building a Mad Max-style society led by a man called the Duke. 

The story of the Wall plays out during the whole season as members of the shrunken society fight in a civil war for control. Everything culminates in the 7th episode, which is by far the best in the series thus far. It focuses on the people in the Wall with the aliens doing a background plot with them stealing a bear. I’d tell you how it ends, but I don’t want to spoil it for you because it’s fantastic!

Go Watch Solar Opposites

We all have a lot of free time now since society’s come to a halt because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you’re looking to kill two-and-a-half hours, then watch Solar Opposites. It’s on Hulu, and it’s a hilarious, softer version of Rick and Morty that, ironically, has as much foul language. I love it.

I give the first season of Solar Opposites a 4.8/5 

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Click here to see my review of the latest Rick and Morty episode