![]() It really is annoying especially when the episode already features such a lackluster plot like “Cuphead and Mugman chase a rat around their house”. These episodes seem to think the crazier the sound effects or the weirder the facial expressions, the funnier they become. While certainly less obnoxious than Season 1, Season 2 is still occasionally so, especially during the filler episodes. The Cuphead Show suffers from trying to cram in as many characters from the video game as possible into the show, ultimately sacrificing familiarity and fully defined side characters. The SpongeBob SquarePants show featured a large set of likable recurring characters like Sandy, Squidward, and Larry the Lobster. Cuphead and Mugman can’t carry the show alone, and really, they shouldn’t have to. This is an even bigger problem because the central duo just aren’t interesting enough to have a show revolve all around them. Why care about characters like Captain Brineybeard and Baroness Von Bon Bon when you know you’ll most likely never see them again? The only characters that feel familiar are Cuphead and Mugman and the only place that feels familiar is their home. Inkwell Isles never feels as solid a setting as other animated towns like Springfield and Bikini Bottom. However, these episodes also feature characters and settings you know will never return for another episode, so it’s hard to get too invested in any of them. ![]() It does its thing, is charming, and leaves before it overstays its welcome. ![]() The jokes land, the characters are likable, and the video game references never feel forced. A particularly notable one is the third episode, A High Seas Adventure!, where Cuphead and Mugman get roped into a mission to help a pirate reunite with his sweetheart. None of them are fantastic but they’re funny, imaginative, and short enough to be likable. It’s a shame, too, because the good episodes are, well, good. They’re so tepid they feel like they’re just there for the season to reach the episode count. The show no longer has an overarching plot like the first one had, and while the episodic format fits it nicely, the mediocre episodes don’t offer anything worth latching on to aside from stellar animation. While none of the episodes are terrible, more than half of them are there just acting as filler. Season 2 may have a larger number of good episodes compared to Season 1, but that doesn’t mean it has enough. Animation fans may remember this technique being used in Hilda as well and it’s just as endearing here as it was there.Īll of these make The Cuphead Show a more enjoyable experience the second time around, but unfortunately, the bad still outweighs the good. One tidbit I especially enjoyed was how the characters’ eyes would be completely black like in an old newspaper comic whenever there was an extreme long shot. Many scenes from this season are straight up mesmerizing because of how detailed and well-animated they are. This was Season 1’s biggest strength and Season 2 features even stronger animation, with some of the frames feeling like they deserve to be blown up, printed, and hung on a wall. Nearly every episode features a new character for Cuphead and Mugman to partake in zany antics with and the cast of characters in this season are more interesting and entertaining than from the previous season, making for funnier and more memorable episodes. The new characters easily outrank the old ones, too. ![]() His actions and dialogue feel specific to him, unlike before when half of his actions and dialogue felt like they could’ve easily come from Cuphead. Mugman, especially, is given a far stronger personality, with the season really leaning into his goody-two-shoes and well-behaved-freak tendencies. At its best, the season feels like a madcap Hilda meets Looney Tunes - cartoony humor mixed with whimsical fantasy settings and characters.Ĭuphead and Mugman are more unique characters here, no longer feeling interchangeable like they did in the first season. The episodes still have the occasional loud, wacky sound effect, and uncanny facial expressions, but more time is dedicated to witty and fast-paced jokes based on the situation and environment. Still, thankfully, The Cuphead Show’s second season features significant improvements over the first. Sadly, while the second season is certainly better than the first, it’s just not good enough to be considered as a must-watch for any viewer, fan of the video game or not. There’s no reason The Cuphead Show can’t do the same. However, many cartoons like The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers failed to stick the landing during their first season, only to win both the critics and audiences over the more they went on. The Cuphead Show’s first season received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, with many praising the show’s visual appeal but criticizing its lack of substance.
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