Netflix’s groundbreaking animated series, Love, Death + Robots, comes back with ten fresh tales. The fourth volume offers an array of genres including sci-fi, fantasy, action, post-apocalyptic, comedy, and horror, while also delving into existentialism. It’s clear that Tim Miller and the animation studios behind this new season have raised the bar with exceptional animation quality.
Though not quite matching the powerhouse performances of its first three seasons, this latest run still boasts some truly exceptional episodes. Yet, it’s important to note that not every episode reaches the same high standard. Delve deeper to discover which gems from Season 4 truly warrant your focus.
10. Can’t Stop
Just A Red Hot Chili Peppers Promotion
In an innovative take, ‘Can’t Stop’ portrays the Red Hot Chili Peppers as string marionettes, performing their hit title track at the legendary 2003 Slane Castle concert. The animation and direction are commendable, but unfortunately, the episode lacks additional engaging elements.
This particular episode in Volume 4 stands out as being significantly less compelling compared to others, as “Love, Death + Robots” typically offers captivating science fiction and fantasy narratives. The episode titled “Can’t Stop” strays far from this pattern, making it more akin to an extended music video. Despite potentially appealing to fans of the band, many viewers may feel that it squanders David Fincher’s exceptional abilities.
9. Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners
A Hit And Miss Attempt At Comedy
Witty Gadgets, Hapless Humans” – A humorous anthology featuring brief accounts of intelligent appliances sharing their lives. This episode boasts a talented lineup of comedians. However, despite the humor, it falls flat and the brief sketches are insufficient to showcase the comedic talent.
This installment tends to uphold Love, Death + Robot’s inconsistent knack for humor. Although the show boasts some genuinely funny segments, “Smart Devices, Absent-Minded Users” probably won’t make it to the list of the series’ most endearing comedy episodes.
8. The Screaming Of The Tyrannosaur
A Half-Hearted Attempt At Commentary On The Class Divide
In this installment, the action unfolds aboard a space station during a nuptial event, as a band of combatants engage in fierce conflict atop mighty Triceratops, amusing the wealthy spectators. However, despite its promising concept, there’s a key aspect that undermines it significantly.
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Mr. Beast takes on the role as host, capturing his essence perfectly. However, despite the intrigue, his lack of acting experience becomes apparent. The commentary, though relevant, is also undermined by the choice of Mr. Beast, a figure known for being a capitalist and sometimes controversial in public opinion.
7. Close Encounters Of The Mini Kind
A Fun Alien Apocalypse
Titled “Close Encounters of a Tiny Scale,” the story unfolds much like “Night of the Mini Zombies” from Volume 3, with this installment focusing on a miniature animation portrayal of an extraterrestrial invasion on Earth. The initial interaction between humans and aliens turns chaotic, triggering the invasion as pandemonium breaks loose.
In this installment, we find a similar structure as the one preceding it. It’s an entertaining, disorderly, and amusing piece that remarkably tackles themes like police brutality and human propensity for violence, all while maintaining the humor typical of a short-form series without compromising it.
6. Golgotha
The First Live-Action Episode In The Show
The first live-action endeavor in “Love, Death + Robots” series unfolds around an Australian clergyman, who asserts his encounter with the miraculous resurrection of a dolphin. This event transpires upon his summon to a beach, orchestrated by an extraterrestrial civilization visiting our world.
Golgotha” serves as a compelling first live-action installment for the series, offering an engaging philosophical debate on faith. The characters are both humorous and endearing. However, the special effects aren’t consistently impressive, particularly in the finale. Despite this one issue, it remains an excellent episode overall.
5. The Other Large Thing
A Cat’s Quest For World Domination
In a twist of events, “The Other Large Thing” narrates the tale of a cunning cat with aspirations of global conquest, a common desire among felines. Regrettably, his attempts at world domination have thus far been unsuccessful. However, everything changes when his human companions introduce a robot butler into their household. Joined forces, they devise strategies to execute their plans.
It seems strongly hinted, as yet unconfirmed, that “The Other Large Thing” could serve as a precursor to the “Three Robots” installments within the realm of “Love, Death + Robots”. The witty script and spot-on humor make it a must-watch for enthusiasts of the series’ humorous offerings.
4. 400 Boys
Post-Apocalyptic Gang Warfare
In the wake of a catastrophic disaster, the story “400 Boys” unfolds within a city, where lawless gangs have taken refuge beneath the surface. Above them, colossal beings wreak havoc on what’s left of the city. As the last vestiges of resistance, these gangs unite to confront this new, formidable menace.
This episode is fantastic! The animation and artistic flair are flawless, which comes as no surprise given that it’s produced by Passion Pictures, a studio renowned for their work on “Zima Blue” and “Ice” from earlier seasons. The narrative is intriguing as well, and the action is both enjoyable and graphic.
3. Spider Rose
The Price Of Companionship
In the distant expanses of outer space, “Spider Rose” chronicles the story of its resilient and skillful protagonist, who shares the same name. Traumatized by a massacre that claimed the life of her husband, she is driven by a relentless thirst for vengeance. Alone in a space outpost, Spider Rose’s solitary existence is disrupted when a business arrangement results in her acquiring a genetically enhanced pet creature.
In the style of “Love, Death + Robots,” the episode titled “Spider Rose” delivers what fans have grown accustomed to. It combines a futuristic sci-fi foundation with a powerful narrative of vengeance that ranks among the series’ finest offerings.
2. How Zeke Got Religion
Occult Nazis Unleash An Ancient Evil In World War 2
In this installment, we delve into the story of an American military squad during World War II, who are dispatched on a clandestine mission to drop bombs in enemy territory. Their target: a church, as failing to do so might summon an age-old terror kept dormant by the Nazis. This particular episode ranks among the series’ most chilling portrayals of horror.
Zeke Gets Religion” seems to follow in the footsteps of “The Secret War,” but exceeds it significantly. The narrative boasts an intriguing set of characters, while delivering a genuinely terrifying atmosphere. The primary antagonist is impressively designed, and the animation is flawless, with action sequences that are nothing short of spectacular. It doesn’t get much better than this.
1. For He Can Creep
Some Cats Challenge The Devil
A poet labors tirelessly to compose a heavenly poem amidst the devil’s relentless efforts to seize his soul. The devil wishes for him to write a destructive poem that could potentially bring about the world’s demise. Yet, the poet finds solace and protection in the presence of Geffry, a beloved cat, who is deeply affectionate towards the poet, much to the devil’s irritation.
Title “For He Can Creep” impressively lives up to its brilliance, penned by Tamsyn Muir. The visual art, character development, and dialogue brim with allure and individuality, while the feline characters are irresistibly cute. This episode undeniably shines as the finest in Volume 4.
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2025-05-18 14:14