NETFLIX
Netflix’s newest anime series is the offbeat Delicious in Dungeon. Delicious in Dungeon follows a dungeon raiding guild – like something out of Legend of Zelda or Lord of the Rings – who, when they’re killed and “respawn” (as one might do in a video game) they lose a member of their party and all their resources. With no time or other options, the group returns to the dungeon to save their lost friend. And, to make ends meet, begin cooking the monsters they battle.
The premise is certainly an odd one. Delicious in Dungeon is first and foremost a comedy, contrasting its characters by their reactions to their new habits. Some are disgusted by the turn their life has taken, and some are overjoyed about the new culinary experience. What makes Delicious in Dungeon work is its commitment to its comedy. The characters all have elements of serious fantasy series regulars, there’s a knight, an elf and even something like a hobbit – but they quickly betray their goofy natures. The knight – Laios – may be a classic hero out to save his sister, but he’s also quickly overexcited at the prospect of eating basilisks and slimes.
Delicious in Dungeon is a very goofy show. It delights in its weird concept, with some very pleasant and appealing animation. It’s well worth a look, with new episodes dropping weekly.
DISNEY+
Dinsey+ meanwhile has added a new show – a mystery drama that seems to take cues from Murder on the Orient Express and other Agatha Christie novels. Death and Other Details is a lavish whodunnit set on a vintage cruise ship populated by the rich and powerful. With two episodes available at the time of this writing, the series lays out its groundwork. The series focuses on Imogene Scott – played by Violett Beane (The Flash, God Friended Me) – a young woman whose mother once worked for the Collier family before being murdered. Imogene is part of the Collier family’s social circle, but she’s out of place amongst the rich.
When a passenger is murdered, Imogene is confronted with the detective from her past Rufus Coteworth – Mandy Patinkin (The Princess Bride, Criminal Minds, Homeland, The Good Fight) – who begins to investigate and brings Imogene in as his assistant. Imogene learns just how many secrets surround her and how this murder may be connected to her mother’s.
Death and Other Details has a wonderful aesthetic, its central mystery is compelling, as is the relationship between the two leads. Its supporting cast is quite strong too, with Rahul Kohli (iZombie, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Fall of the House of Usher), Lauren Patten (Blue Bloods, The Good Fight), Jack Cutmore-Scott (Tenet, Oppenheimer, Frasier), and Annie Q. Riegel (The Leftovers, Alex Strangelove) making up just some of the show’s suspects.
New episodes drop Tuesdays.
BINGE
Also released this month was Seth Macfarlane’s Ted. The series, a prequel to the movie of the same name, finds our protagonists in 1993 – with Ted, a magically alive teddy bear who was briefly famous, living with his best friend teenager John Bennett. Anyone familiar with the film knows the basic concept, despite being cute and kid-friendly on the outside Ted’s personality is anything but. He’s crude and foul-mouthed and eager to cause trouble. There’s nothing overly surprising about Ted – it’s a familiar sitcom with characters we’ve seen before. That said, it does have its charms. Its point of view often follows how Ted interacts with the world, with little moments like how he falls or sprints down a hallway to match a normal walking speed are all well-animated touches. The cast has the difficult job of acting alongside a cartoon bear, and mostly pull off the illusion. Max Burkholder (Benjamin, Parenthood), who plays John and has the most interaction with Ted, manages the trick fairly well. As does Giorgia Whigham (The Punisher, A Little White Lie), who plays John’s cousin Blaire who acts as the show’s voice of reason. The main cast also features Scott Grimes (American Dad!, The Orville) as John’s “Boston racist” father Matty and Alanna Ubach (Legally Blonde, Hung, Euphoria) as John’s spacey mum.
Ted is an interesting marriage between a sitcom with Seth Macfarlane’s cruder humour and one that mostly works well. All episodes are now available.
