DEAD END: PARANORMAL PARK season 2 review - Couldn't be better

(Reviewed by Melody Werner)

Dead End: Paranormal Park is a 2022 animated fantasy series based on the Deadendia comic series by the Eisner awarded Hamish Steele. Netflix, contented to play both sides of the field between promoting transphobic hate speech and funding works such as this that provide a much necessary positive trans representation, are distributing it. In other words, you could argue that this show pissed people off far more than Dave Chappelle obliterating his entire legacy. If I need to make my views clearer, it is that this show is pretty much perfect representation, but that Netflix shouldn't be getting any flowers—those are more deserved by the animators, writers, voice actors, composers, and so on who went the extra mile to not only make an incredibly fun show, but also one which can show the young'uns that the world's a bit more complex than a 5th grade science class would tell you.

To be blunt with you, I have not kept up on many ongoing animated shows that aren't things like Arcane or The Cuphead! Show—IE, brand extensions. I haven't watched many others since new Voltron, (now all of) new She-Ra, Disenchantment, etc. a few years ago. So yeah, forgive me if I am overly blown away by the animation quality on display in Dead End. Not only are the character designs very appealing (particularly that of Pugsley, who never ceases to be adorable), but the animations are incredibly fluid.

While I loved the writing of season 1 broadly, season 2 is a clinic on why this show's stories are so captivating. Some of the mysteries set up in season 1 receive resolutions that make you go "whoa," or, more likely, "holy shit, they went there." You'll have set-up for payoffs that the show doesn't draw attention to, allowing you to connect the dots and say, "ohhhh, now I get why this character did that thing last episode." I won't dangle any spoilers, but if you've seen the show, you know what revelation I am referring to. This naturally means the show benefits from watching it in relatively quick succession, so that you don't miss out on these moments, but it's not like this series is lacking on pure "entertainment" value.

With this show, I find myself consistently laughing—whether I am holding in a "guffaw", or letting one of those suckers rip. The show finds its humor in many locations, but thankfully none of them are tinged with any malice or bigotry. Rather, there's a mix of quickwitted dialogue, visual gags, absurd situations, and batshit hilarious parody. There's an episode titled, "Eat the Parents"—need I say more?

But when I'm not laughing, it's usually for good reason. Whether that be Barney going into a depression spiral and self-loathing, or Norma being afraid to come out as bi to her ma—this show isn't afraid to develop its characters, to treat their flaws and identities seriously, and to settle the pace down when we need some pathos. It also isn't afraid to incorporate some romance between characters with chemistry, who aren't insufferable like 90+% of relationships in media.

The finale for this season also hits like a fucking freight train. Again, I won't bark out any spoilers, but if you know what I mean, you know what I mean. That being said, I must advise not looking the show up anywhere outside of Netflix (or wherever else you may be watching, IDC), because it is absurd how quickly you will encounter either spoilers or, worse, reactionary gremlins who haven't watched beyond the trailers and some publicly available clips. Go in, sight unseen, and you will have an utter blast. Trust me.

There are episodes of this season that I just know I will be returning to—for their humor and creativity, but also their wonderful balance of drama too. Not many cartoons can have that allure for me—none short of classics. Am I saying that Dead End is an instant classic? How much must I put in-between these lines?

After the universe heard my pleas for a season 2, I think I'll test the waters and see if I can't help will a season 3 into being. Cuz this was just amazing. Everything great about the first season, built upon in exciting ways. And yeah, everything so far says to me that this is, pound for pound, one of the best shows I've ever seen. Dead End: Paranormal Park season 2 notches another 10/10.

Masterpiece

Summary:

Imaginative and inclusive, gutbusting and gorgeous—Dead End's second season is much like its predecessor in terms of why it's so good, but allows its characters and story to blossom even more.