Imagine that ‘Inside Out’ had taken more caffeine than necessary: more or less that is ‘Human Resources’, the spin-off of ‘Big Mouth’ that, being able to stay on the surface and in the coarse jokes of its original series , decide to be brave and go further. Although in the first episode a character affirms that they have been sold as a cross between the series from which it comes and ‘The office’, Nick Kroll and his they have given much more of themselves of what anyone would expect from the spin-off of a marginal production within the Netflix catalog.
Yes, this first season maintains the surreal and sexual humor of ‘Big mouth’but also add a dose of bittersweet tenderness and love for humanity that, at times, brings her closer in her intentions to ‘Scrubs’. Big words.
From teenagers to offices
Educational sex videos have always existed, since the mythical ‘What’s happening to me?’ until the infamous ‘Pablito and Virginia’ or a couple of episodes of ‘Once upon a time… life’, but ‘Big mouth’ has never felt the need to explain the thing about bees and flowers. For five seasons full of profanity, talking genitals and monsters of all kinds, the series has not stopped to educate in the classic way, as if it were a biology book, but has focused on changes, insecurities and everything that comes with being a teenager. All this with musicals dedicated to tampons, sexy talking pillows and profanity of all kinds. It is a series that, once the shock of its visual style has passed, knows how to give more than it seems.
The million dollar question is: Is it necessary to have seen ‘Big mouth’ to understand ‘Human Resources’? Although I would like to be more emphatic in the answer, it must be said that no, but it is recommended. This is a spin-off with all the law: it assumes that you understand how the relationship between monsters and humans works, and from there it expands its own universe. It’s self explanatory, but there are details that are more enjoyable being a fan of the original.
Coming from a series so contained in its theme (sex and teenagers), the amount of personalities, characters and humanistic plots that open in ‘Human Resources’ surprises at first, although they soon fall back, between episodes that deal with depression, Alzheimer’s or post-partum heartbreak, in the tacky surrealist joke. If you’re amused by the idea of a ‘Rocky’-style dick boxing match, this is the series for you. But if it squeaks you, don’t worry: there is a lot for you too.
you are my rock
‘Human Resources’ could have stayed in the scatological joke to please the public fond of the goings-on of puberty in the original series, but intersperses them with stories and reflections that connect with heartbreakthe storm of emotions after motherhood or even the neurodegenerative diseases. Not bad for a series that introduces characters like Pete, the rock in charge of common sense or Keith, the dueling department jumper.
Yes, at times this first season is a simple adolescent refuge full of sex, hormones, orgies and absurd humor, but it’s also modeled as something entirely new, and even breaks new ground in the relationship and personality of its two longest-serving characters, Maury and Connie, possibly affecting season six of ‘Big Mouth.’ But also, does not abandon its signs of identity beyond hot. There are still catchy songs, grotesque jokes, cute scenes, and there will be a cameo from her room in New York. The balance between having its own personality and continuing with what worked is almost perfect.
New paths, new plots
If in ‘Del verso’ the feelings worked inside your head, in ‘Human Resources’ they do it in an office, from 9 to 6, and this makes them open to new narratives: the human characters they help become the secondary dish, while the interaction between the different monsters gains in importance. Love affairs with the Angel of Addiction (voiced by Hugh Jackman, no less), sexual misunderstandings between Maury and Connie and even the sickest mother-child relationship in history with the Wizard of Shame: the best thing about this first season is that does not leave any character as a simple humorous resource. They all have their own plot and their particular evolution.
‘Human Resources’ explains how we work deep inside of ourselves, and even has a gap to show that not all feelings are the same in intensity or duration for everyone. But in addition, it gives all these characters a life outside of work with their own secrets and relationships, although it is true that some of these plots are somewhat unrelated and it is inevitable to ask questions: What are the rest of the monsters we see in the series working on? ? Is there a whole world outside the offices of feelings? There is a lot of potential in the second seasonalthough it is true that it seems that not even the series itself is concerned about its internal coherence.
This inherited sloppiness adds a touch of charm to some episodes, as if they were a group work finished at the last minute, although some of these moments, like the meta jokes in the style “He can’t come, he’s in the A plot of the episode”, which in ‘Big mouth’ are modern and sharp (especially in the voice of John Mulaney), here they sound worn. Luckily, they are small details that they do not detract from a brilliant season that explores this universe to unsuspected limits.
Smiles, genitals and tears
A woman who has just given birth and doesn’t know if she loves her child (or her husband), a man who loves the Phoenix Suns above all else, a man who cares for his elderly mother with Alzheimer’s and the mother herself, living in your memories: ‘Human Resources’ travels with amazing clarity between the most human plotswhich are the ones that are going to reach our hearts and where it tries to be more adult than its predecessor.
Contradictions, overconfidence in oneself, the feeling of being lost in life, acceptance of the approaching death of a loved one or your own mark the episodes, which, without ever neglecting humor, They will get us more than a tear. These plots are told in an organic way, without ever seeming like a goop or distracting from the rest of the adventures in the same chapter. In fact, they manage to intermingle in an almost always natural way.
The Serie he is very clear about what he wants to be (and what it is), and it is tremendously consistent with itself, something that can arouse the hatred of many. Yes, it’s undeniable, it’s a dirty series with funny humor, but it also knows how to talk about natural human feelings (shame, love, ambition) without ever being cheesy or unreal. Deep down, and despite the boxing matches between penises, ‘Human Resources’ celebrates the contradictions of the human being that make up our personality, and discovers that there is not only one way to be sad, anguished or in love. And that is much more than I needed to give.
In short
If you come for the sexual humor of ‘Big mouth’, you’re going to have a great time, but if you’re looking for something else… It’s very likely that you will too! ‘Human Resources’ does not abandon jokes for people over 18 years of age but mixes them with a commentary on humanity: the mixture of both is surprisingly good. Help some characters easy to love from the first minute, some very inspired designs and plots in which we can all feel identified.
‘Human Resources’ is a little gem from the Netflix catalog that exceeds expectations that anyone could have put on it. Of course: if you don’t know what you’re going for, go see it with a very -very- open mind.