Netflix original series tend to be fairly hit-and-miss. When your studio pumps out as much content as Netflix does, there are bound to be some duds. Rest assured, dear reader, that the new release Love, Death & Robots is the exact opposite; this is one of the sharpest, most intriguing, and dynamic pieces of original content Netflix has debuted in recent memory.
A wild, disorienting ride (notably with the revelation that Netflix released the program in four unique episode orders for different viewers), Love, Death & Robots wastes no time in complicated exposition or buildup for the plots of the various windows we get into these stories. Right to the point, hard and fast.
Purely from a visual standpoint, it’s some of the finest artwork outside of video games (indeed, the short episode times – 6 to 17 minutes – give the experience the feverish feeling of high-octane old-school gaming); from the cell shading to the more pastel beauty and the sleek CGI, Love, Death & Robots feels fresh and maintains a raw atmosphere without coming across as cheesy or played out.
Story-wise, the plots vary widely between episodes: from robots exploring Earth long after humans have ceased existing, to deep-space simulations, esoteric terror and thought-provoking ruminations on the nature of art, work, and human expression, each vignette is packed with superb narratives that range from the concise and brutal to the open-ended and heartwarming.
Aside from the stupendous visuals and above-average storytelling, there are a few moments of wondering if the gore and sexualization angles are a bit much (such as in “The Witness”), even for so blatant an homage to Heavy Metal. However, many of the female characters are the strongest in the show (particularly the protagonists of the episodes “Helping Hand” and “Lucky 13”), and gory, murderous revenge is exacted upon several male tormentors.
For such an out-there series, Love, Death & Robots is a flashy, aggressive, energetic trip, with truly awe-inspiring and horrific moments in equal measure. The sheer artistic variety, both in the illustrations (I just want to LIVE in the sky from “Fish Night”) and the paths the characters take (the stories in “Good Hunting” and “Zima Blue” both explore how choices from the past can catch up years later), is a thrill to take in, and the short episode times are the perfect medium to avoid costing people their jobs from staying up too late binging.
A searing wallop of blistering, cutting-edge futuristic art drama, Love, Death & Robots is a breath of fresh air in a sea of competing nonsense. Don’t be afraid of the blood and guts, or you just might miss one of the best things happening on Netflix right now.
