From “The Simpsons” to “Bob’s Burgers,” the genre of adult animation continues to find its place in the vast landscape of television. While the classic cartoons of the olden days like “Looney Toons” attracted viewers of prospective target audiences with silly slapstick, the vulgarity of the decade’s adult animation favorites contain humor so crude, even live action shows wouldn’t dare to compete with them in the game of shock value. It’s fair to say that everyone has a soft spot for their favorite mal mannered cartoon character. HBO’s hit series “Close Enough” gives all this and more in its new season.
Fans of animation were thrilled to discover JG. Quintel, the creator of the much beloved Cartoon Network sensation “Regular Show,” confronting the genre of bawdy satire with a whimsical nuance when his new HBO Max series, “Close Enough” first aired on July 9, 2020. A tongue and cheek look at the lives of strung out young adults trying to make their way in the world, the first season of “Close Enough” gave a mature yet brutally hilarious take on what it means to be a grown up. After rave reviews, the king of crude cartoons released a second season of the HBO Max phenomenon this February.
“Close Enough,” the show which returned with all new, streamable episodes on Feb. 25, tells the wacky misadventures of aspiring game developer Josh Singleton (voiced and based off of creator J.G Quintel) as he navigates his increasingly chaotic thirties with his wife, Emily Ramirez (Gabrielle Walsh). The two manage as best as they can while parenting their adorable daughter Candice, (Jessica DiCicco) in their tiny LA duplex—which is rather inconveniently shared with their outspoken divorces pals.
A show geared directly to its targeted audience (the everso begrudged millennials), “Close Enough” discloses all the discomforts of living through a new found adulthood within a very relatable perspective. But, while its demographic has grown much older from that of Quintel’s previous animation hit, the show exudes the same tone and cadence as its predecessor, “Regular Show.” With the painful mundanities of everyday life being spun into turmoil, brought by alien life forms or paranormal means, Quintel contains his style dichotomous chaos that made “Regular Show” such a hit in this HBO Max original series.
“The show’s crassness better fits the Adult Swim lineup than Cartoon Network’s morning-to-late evening programming block,” says Dwayne ‘Deascent’ Gotten in a Popdust review. The most obvious difference between the two shows is “Close Enough’s” many obscenities and mature subject matter.
“Each millennial character embodies some of the ongoing internal and external complications,” that come with adulthood in today’s climate,” Deasenet said. While strict restrictions are set upon by children’s networks such as the CN powerhouse show, this endeavor of Quintel’s immediately opens up the possibility for the creator to tell the stories that were far too riscá for the children’s network.
Whether you’re a struggling millennial like the characters of this show or a youngin getting their first satirical glances at reality, “Close Enough” provides knee-slapping content that makes us all dread the horrors of “adulting” with a smile. Fans of “Close Enough” will be delighted to know that the show’s producer and head writer, Bill Oakley, confirmed the show’s renewal for a third season on Feb. 10 via Twitter!
“Close Enough” is available to stream on HBO Max.
By Omar Letson