Netflix’s Love, Death & Robots is a Show for Literally Everyone.. Here’s Why!

By Ameera Rosli  •  28 Mar 2019 in Pop Culture

Thirsty for JUICE content? Quench your cravings on our Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp

If you clicked on this article, you’re probably here to fangirl or fanboy over Netflix’s new show Love, Death & Robots and I welcome you with open arms. But, if you have no idea what this show is about and you’re here out of genuine curiosity, here’s a quick breakdown of the show’s concept…

Love, Death & Robots is an anthology series where every episode is different and unrelated. Due to this, Netflix has even given users different arrangements of the episodes to test which order works the best with audiences.

Despite that, we can’t help but speculate that Sonnie’s Edge is the first episode for the queers while Beyond The Aquila Rift is for the heteros. Netflix has denied this though but hey, conspiracy theories are always fun!

Anyways, with the diverse myriad of directors and animation styles, each episode has something unique to offer. Due to the differing tones and underlying messages, it might be difficult for you to know which episode is the right one for you. Well, fear not!

Here are our picks for the best episodes in the series.

1. Sonnie’s Edge (Karissa’s pick)

One word, BADASS.

Besides the amazing graphics and the whole concept of an underground monster fight club, what really captured me was how they wrote the main character, Sonnie. She was not one to shy away from “f*ck men” speeches at the beginning and for some reason that is very satisfying to see.

But my interpretation of this episode is that, she wasn’t fighting just to get back at all the men for revenge (well, maybe partly), instead her “edge” was fighting for herself and for her own life. I feel like a lot of women can relate to her pain and her wins.

So, my ratings are 10/10 for the concept and 10/10 for our monster queen.

This episode is perfect for:

1. Lovers of neon films (i.e Only God Forgives, The Neon Demon and Upgrade)
2. People who miss Ripley (the O.G monster queen) from the Alien franchise
3. Women (or anyone in general) who are against the patriarchy!

 

2. Good Hunting (My pick)

Good Hunting is every furry’s wet-dream! Nah, saying that would probably be the biggest ‘screw you’ to the creators of this episode so I’ll take that back.

Good Hunting is a tale of redemption and revenge set in colonial Hong Kong. Its visuals deviate from the 3D animation craze and incorporates the most beautiful 2D animation I’ve seen in a while.

Filled to the brim with magic, steampunk and Chinese mythologies, this episode hits hard with its underlying message of women empowerment and coexistence. As the cynosure, Good Hunting’s massive amount of heart and action makes it one of the best of the entire series.

This episode is perfect for:

1. Lovers of good-old 2D animation (e.g Sinbad, Howl’s Moving Castle, Akira and Treasure Planet)
2. A little obscure but if you like, Avril et le monde truqué (April and the Extraordinary World) and all its steampunk goodness, Good Hunting is for you!
3. To be really honest, if you ever wanted Sagwa The Chinese Siamese Cat to be a revenge-thirsty vigilante who murders trashy men, then you’d love this…

 

3. When The Yogurt Took Over (Kid’s pick)

To me ‘When Yogurt Took Over The World’ is a perfect example of how ridiculous our mind can be sometimes. I mean how the f*ck did the writer ever think of this?

Truly one of the greatest 21st-century modern horror stories.

This episode is perfect for:

1. All the weirdos of the world
2. People who definitely have a fro-yo membership
3. People who are looking for a great ice-breaker like, “Hey, have you ever thought about what would happen if yogurt became sentient and took over our universe?”

 

4. Shape Shifters (Ammar’s pick)

Other than discussing the complex issues of geopolitics and races, it’s got a tonne of cool action and…

Were. F*ckin. WOLVES.

This episode is perfect for:

1. Lovers of war films e.g Saving Private Ryan and Beasts of No Nation
2. People who are passionate in discussions regarding race and class
3. People who thought Twilight: New Moon was sh*t because of that part where Jacob transforms into a big dog instead of a werewolf.

 

5. Fish Night (Burn’s pick)

Fish Night feels like an acid trip and it’s probably because the creators were tripping when they wrote it. No worries though, because the product turned out beautiful. Like looking through a kaleidoscope, Fish Night incorporates neon colours in contrast to the navy blue backdrop of the episode.

Animated in a way similar to Tower (dir. Keith Maitland), this episode is cinematically stunning. However, there’s not much to be said about the plot though. I guess it’s okay when the visuals are this damn good!

This episode is perfect for:

1. Lovers of movies with gorgeous animation as the focal point of the story e.g Garden of Words and Your Name
2. People who believe in Bruce’s (shark from Finding Nemo) “Fish are friends, not food” mentality
3. People who would most likely take their date to Aquaria KLCC

 

5. Zima Blue (Ben’s pick)

Ask any layman what they think of art and they would tell you that it’s something meant for the elite to enjoy in galleries with a glass of champagne in hand. Although many woke art students would disagree with this, one only needs to browse today’s various pompous works of art that fetch millions (hello, Damien Hirst), to go—“I don’t get it.”

In our pursuit for perfection and answers to our never-ending existential-questions at large, all of history’s greatest artists seem to have fallen short or missed the point completely, polarising us more than bringing society together.

Zima Blue, based on the short story by Alastair Reynolds, works on multiple levels to provide an honest answer to the confusion and disparity brought upon us by eons of ‘intellectual’ discussion. By the time the great reclusive artist, Zima, unveils his final artwork which simultaneously concludes the mystery of his origin as well as purpose, we are taken aback by the true power of art.

And you don’t have to go to art school to appreciate that.

This episode is perfect for:

1. People who are sick and tired of Banksy being deemed as ‘revolutionary’
2. Lovers of existentialist movies e.g 2001: A Space Odyssey, Anomalisa and Under The Skin
3. People who miss Basquiat (r.i.p legend)

All illustrations were drawn by kkkkkid!

Sadly, he doesn’t wanna plug his stuff… sorry folks!