REVIEW

TV Review: The Boondocks

Written by Alisha Karabinus
Published November 07, 2005

I thought the revolution wasn't supposed to be televised? Apparently, when it comes to The Boondocks, it will — but is it a revolution?

The animated series The Boondocks premiered Sunday on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block after years of development and release delays. The series is based on the comic strip of the same name written by Aaron McGruder, who drew it as well until he began development on the show. Since entering syndication in 1999, it has been one of the most consistently controversial comic strip to appear in mainstream newspapers; it is sometimes featured with the editorials, near Doonesbury while other papers place it with the "funnies." Individual strips have often been held back or passed by the newspapers which carry it, and even dropped by some papers altogether (as with my local paper here in Little Rock, Arkansas) due to the controversial subject matter.

boondocks.jpg But what makes The Boondocks so controversial? The story centers around the Freemans (10 year old Huey, 8 year old Riley, and their grandfather) who move from inner city Chicago to the predominately white suburb of Woodcrest. Huey, upon whom most of the action centers, fancies himself a political activist and social critic. As is traditional in the field of comics, The Boondocks uses children as the lens through which it eyes current events and social situations, to great humorous effect.

That, however, did not translate well in the premiere of the series. What makes the comic strip great is the perspective. The grandfather is an old coot of the first degree (one plotline, when Abu Ghraib broke, featured Mr. Freeman discussing how cranky seeing "nekkid men" made him). Riley, the younger grandson, has ambitions for a thug life and is focused on guns, money, and "keeping it real." Huey, the star, is always the shining point of the strip. He is older and wiser than his years, but all of his knowledge is still, at heart, filtered through the mind of a child, which makes for an often brilliant irony (as when he writes a treatise on the global conspiracy of the Illuminati, wherein he sets up Santa Claus as the lynchpin and focus of all evil).

The series is beautiful; the animation was crafted with care and the backgrounds shimmer in a way that is reminiscent of some recent Japanese animation (like Last Exile), which is fitting, as the character designs have always drawn inspiration from anime and manga. The characters are apt visual represenations from the series and the art design remains true to the strip. Those things work in the show's favor. The storyline and characterization, and particularly the voice acting, however, did not.

page 1 | 2 | 3
Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
TV Review: The Boondocks
Published: November 07, 2005
Type: Review
Section: Video
Filed Under: Books: Comics and Graphic Novels, Video: Animation, Video: Television
Writer: Alisha Karabinus
Alisha Karabinus's BC Writer page
Alisha Karabinus's personal site
Spread the Word
Like this article?
Email this
Submit to del.icio.us Save to del.icio.us
RSS Feeds
All RSS Feeds (240+)
Comments on this article
BC articles by Alisha Karabinus
Books: Comics and Graphic Novels
Video: Animation
Video: Television
All Video Articles
All Review articles
All BC articles
All BC Comments

Comments

#1 — November 7, 2005 @ 23:53PM — qween_bee

I laughed so hard. I loved it!!

#2 — November 8, 2005 @ 00:57AM — Sterfish [URL]

I enjoyed the show, but your points are absolutely valid. Huey and Riley's voices were a big turnoff for me as well. I also don't think it helps that Regina King is voicing both of them. John Witherspoon's performance as Granddad was a little uneven but at times, he was just as funny as I hoped he would be. Once the show finds its rhythm, I think it could end up being almost as good as the strip.

#3 — November 10, 2005 @ 15:47PM — Apocalypse_Now

1. I didn't know ten year olds were supposed to be articulate...
2. People shouldn't expect the series to be as edgy as the strip due to the fact that the animation process takes quite some time.
3. Given the fact that they must rely on more generic scenarios due to the inability to remain up to date, the characters must adapt as well. I could still sense Huey's black rage. Did he not try to voice his beliefs only to be applauded?

#4 — November 10, 2005 @ 15:49PM — LegendaryMonkey [URL]

I was articulate as a ten year old. And Huey in particular is supposed to be VERY articulate.

As for him expressing his opinions while being applauded, it just didn't do it for me. There were a couple of scenarios like that in the comic and they were much more limited -- like a one strip deal, not a several-minutes-worth-of-reading/watching deal, and I preferred that. There are so many other angles they could have taken... why that one?

And I think you're mistaking edgy for TIMELY. I don't expect them to riff on stuff that happened last week, but if it's not edgy, it's not The Boondocks.

#5 — November 14, 2005 @ 15:25PM — Haley

I think this show is hilarious and I am most definently a fan of The Boondocks now.

#6 — November 30, 2005 @ 13:54PM — the Wu

Hey, nice review, I agree that many aspects of boondocks' commentary aren't shocking or revolutionary anymore.

I can see that's sort of a commentary on our society today, where we know "sort of" what's wrong, or to a large extent people know a great deal about what's wrong, but have no motivation or desire to enact change. Even the people that are suffering sometimes don't have it in them. Talk about being sick and tired of being sick and tired.

That's the hypothesis that, for me, boondocks proves. People like being entertained, and the "adult swim" audience are very entertained at the notion of "cutting edge" and "non-pc" entertainment that plays up to their sense of social consciousness, e.g. "we're informed because we have recieved information about the topic."

Also, I agree with the voice comments, and I must say, this cartoon is visually very cool.

keep writing, take care.

#7 — November 30, 2005 @ 15:27PM — Alisha Karabinus [URL]

Really good comments there... I hadn't really thought about it that way. Doesn't really shed a good light on us, does it? But then, do we deserve better?

#8 — April 1, 2006 @ 13:06PM — etho

I completely disagree with your analysis of the episode; this show is about showing, through irony, the complacency of both the black and white americans to the situations we face. The use of the word "nigger" even proves that-- perhaps its not as shocking or revolutionary today.. and it is used as status quo.. because that's what it has become. It's the truth! And this show reflects a lot of truth. The kind of truth that hurts people's feelings. It's a great show. Don't be tempted to turn a blind eye because it's offensive- it has a really deep and poignant message. Look harder for it.

#9 — May 15, 2006 @ 07:31AM — Edward K Parker

I've just recently veiwed your cartoon episode entitled "Wingmen" on Toons Channel 77 on Comcast. I found this piece to be extremely offensive because of your excessive use of the word "nigger" and the derrogary portrayal of some the characters. I found no redeeming literary value or humor in this piece. At a time when our youth need something to uplift their concept of themselves..This cartoon does nothing but reinforce the self deprivation of Blackpeople.

Want comments emailed to you? No spam, promise! Address:

Add your comment, speak your mind

(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/39162)

Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy.





Remember Name/URL?

Please preview your comment!

Fresh
Articles
Fresh
Comments