User blog:AustinDR/So, Bunsen is a Beast......

So, I saw this show being advertised around the same time as the week of new Loud House episodes, and since I had seen all of them (well, half of MtG), I decided, well, better give this show a shot. Basically, it's about a monster named Bunsen who attends a human school named Muckledunk Middle School, being the first monster to ever do so. He befriends a young boy named Mikey, who makes it his goal to show that humans and monsters can coexist peacefully. But then you have this girl - Amanda Killman - who wants to kill Bunsen so that his race can suffer extinction. Yeah.........kid's show, fellas!

So, it was created by Butch Hartman who you may know for having a hand in The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, and T. U. F. F. Puppy. I used to love FOP, at least until it began to introduce new characters including a certain Mary Sue. And then there was the fact that Timmy had to share his fairies with said Mary Sue because of a fairy shortage. A fairy shortage. Yeah, I dumped the show after that horrible plot device. So, I didn't really think too much of Bunsen is a Beast and was adamant about avoiding it. As for what I think of the show now that I had seen four of the episodes...it's okay. It's not great, not abysmal, just okay. What I will say though is that my biggest gripe with the show is the fact that it's too zany. I'm okay with some zaniness in a cartoon -- I mean, that was one of the reasons as to why I liked Adventure Time before it became more serious -- but as for this show, it just doesn't sit well with me. It comes off as forced. The comedy is what you'd expect from a Butch Hartman show. It's repetitive, it's worn out the hundredth time it's used, it's forced, etc. One episode I watched had Amanda be continually mauled by a bear who lures her into a closet with one of her belongings. After the third time it happened, wouldn't you think that she would know better? It's almost as if the writers are trying to speak through the show saying "See? We're so wacky, aren't we? Please, please laugh at us! Why aren't you laughing?" The humor just doesn't seem natural. There are some times that the jokes hit, but ultimately there are more misses.

Another problem with the show that I have is the simple fact that it never shuts up. It seems as though that it's afraid that if it isn't continually upbeat that it would lose kids' interests. This show is the equivalent of dangling keys in front of a child's face for an hour and a half. Just this one episode had Bunsen lose some teeth that become sentient, and oh god...they have the most irritating voices imaginable and they sing. At the very least, the show is definitely creative, and the idea of a monster attending a school for humans is intriguing. Reminds me of My Gym Partner's a Monkey. Overall, it's a totally average show that I would recommend skipping.