Ask Lemmy

The fact that no one has said the Venture Bros. yet proves it's the correct answer.

I have watched and loved a lot of the shows other people have brought up, but the Venture Bros. holds a very special place in mine and other people's hearts. Incredibly funny and intelligent, and I genuinely cared about the characters and what happened to them. I firmly believe it will likely be the greatest show Adult Swim ever produce.

For those trying to get into it, the first season is a little slow, they were still figuring things out, but season 2 onwards is all incredible.

Common side effects is pretty rad. Idk if its underrated tho

It's not adult swim but same spirit: Golan the insatiable

Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law

I really liked the oblongs

Joe Pera Talks with You. Its so funny. Why is it so soothing? Why can't I stop crying?

Sealab 2021

Is it just me or am I not seeing Moral Orel - was that not an adult swim original?

Mission hill

“Too Many Cooks” is slept on

Not sure it's underrated so much as not well known, because I'm not sure I've heard of anyone who knows it but doesn't like it: Venture Bros

It's kind of hard to describe. It starts with a simple goofy premise: What if a boy adventurer like Johnny Quest grew up and was stuck living in his dead father's shadow for the rest of his life? He's a failure, a single father coasting on dad's legacy, his two sons are so dumb they buy the whole "cartoon boy adventurer" schtick 100%, and his bodyguard is a frustrated black ops guy just itching for any excuse to spill blood.

Just... anything I say couldn't do it justice. Here's some choice scenes that stand pretty well on their own.

The dreaded candiru! This one really covers a lot of the tone of the series in about two minutes.

No Hank, like this.

Why there's a system - covers some world building and some of the legacy of the main character's dad.

Getting the gang back together. Covers some more of THE MIGHTY MONARCH and two of his henchmen. 21 (Gary) has a character arc throughout the show like you wouldn't believe.

And it dives in further than the core concept: What kind of PTSD would growing up like that leave? How would the world's idea of his dad differ from reality? What kind of father could put his son through that sort of shit? What would a world with ridiculously campy superscience be like with real people in it?

That makes it sound more serious than it is. It's irreverant, ridiculous, nonsensical, referential to some real deep cuts pop culture wise, campy as all hell... and also heartwarming, touching, and messily human. So, so fucking much of the plot is shaped by the trauma and lingering aftereffects of the MC's dad.

So many things that would be a throwaway gag on another show are followed up on, and build up episode to episode, season to season. That's not super rare now, but when they started the show in 2003 it was. It also deconstructs a lot of comic book and TV tropes, which was also far more novel at the time.

And it's earnest. So many characters that would be just the butt of a joke are treated like actual fucking people instead of only just their stereotype. They're totally that fucking stereotype, 100%, but they're also people and have more too them than only that.

It's very much an auteur work, and it often went multiple fucking years between seasons as the two show runners figured out what they wanted to do, but the result is probably one of the best shows I've ever seen.

I have to give some strong, strong warnings though. The show started in 2003 and holy shit does it show. Stereotypically flamboyant gay men, incredibly insensitive word choices and portrayals, weird side plot about a special forces general getting mtf top surgery to escape the military but its actually a deep cover op but maybe they're actually trans but maybe not... and in the later seasons they try distressingly hard to make a (not offending, medicated) pedophile into a likeable character. They... kinda do in the end too?

All I can say is stick with it, it's worth the burning sensation and the doctor can totally get you something to clear that right up. I think.

And watch the movie, Crimson is the Blood of the Baboon Heart, at the end. The show was cancelled suddenly, and the creators regretted ending what became the final season the way they did. Baboon Heart isn't amazing, it doesn't wrap up every plot point, but it hits the big ones and is a good send off.

Frisky Dingo was great, sort of a spiritual precursor to Archer but with superheroes instead of super-spies.

12 Oz mouse and sealab 2021 are alright

Definitely Xavier: Renegade Angel. Everyone I've tried to show it to irl thinks it's the dumbest fucking show lol

China, IL is one of my all time favorites

Frisky Dingo

If you like it, you'll like Archer and Sealab 2021 too.

I’m surprised no one has mentioned The Brak Show! That was definitely one of my favourites back in the day.

I will always cry during the end of Home Movies when Brandon drops his camera and it breaks.

Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell

Wondershowzen

Jon Benjamin Has A Van.

Edit: actually, shit, that wasn't Adult Swim. Still, though. Also not on Adult Swim: Drawn Together.

The other day one of my coworkers asked me if I knew who the professor brothers were and I could not have been happier. China IL is deeply missed by some

Metalocalypse. If you listen to Rock, this is a must watch.

Oh there's some gems:

• Hot Streets

• Lucy, Daughter of the Devil

• 12oz. Mouse

• Frisky Dingo

• Xavier: Renegade Angel

• Final Space

• Saul of the Molemen

• Eagleheart

• You're Whole

• Joe Pera Talks With You

• Space Dandy

I'm hyped for Haha, You Clowns but I suspect it won't be as well received as I hope it will be. Joe Cappa's YouTube channel has been a staple for me for a long time.

Also, just a note but Home Movies wasn't actually Adult Swim original programming, it was originally on UPN which quickly cancelled it and then Cartoon Network picked it up. I love Home Movies because I love hearing Sam Seder of The Majority Report voicing Fenton Mewly.

Also if you enjoyed Home Movies, you should check out it's spiritual predecessor from Comedy Central: Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. First season of Home Movies even used the same "Squigglevision" animation style as Dr. Katz.