Disenchantmentis finally coming to a close on September 1.Created by Matt Groening,Disenchantmentoriginally premiered to incredible hype in 2018, taking Groening’s signature style and transplanting it into a medieval fantasy setting named Dreamland. We follow Bean, a carefree princess who aims to live her own life in lieu of ascending to the throne. But when forces beyond her control aim to take over Dreamland, she’ll have a lot of growing up to do alongside her two friends: Luci, a cat-like demon that thrives off of mischief, and Elfo, an optimistic half-Elf.
It would be wrong to say thatDisenchantmentwas ever a critical darling, however. Even the most gracious praise for the series was often sandwiched between critiques across its lengthy existence. It would certainly get better as it went on, but some issues that were prominent from as early as the first season never really went away as the story progressed. BeforeDisenchantmentultimately comes to a close, this is whatNetflix’s animated series got right– and what it got wrong.
Right: Art Direction
If there’s anything thatDisenchantmentgot right, it’s that it is an absolute feast for the eyes. Arguably the most visually appealing of Matt Groening’s projects,Disenchantmentfeatures some absolutely stunning scenic shots, atmospheric backgrounds, and an unprecedented amount of detail in its character designs, background assets, and more.
The amount of locations and unique title cards for each episode is also staggering as well. Lighting, in particular, is also heavily employed, giving each character and backdrop a level of depth that’s highly appreciated. It helps sell the serious tone of the story whencompared to shows likeFuturama, no doubt made possible by a significantly smaller episode count per season.
Wrong: Inconsistent Writing
For taking a serialized approach to storytelling,Disenchantmentsure doesn’t take advantage of it. Whether it’s the frequent introduction of new plot elements or revelations that are tossed to the wayside, or a general lack of focus in each season overall,Disenchantment’s writing occasionally leaves a lot to be desired. Combine that with episodes that divert away from the main plot in favor of focusing on a single character, and you end up with not a lot resolved, stakes that don’t go anywhere, and questions that refuse to be answered.
Luckily,Disenchantment’s final season looks to be an opportunity to set this right. While promotion for the season has been limited due to the ongoing strikes in Hollywood, it has been confirmed that season five will wrap up just about every nagging question that has been asked, even potentially addressing those all the way back from season one.
Right: Interesting Characters
While the overarching story may not be perfect,Disenchantment’s characters easily carry the adventure forward. Aside from our engaging lead, Bean, both her friends present opposing dynamics for Bean to bounce off of. Elfo’s infectious optimism and infatuation with Bean compel him to go outside his comfort zone, whereas Luci’s platonic friendship and mischievous nature help allow Bean to develop into a more mature character.
Related:Disenchantment: Cast and Character Guide
Other than our main trio, there’san extended castthat rivals even the most prominent of grandiose fantasy shows: the short-tempered King Zøg, the air-headed Prince Derek, and the nefarious Queen Dagmar all lend a hand in both the comedic and dramatic elements ofDisenchantment, with dozens of minor characters throughout fleshing out its expansive setting.
Wrong: Comedy or Drama?
If you were expectingDisenchantmentto be as funny asFuturamaorThe Simpsons, you may be a little disappointed. WhileDisenchantment’s humor lands more often than not, the series doesn’t start to balance its jokes and dramatic moments more cleanly until well after the first season.
Thankfully,Disenchantment’s characters and the interactions between them, as well as the general sense of adventure in every episode, make for the dearth of laughs. If you have an eye for detail, you’ll even get a quick laugh out of the dozens of background gags littered throughout every episode as well.
Right: Getting Better With Time
A show getting everything right from the get-go is a rarity, more so with something as ambitious asDisenchantment. Even if you enjoyed Matt Groening’s other projects, you’d be hard-pressed to admit that the first seasons of eitherFuturamaorThe Simpsonsstack up with what came later in their respective runs. If praise can be directed towards one specific aspect ofDisenchantment, it’s that it never stops trying to do new things.
Related:Futurama: Is the Reboot as Good as the Old Seasons?
The series never spins its wheels. Every season introduces new settings, new characters, and new conflicts that meaningfully affect its beloved characters. It certainly helps that it’s pretty to look at, with the penultimate season, in particular, introducing some of the most beautiful animation the series has seen since its inception. Thefinal season ofDisenchantedlooks to continue this tradition further while finally paying off five seasons of build-up.
If you haven’t givenDisenchanteda shot or need a refresher before the final season premieres, now’s the best time to give it a watch. The final season is set torelease on September 1, leaving plenty of time to catch up to Bean’s final adventure.
