Adult Swim has established a reputation for being a place where strange shows can find both a home and an audience. Indeed, anyone looking for surrealism and transgression should look no further than this network, which has been a home for the strange since 2001. Though technically a part of Cartoon Network, it has its own brand identity that distinguishes it.
While many of its series have received a lot of praise from critics (and understandably so, since they are often willing to take risks that more mainstream fare doesn’t), there have also been some that have fallen a little flat.
Worst: Mostly 4 Millennials - 5
In keeping with the Adult Swim brand, this show is a form of satire, in this case poking fun at (and presumably trying to appeal to) the numerous millennials that grew up watching Adult Swim.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite land with most of the humor and, since so much of it is scatological in nature, it really struggles to raise itself into anything approaching the expert and subtle writing that can be found on some of the other Adult Swim shows.
Best: Check It Out! With Dr. Steve Brule - 8.5
It probably goes without saying that any show that stars John C. Reilly is going to be a true delight, and that is definitely the case with Check It Out! There’s something almost disconcerting about the way that Reilly manages to capture the naivete of the title character - although the low def the show is shot in may help with that.
Though of course, the series does tend to veer into the surreal - this is Adult Swim, after all - the presence of Reilly manages to elevate it into the ranks of some of the great comedies on the network.
Worst: Our Bodies - 5
Given the fact that Tim and Eric are the stars of their own (equally bizarre) series on Adult Swim, it should come as no surprise that they are also in Our Bodies.
While their previous efforts have managed to become almost canonical entries in the Adult Swim canon, this series feels like a bit of a miss for them, and while it does have enjoyable moments, for the most part, its humor feels a bit forced and warmed-over.
Best: The Eric Andre Show - 8.6
Anyone who is looking for peak absurdity should look no further than The Eric Andre Show. In some ways, this show is basically the distillation of everything strange and frantic and somewhat meaningless about the present era and the way that so many people consume information.
Though each episode only lasts for about 10 minutes, it is more than enough time to demonstrate the strange and offbeat sense of humor that is such a signature part of the Adult Swim brand.
Worst: Lazor Wulf - 5
As its title suggests, Lazor Wulf is a show about a wolf that happens to have a laser on his back. The show has an interesting character design, and there’s no question that the voice cast is quite talented at what they do.
However, there are some problems with the storytelling in this series. One of the most glaring problems is the fact that, from the outset, it assumes that the presumptive viewer has more knowledge about this world and its rules than they do, so it is in fact quite easy to get confused very early on.
Best: Primal - 8.7
Every so often, Adult Swim produces a show that really does achieve some sort of beauty and depth, and Primal is one of those series. Focusing as it does on a caveman and a dinosaur, there is no dialogue, but the animation is truly extraordinary.
In fact, it’s almost too good to be found on Adult Swim, so adept is it at capturing the beautiful, brutal, and bloody struggle for survival at this pivotal, primordial moment.
Worst: Tropical Cop Tales - 4.9
Tropical Cop Tales, as its title suggests, is about two policemen who are sent to a tropical island, where they find that what was supposed to be a bit of a vacation isn’t what they thought it would be.
While it had its charms, it never quite managed to become the sort of show destined for a long life on the network, and Adult Swim ultimately declined to renew the series.
Best: Joe Pera Talks With You - 8.8
It’s sometimes easy to fall into the belief that Adult Swim is a fundamentally cynical network. It’s easy to see why considering the dark and transgressive nature of so much of its programming.
Series like this, however, show that there is another side to Adult Swim that doesn’t get enough credit. Part of this series’ appeal comes from Joe Pera himself, whose performance and writing elevate it into the one of the best series that Adult Swim has ever produced.
Worst: Minoriteam - 4.3
Minoriteam is one of those series that could only have come from a certain period in the history of Adult Swim. In this case, that was in the mid-2000s, when the network was still sort of struggling to solidify its brand identity and the kind of programming it offered.
While this show was clever at times, it leans a little too heavily on certain stereotypes that don’t age particularly well and seem particularly dated in the present moment.
Best: Rick And Morty - 9.2
It should surprise exactly no one that Rick and Morty remains one of the best-rated programs on Adult Swim. The show has proven to be extraordinarily popular with audiences, in part because, at least by Adult Swim standards, it’s actually pretty conventional in its storytelling.
However, it’s also a bit cynical and biting in its humor, which no doubt drives its appeal for exactly the type of viewers that the network has always cultivated.