tastefully bad

Okay! This is the ideal excuse to finish my TF85 review. Just keeping it way more succinct than I originally planned.

How I Feel About the Show:

I liked it, but didn't love it. Though that's partly because I'm a grown-ass adult and this is a kids' show. The key mistake people make is applying the same criteria they'd use for the series proper. Animation does need to meet a certain threshold to justify its existence, but the demographic matters. For what it is, it works. 

And that’s marketing toys. 

I'm genuinely curious how the toy sales shake out. That's probably what determines Season 3, not viewership. Season 2 was already in the can, so it was coming no matter what, but ST's toy infrastructure isn't built the way, as, let’s say, Camp Cretaceous is. ST sells merch, sure, but actual toys? That's less clear. Views mean nothing if the show doesn't move product.

Online buzz seems positive, but Netflix's renewal bar is a mystery. And I'll bring up Mutant Mayhem as an example: the box office was middling, but it generated $1B in toy sales for Paramount and Playmates that year and earned itself a sequel. So we know that’s a metric that matters.

So we'll see where TF85 lands.

Anyway, I enjoyed it way more than Season 5. It knows what it is and commits. TF85 is inoffensive overall...unless you're part of that fanbase…

Characters

I already talked about Will so…

Nikki: works best when she's not just Will's cheerleader. Her struggle as the new kid hit home (I moved all the time in elementary school, so this cliché was highly relatable, lmao), and the tension between her flighty mom and her desire for roots was the strongest part of her arc. I enjoyed the resolution between them in the final battle, ngl.

I do have an issue with her character design, though, but not for any lameass reasons like the rest of the fandom does. That said, her character design does clash with the rest of the cast. But thats because the kids lack body diversity compared to other animated series. 

Here are a couple of examples of what I mean: 

So you should either have everyone stick to similar body types or have varying silhouettes to create cohesion. In my personal opinion, at least.

They also try too hard to make her likable, stripping away the edge her "low-key punk" persona should have. They really wanted the audience to like her. Hopefully, Season 2 fixes that. 

El: El really stood out as a favorite for me. She's adorable, though it's a sad reminder she's narratively dead in the series proper. No coming back from that. But damn, she's so endearing here.

Character-wise, though, there's not much to dig into. She's mostly there for fight scenes and cute "experiencing childhood" moments. There's this whole "I need to make my own choices, I don't want people controlling me" thing, but it's not an inner conflict. It's just a desire. And honestly, it serves Mike more than her. Which brings me to Mike...

Mike: Had one of the most interesting arcs, his overprotectiveness stemming from grief, mirroring Hopper's controlling nature. We needed this Mike in the actual series. He fades into the background after Episode 4, though.

Max and Lucas: I was originally going to rewatch before writing the review, but honestly? I'd rather watch Widow's Bay or rewatch YYH. So I don't remember much about their plot lol. What stuck with me was the snark—they had the perfect tone for a cartoon. Their relationship dynamics were solid too; Lucas is so committed to doing right by Max, and that's charming. Hopefully, Season 2 gives them actual inner conflicts to chew on. 

Dustin: HAHAHAHA. Who knew Dustin would be the main guy of the group?

His character type thrives in animation. He's got that yearning-for-adventure energy and a bombastic personality that just works in this format. And yeah, he *was* the favorite. He creates the HIC, connects with the main antagonist, and solves the mystery! He basically gets all the clues. Most interactions with other students, his own emotional arc about putting friends first, and the second-wind moment in the final battle. The works.

I ended up watching mostly for Dustin because it became his show, no matter how hard they pushed Will.

That said, recent events have me a little tired of the boy, so hopefully Season 2 spreads the focus around more. Can't blame the writers, though. Dustin is just comfortable in this setting. 

Plot

Simple but effective. The disgraced-scientist angle works, especially for a low-level player who can’t even conduct his own research. The reanimator inspiration and plant-based horror are solid. Dan's death-by-hubris is classic. The choice to focus on character reactions rather than introduce a major villain like Vecna is smart for a limited animated series. 

The reanimator inspiration works, and the plant-based horror is genuinely effective. The first kill felt like an actual murder. And that snow usage? Chef's kiss.

Dan getting merced by his own hubris is a peak classic move. I like a low-level scientist who can't cut it. And Nikki's mom dating a dark reflection of herself, that's worth unpacking.

Smart choice to focus on characters reacting to horror rather than giving real estate to a Vecna-type. Animated series don't have time to spare; the character journey should be front and center. But here's the weird part: they resolve most of the inner conflicts early, which makes the season feel uneven. Should've been spread out more. Definite mark against it.

Hopefully, Season 2 fixes that and creates a more balanced narrative.

Art

I love it!

The palette of oranges, yellows, and teals against winter Hawkins makes the supernatural pop beautifully. The Upside Down's sickly greens and gray purples nail the creepy vibe. Character designs are excellent: hair and skin catch the light without uncanny-valley vibes. Hawkins feels lived-in, which is harder to achieve than it looks.

Minor complaint: more monsters with weird powers would've strengthened a "monster show."

Final Thoughts

I compartmentalize well lmao, nothing here changes my opinions about the series proper. But it does surface the same issues: Will still needs better character work beyond being hyped up, Jonathan remains a nothing character, and emotional arcs feel rushed. Most frustratingly, El's reduction to a "symbol of childhood" is a reminder that she was robbed of her own arc in the main series.

But you should expand on your thoughts? Did you feel the same about a lot of this, or did this change your opinion about storylines and characters?

AHHHHHH! Sorry for taking so long to answer! It's the end of the fiscal year OTL. ANYWAYS I LOVE THIS QUESTION BTW!

But I'm going to split this up a bit, because I honestly feel like I have shows that I think are objectively really good, and some that are pure nostalgia. So the first five are series I think everyone should give a chance, and the other five are shows that I imprinted on as a kid. I'll also not include any anime—reason being, I have a different set of criteria for that lmao, it's just not fair? Anywho—

The "Actually Good" Tier

1. Scavengers Reign

I recommend this to everyone! Have I rewatched it about five times now? Honestly, it's just so well done. It's about a group of survivors who end up stranded on a planet.

The animation is absolutely gorgeous; the speculative sci-fi about life on another planet is so fun; the characters are great (they know how to write female characters, unlike some shows…); and the story does an amazing job of making the environment its own character. I've been following the production of this show since I saw the small pilot, and it didn't disappoint. I'm deeply saddened that there's no season 2, but I'm happy that the creators got another series to showcase their creativity in Common Side Effects, which is getting a season 2 in 2027. Small victories! (I recommend that show too; it's just not in my top 10.)

2. Pantheon

Another series that I ended up rewatching right away. It might be my speculative sci-fi mood, but with the rise of AI, I honestly think this is an interesting take. The show is about people uploading their minds into computer space, but it costs them their physical bodies.

It's a neat mystery that really uses the internet's unlimited space to flex its animation chops. The animation is pretty impressive, and I love how creative they get at times. This one really works going in blind—it has many twists and turns that keep you clicking on the next episode. I will say the first half is stronger than the second, but it's a complete story over two seasons.

3. Infinity Train

I made sure to download the entire series before HBO Max got rid of it. Goddamn, HBO Max.

Anyway, Infinity Train is great. It's an anthology series that stars a new set of characters every season, but it's all still connected. The premise is simple: characters are transported onto a train and have to survive the different carts, which are pretty much different worlds. There's usually a puzzle to solve to open the exit—video game rules hahah. They all have a number on their hands, and it will go up or down depending on their actions. The animation is fine, but the show really shines with its character work and low-key horror elements of being stuck in another world without explanation. My favorite seasons are 2 and 4, though I think most would say 1 and 3 are the strongest.

Fun fact: the creator of Infinity Train is also in charge of the new Among Us show, which honestly fits hahah.

4. Over the Garden Wall

I mean, this is a fall classic, right? I love this miniseries. I guess I just gravitate toward characters being dropped into a new world and having to figure things out—it seems to be a theme haha. I'm pretty sure most people have heard of this one, but if not, it's about two half-brothers who travel through the woods as they try to find their way home. It has classic fairy-tale vibes, with kids, talking animals, and curses. Its aesthetic is immaculate if you want a fall tradition ngl. Also, how the last episode recontextualizes the entire story is fantastic—I ended up rewatching it to look for all the clues. Also, as someone who only has half-siblings (four), it's nice to get that representation? Usually, siblings are full or step, unless maybe in a fantasy series. Regardless, while I was never a Wirt who resented caring for their half-sibling, I find it interesting to see that kind of relationship on screen.

5. Amphibia

Look, while most of Tumblr was obsessing over The Owl House, I was over here with Amphibia. Yet another story about a character being dropped into a new fantastical world lmao. But this time it's frog-related.

Anyway, I love the found family between the Plantars and Anne, and then the focus on Anne's friendship with Marcy and Sasha later in the series—mwha! This series did a good job of handling the humor, the action, and the emotional moments. And they were not afraid to flex some kick-ass animated scenes ngl. Anne going Super Saiyan Blue in True Colors! That was freaking sick.

This also completes the narrative they wanted to tell, which is great! Crazy how rare that is!

The Nostalgia Tier

1. The Powerpuff Girls

Three little girls who constantly save the day! How could I not be obsessed as a kid? This is just a fun series, but the character art and design are top-tier. Even now, the strong shapes and silhouettes are honestly a masterclass, and Craig McCracken has a strong sense for making distinct yet cohesive character work. I would recommend anyone who wants to get into character design to look at his portfolio. I find myself looking at PPG concept art for inspiration all the time. It's really good.

2. Invader Zim

Okay, this still slaps ahahah. I just like it. Sometimes I find myself rewatching the series, and I don't know, it itches a part of my brain where I kind of miss some of the mean-spirited stuff in old cartoons? And I think the character work in the series is good. Dib and Zim are good characters. I'm drawn to how failure is a staple in the writing. I think it helps that everyone kind of suffers. But I also admire the strong aesthetic; it can be too 2000s edge culture for my taste, even though I taught myself how to draw in that style, but like… it's memorable! Let's face it, GIR literally was the face of Hot Topic for years! Jhonen Vasquez's creative vision was inescapable at one point pffft.

3. Darkwing Duck

A lot of these shows will be on here because I tried to teach myself how to draw them lmao. And yeah, I can draw Drake Mallard. Though this was just classic Disney Afternoon style, hahaha. Anyway, I liked this one for a variety of reasons, but mainly, it's because I'm a sucker for a father-daughter story. Darkwing adopting Gosalyn in the pilot! It's an amazing start to a series! One that I can look back fondly on. Yeah, give me that good found family formula, please. Also, Gosalyn, my baby girl—when I was younger, she was literally me hahaha. Also, it's incredibly sweet that Gosalyn is based on how the creator thought his daughter would grow into. And man, Darkwing Duck himself is just a fun guy—a sore winner type whose ego is too big for his own good before he locks in and takes down the baddie. I just like egotistical ducks pfft: Daffy, Donald, but Drake is at the top.

4. Codename: Kids Next Door

I made my own OC; I'm putting it on the list. Also, Cartoon Network let you make KND IDs, and I printed my own. This is just pure kid fantasy about kids being secret agents, and I used to be obsessed with it. Though this is also the first time I started shipping. 3/4 is my OTP—what can I say, lmao? The writers also fueled the hell out of it. Like they knew what they were doing.

I think it's just one of those series where creativity ran supreme, and they just did a lot of dumb but cool stuff. The evolving dynamic between the characters is interesting, especially as the writers got more comfortable with them, and I like how they did continuity. It's a show that is episodic but had rich lore that they called back to.

5. Danny Phantom

To this day, I can recite the Danny Phantom intro. I also spent a lot of time figuring out the art style and made some dumb kid OCs, so it's obviously making the list.

I don't know what to say. It's a classic superhero story, but with a ghost? I like that his best friends know who he is and help him through his adventures. That part really appeals to me. And I love him just getting new powers as the series progresses, hahah—it's very shonen in that aspect.

The character designs are by Stephen Silver, not Butch Hartman, btw. Stephen also worked on Kim Possible. He's another character designer that I would recommend checking out their portfolio. It's a clean, exaggerated style that really knows how to use shapes to its advantage.

Honorable Mentions

Because a lot of these are toss-ups:

Justice League

Code Lyoko

Ed, Edd n Eddy

My Life As A Teenage Robot