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TV TATTLE

Tuca & Bertie embraces its introspective side more openly in Season 2

  • "Based on the first four of the 10 new episodes, Tuca & Bertie 2.0 is slightly less aggressive about getting laughs," says Jen Chaney. "It still qualifies as a comedy and certainly contains plenty of scenes and storylines that lean fully into the genre." Chaney adds: "Other shows have depicted strong female friendships, depression, and the need for self-examination both before Tuca & Bertie and since its Netflix cancellation; and therapy has historically been a regular feature on many comedies and dramas (although it’s true that a notable number of shows are homing in on that process at the moment). Tuca & Bertie distinguishes itself by depicting all these dynamics seriously, without sacrificing the lightness and escapism the show also provides. The fact that it’s an animated series populated by anthropomorphized birds and plants is weirdly helpful in this regard. Because its world is so fantastical in nature, some viewers may feel more comfortable recognizing a kinship between themselves and its inhabitants — it feels like less of a personal attack to see a bit of yourself in a pretty cartoon song thrush who’s dealing with severe angst than in a live-action, flesh-and-blood human doing the same thing. Animated birds: they’re just like us, but they’re also <i>not like us, so we can relate without having the jarring experience of looking directly at ourselves through the mirror of our screens."

    TOPICS: Tuca & Bertie, Adult Swim