[DreamSword]

FINAL THOUGHTS ON MEGAS XLR

Look, you can find entire video essays about what a great show Megas XLR is, and frankly, I don't know if I can really say anything that everyone else who loves the show already has. So I guess, for those those totally unfamiliar with it, I'll just sum it all up the best I can.

The primary thing that makes this show work, for me, is that it's just a ton of fun to watch. Is it deep? Not at all. Is it especially thought provoking? Nope. Is it an introspective deconstruction of the effects super robots, kaiju, what have you, would have on society or people in general? Not even close.

But what it does have is great action, excellent comedic timing, surprisingly smart writing, a really endearing cast of characters, and I think most importantly, alot of heart. Sure, the show at its core is a deconstructive parody of not just the super robot genre, but of alot of pop culture in general, but outside of PoPTV, it never once feels like it's trying to belittle or rip apart anyone who enjoys these things. Heck, if anything it's clear that the minds behind Megas XLR loved this stuff, and as such knew the exact right way to laugh along with it, rather than laugh at it.

Every episode is an adventure that's full of creativity, coolness factor, and wonder; Only enhanced by the show quickly establishing that it's the sort of universe where anything goes; Similar in the way that alot of Toku shows do. It very much wants to invite the viewer along for that ride and let them in on the joke, and I think that's a big reason as to why the show has managed to resonate with so many people, even nearly two decades after it's debut.

Which is why it's so surprising to me that the executives at Cartoon Network at the time just didn't seem to get the joke. Remember, season 2 only happened because it went into full production before the higher ups had a chance to say no. CN wanted this thing dead on arrival despite the big ratings that the show was pulling in at the time. Like, even if you're not a fan of giant robot shows, Megas XLR has so much going on for it outside of that aspect that I'd be legitimately surprised if there was anyone who out and out hated literally every second of every episode.

Now, is it perfect? No, there are a few things here and there that I feel fall flat or didn't quite get executed in the best of ways, as I've even mentioned in my write-ups over the past month. But man, it's just such a great time that it's really hard to hold anything against it, and as such I'm not exaggerating when I say that Megas XLR ends up being one of my all time favorite cartoons.

It's a wild and fun ride from start to finish, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 5/6.