Golan the Insatiable
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Golan the Insatiable
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Golan the Insatiable is a cartoon intended for teens and adults, not kids. This version has a new voice cast; a previous incarnation aired on FXX in 2013. There are frequent references to sexuality, particularly from the titular character, a demigod who's always on the prowl. From orgies to sex slaves, just about anything goes in conversation, and suggestive dialogue hints at desires on many characters' counts. Golan and his 9-year-old apprentice enjoy the idea of inflicting pain on people (hands are severed, they toy around with a guillotine, and so on), and their many plots to level her town and destroy its population are presented as humorous. Expect to hear a full language assault ("bitch," "suck it," "badass," and "anus" for starters) and to see the show make light of a bullying victim's violent sense of revenge. That said, despite the show's dark humor and the characters' thirst for violence, there's a surprising sweetness to the friendship between Golan and his young acolyte.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Nine-year-old social outcast Dylan (voiced by Aubrey Plaza) finds a longed-for kindred spirit when she inadvertently summons an evil "godlord" from another dimension to her suburban Minnesota home. Tired of the monotony of her life and the incessant pestering from her nemesis, Mackenzie B., Dylan determines to exact revenge on her town with the help of the fearsome Golan (Rob Riggle).
Is It Any Good?
Unapologetically macabre and hilarious for it, GOLAN THE INSATIABLE is a quirky series that will appeal to older teens' and adults' darker sides. The pairing of an overweight, self-absorbed demigod with a sullen, scheming grade-schooler is entertainment genius, making it impossible not to like this inexplicably appealing odd couple, despite her affinity for all things morbid and his bumbling attempts at living among humans.
Clearly this isn't something your tweens should be watching, and there's nothing of real value in it for teens who tune in either. But there is a surprisingly nurturing relationship between a mentor and his acolyte, which gives the show more heart than one might expect from a story about a kid's quest to wipe her town off the map. Fortunately the grown-up crowd can put this kind of dark humor in its rightful context and fully appreciate Golan's excellent writing and talented voice cast.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about characteristics that are important in a role model. How do you decide what behavior is worthy of emulating? Does Golan have any redeeming qualities for impressionable Dylan?
This show is meant for adults, but what messages might a younger viewer take from its brooding content? Is there anything to the theory that seeing violence on TV makes viewers apathetic to it in real life? What responsibility (if any) do entertainers have to safeguard kids from inappropriate content?
Teens: In your experience, how is popularity assigned or earned? How might being socially marginalized affect your self-esteem? Do you have peers who fit into this group? Is bullying a problem among your peers?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 23, 2013
- Cast: Rob Riggle, Aubrey Plaza, John DiMaggio
- Network: Fox
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: March 2, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Bee and Puppycat
Creative, bizarre 'toon offers oddly endearing heroine.
-
South Park
Outrageous, shocking humor carries a message.
-
The Simpsons
Clever, fast-paced cartoon with edgy humor.
For kids who love animation
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate