The Midnight Gospel
Common Sense says
- Netflix
- Science Fiction
- 2020
Parents say
Kids say
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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 The Midnight Gospel is an adult cartoon co-created by Pendleton Ward, whose credits also include the popular kids' animated series Adventure Time. The show has a unique format: The main character hosts a futuristic type of podcast and interviews a different subject each episode, often on philosophical topics. These interviews often take place amidst other action -- the first episode takes place during a zombie apocalypse, for example -- so the result is like a chaotic mashup of Rick & Morty and Howard Stern. Just because it's animated doesn't mean it's for kids: There's plenty of gory violence and frequent full-frontal nudity, while the interviews contain a lot of profanity ("f--k," "s--t," "a--hole, "damn") as well as frank discussions about drug use, death, and other complex topics.
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User Reviews
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Very philosophical
Sex info is educational
What's the story?
Clancy is an extradimensional technology farmer and the host of the popular spacecast THE MIDNIGHT GOSPEL. On each episode, he visits a simulated universe and interviews one of its inhabitants.
Is it any good?
It's tough for anyone to do more than one thing at a time, and this series is often trying to do many, many different things at once. The animation is a psychedelic riff on Rick & Morty-style shock humor that motors along during a philosophical podcast interview and then, every so often, someone breaks into song. Sure. Chaos is the engine that drives The Midnight Gospel, and though there are fleeting moments of beauty or humor, it's mostly a wild, directionless ride. Teens who enjoy the absurd and esoteric may find it up their alley, but overall, it's got too much going on.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about animation for adults. Why do you think it's become more popular in recent years?
How does this compare to other, more traditional interview shows? What do you think about the format? Are people always honest when they're being questioned?
TV details
- Premiere date: April 20, 2020
- Cast: Duncan Trussell
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Science Fiction
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Available on: Streaming
- Last updated: June 9, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love animation
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