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One Amazing Episode Can’t Save Love, Death & Robots Season 4 from Disappointment!

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CAUTION: The information below could include a few minor spoilers for the new season of Love, Death & Robots. If you haven’t yet watched this collection of strange and thrilling animated episodes on Netflix using your subscription, be aware that reading further may reveal some details. Proceed with caution!

I’m really fond of anthology TV shows, and one that I absolutely love is “Love, Death & Robots.” Created by Tim Miller and co-executively produced by David Fincher, this Emmy-winning Netflix animated series for adults consists of a variety of short sci-fi/fantasy stories. The tales are exceptionally creative, often no longer than 15 minutes, and feature stunning, cutting-edge animation that’s out of this world beautiful.

Although it’s not easy to admit, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that about Love, Death & Robots Season 4 (or Vol. 4), in my view. It seems to be the series’ least impressive set of episodes thus far. However, there was a standout episode that made my viewing worthwhile amidst the mostly underwhelming experience this time around. In fact, I’d like to begin by highlighting the strengths of that particular episode before delving into my overall reservations about the season.

Love, Death & Robots Season 4’s Best Is “How Zeke Got Religion”

Diego Porral’s film “How Zeke Got Religion” is adapted from John McNichol’s short story with the same title. The narrative centers around a band of World War II aviators, among whom is an unconventional character named Zeke (played by Keston John), who stands out as a firm atheist. However, his strong-held beliefs are put to the test when his aircraft encounters a terrifying demon summoned from the depths of Hell by the Germans.

The show “Love, Death & Robots” isn’t strictly a horror series, but it does have moments that can be quite unsettling, such as the episode “Zeke.” This episode is particularly noteworthy for its disturbingly violent scenes, beautifully contrasted with stunning animation from Titmouse. For me, what truly elevates this creature feature is its thought-provoking message about questioning one’s beliefs and admitting the mysteries of the universe that we, as humans, cannot fully comprehend. While it may not be my favorite episode overall in the series so far, “Zeke” from Season 4 stands out significantly to me, particularly when compared to the other episodes.

Most Of Love, Death & Robots Season 4 Is Plagued By One Consistent Issue

As a movie enthusiast, let me clarify that while I’m excited about the prospect of Love, Death & Robots Season 4, I must admit it doesn’t live up to its full potential in my opinion, and it’s not just because of “Zeke.” Contrarily, I found Jennifer Yuh Nelson’s “Spider Rose” incredibly heartfelt, resonating deeply as a pet owner, and Tim Miller’s “The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur” was an engaging, futuristic chase movie. However, even these standout episodes share a common issue with the ones I didn’t connect with – they seem to lack that certain something that makes a story truly captivating for me.

From my perspective, many episodes in this season seem to struggle with bringing strong reality to intriguing ideas or even mediocre ones. Previously, I’ve admired the series for its innovative story concepts and unique animation styles that have always impressed me. However, in my view, Season 4 lacks the freshness in its visuals, which is unfortunate because a more captivating presentation might have compensated for the unremarkable narratives of some episodes.

Patrick Osborne’s ‘The Other Large Thing’ is a story with an adorable idea of a cat conquering the world with a robot’s aid, but it ends up feeling more like a setup for a mediocre joke. I was even more let down by Miller’s short film ‘Golgotha,’ starring Rhys Darby as a priest encountering an alien, as its brief runtime doesn’t fully utilize its potential, especially with its rushed ending. I had high hopes for the stop-animation comedy ‘Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners,’ where tech products complain about their users, but it wasn’t nearly as humorous as intended.

Even David Fincher’s “Can’t Stop” Falls A Bit Short For Me

This initial short within the new compilation immediately grabbed my attention. It’s a lively reenactment of Red Hot Chili Peppers performing “Can’t Stop” live, masterfully directed by none other than David Fincher. Absolutely!

Although it turned out to be somewhat less impactful than expected, it’s essentially just a brief documentary-style concert film featuring CGI puppets instead of real people. While I enjoyed watching it, I couldn’t help but feel that it didn’t quite live up to the extraordinary standards set by Love, Death & Robots. It was intriguing to see Fincher back in his music video director role, yet I must admit I was hoping for something more impressive from the creator of what I consider the best episode in this anthology series so far – “Bad Traveling” from Season 3.

It seems I’ve revisited a few of the earlier episodes from that series, and surprisingly, I found myself enjoying them more upon second watch. Maybe it’s worth giving Love, Death & Robots Season 4 on Netflix another chance at some point to gauge my feelings. Nevertheless, there are still certain episodes I may choose to bypass this time around.

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2025-05-23 14:07

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