8 Things I Like
8. Jell-O!
John thinking “Jell-O” is a greeting or farewell is the best running gag of the season. And it pays off perfectly when Quiet finally calls him out on his misuse of the word and tells him he’s a moron, and he realizes she’s right. Perfectly handled!
7. “Epic” Needle Drops
I have to give credit to the music choices in the show. There are some awesome needle drops throughout this season. I think these are my top three:
- 3) “Party Hard” by Andrew W.K. during the bar brawl that Blood Mary instigates.
- 2) “My Immortal” by Evanescence after Evelyn gets blown up. This wrecked me.
- 1) “Epic” by Faith No More, from the Sex Tunes 4 Sasha mixtape, as John and Quiet bust out Roadkill for the first time.
6. Much-Needed Friends
With all the obstacles they face getting to New Chicago and back, John and Quiet really needed some allies this season. Convoy comes in at the perfect time to give them that. That’s why I’m so glad they’re more than a one-off.
Sadly, Granny Dread bites the bullet in her first appearance, though her legacy lives on through her sex book.
And we get a pretty good love story between Watts and Amber, which has some similarities to John and Quiet’s.
5. Quiet’s Back Story
We still don’t know Quiet’s real name. But it’s interesting finding out why “Quiet” fits her so well.
Of course, we see how her brother dies for her in the first episode. But her silence preceded that. And it came because she convinced her brother to join her in giving up their jobs in the orange groves—where they weren’t exactly free but didn’t have it too bad—only to get scammed and essentially become slaves. Not just that, but slaves to people who wore the fingers, ears, noses, etc. of their slaves as jewelry.
There’s a lot of depth to Quiet because of what she’s been through, what she’s lost, and what she blames herself for. That’s why meeting John is so good for her. And it’s why he’s able to help her open up and start living again.
4. Agent Stone
Thomas Haden Church is tremendous as Agent Stone. You know people like him would exist in a world like this—someone who uses society’s upheaval to their advantage, to gain power over others.
Prior to the fall of society, Stone was a cop, but he wasn’t respected. He was a stickler for the rules, but nobody cared.
Now, he allows all his pent-up rage and frustration to boil over as he takes it upon himself to become The Law outside the cities. The more power he gains, the more of a demagogue he becomes.
His story loses a little steam as the season wears on, but he’s still a great foil for John and Quiet. Despite the fact that we leave him with a hatchet buried halfway through his face, and it sounds like he took the one bullet Quiet left him with to put himself out of his misery, I’m hoping somehow he’s still alive.
3. A Twisted World of Mayhem and Violence
I really like the world they’ve built in the aftermath of the fall. This is a world where there are a limited number of cities, all walled off, and if you’re lucky enough to be part of one, life can be pretty good. (Though your city probably relies on Milkmen like John for supplies and scarce resources.)
But the outside is a free for all. It’s treacherous for Milkmen. Between the Vultures, the Holy Men, and who knows how many other ragtag groups of criminals—not to mention the Law, and solo maniacs like Sweet Tooth—it’s a twisted world of mayhem and violence they’ve built. And it’s a lot of fun.
2. Evelyn Is Everything
I’m not a car guy. I drove my Honda CR-V for 18 years before replacing it. I was comfortable in it, but it was never anything more than a mode of transportation. My new car is a bit nicer and has a lot more bells and whistles, but to me, it’s still just a car.
That’s why John’s fixation with Evelyn didn’t resonate with me at first. I’d see the way he’d talk to her and not think much of it. Some people are like that. Plus, his livelihood relied on Evelyn, so it made a little more sense that he put so much time and care into her.
But the flashbacks to when John found her made everything click. Evelyn was car, livelihood, home, and best friend all in one. She was his salvation.
Of course, John’s attachment to Evelyn nearly costs him his life and his relationship with Quiet. But he needs to make his mistakes, and then lose Evelyn anyway, to realize he’s outgrown his need for her.
That said, I was blown away with how well done and emotional Evelyn’s requiem is. I mean, it’s a little emotionally manipulative to use the Evanescence song, but like I mentioned earlier, it works.
John and Evelyn is probably the best man/car relationship this side of Dean and Baby in Supernatural.
1. Home Run Casting
The casting for John and Quiet had to be a home run. The success of the whole show relies on this relationship. No matter how cool the world is, or how over the top the violence is, this show would suck if we didn’t like spending time with them together.
Luckily, they nailed it! Their chemistry is out of this world. One never talks, the other never shuts up… they’re perfect for each other.
I truly love both these characters, especially when they’re together. And I’m sure they’ll find their way back to each other sooner or later. It’s a testament to them that as soon as they’re apart—even when the story calls for it and they have other interesting things to do—I still can’t wait for them to be together again.
1 Thing I’m Mixed On
1. A Perplexing Clown
It feels like Sweet Tooth is supposed to be one of the show’s biggest draws, but I never fully got there with him.
I wanted to. The double performances are great. Samoa Joe is one of my all-time favorite wrestlers, and it’s so funny to know it’s him under that mask, acting his ass off. And Will Arnett does a great job with the voice.
But I never knew if Sweet Tooth was an antihero, and if he was getting a redemption arc, or if he’s just a chaos agent and complete maniac.
They also lost me when I saw him murder his dog. Hell, he could’ve killed his stepdad in front of the live studio audience and I would’ve been more on board. But maybe killing the dog was their way of not pulling punches or taking the easy way out.
2 Things I Don’t Like
2. Downgrade
Shephard, Stone’s original #2, looks and acts like an absolute creep. He gets the brutal death he deserves, mid-masturbation with his pants down, at the hands of Quiet.
It just happens too early in the season.
Stone basically replaces him with the brother/sister team, but they just never did anything for me. Nothing against them, but Shephard really stood out.
1. John’s Forgotten Past
The closest thing we get to a payoff for John’s season-long amnesia—which he’s really been afflicted with since childhood—is his sister showing up at the very end of the season. So we should finally learn more next season.
But we saw him look at that damn picture about a hundred times. Yet he just throws away his chance to learn more about his past when it seems Raven might be able to help him. And he’s so dismissive of the notion—basically, just “that’s not who I am.” It doesn’t track with what we saw from him all season, and it made that whole storyline seem superfluous.
Tim Matassa
