Regular Show

It is very obvious that J.G. Quintel grew up on ’80s and ’90s pop culture. Whereas others try to forget the kitsch, pathos, fashion fads and technologies of that era, Quintel constructed a monument to them for new generations with infectious enthusiasm. Every episode of Regular Show is the essence of the coolest bits of the eighties, recast by the stare of an excited boy crouching in front of a video and dreaming of his own ultimate movie, where there is not even a hint of rationality, since everything is rather governed by the freedom of cartoon logic. Quintel formed the main dramaturgical motto from the contemporary idea that every proper show must have an edited montage based on a punch-up, a ferocious battle/chase/stunt scene and a proper explosion, all crammed into ten minutes instead of an hour and a half. ___ PS: All good things must come to an end and, after eight years and 261 episodes, Regular Show departed in truly grand style. The entire eighth and final season comprises a phenomenal work that brilliantly balances entertainment with melancholy and strong emotions, as well as clever meta references to the functioning of fictional worlds and their viewers. The three-part series finale serves as the culmination of the aforementioned qualities blended with a whirlwind of conceptual formal ideas. Though one could curse the fact that Cartoon Network cancelled the series, it is of far more importance that its creators had the opportunity to finish it with dignity in an opulent and unforgettable manner. Whereas other long-running episodic animated series simply stop (or, even worse, keeping going forever), Regular Show secured its place in the Hall of Fame alongside the other most emotive and complex culminations of epic stories such as The Legend of Korra and Cowboy Bebop. Thanks for all of the shared moments. Ohhhh! (17/04/2017)