Animation
Good Times
Netflix takes a classic sitcom, Good Times, and turns it into a vulgar, violent, sexually-charged TV-MA show.
The biblical book of Revelation warns of an Antichrist who will come to deceive and destroy the world. And he’ll enjoy every bit of his tyrannical reign.
But what if that’s not entirely true?
Eighteen-year-old Stan, Satan’s son and the Antichrist himself, doesn’t really enjoy destruction.
I mean, he has to go along with it because he’s now come of diabolical age and, technically, it’s been his destiny since birth. But more than bringing damnation to the world, Stan’s real desire is to shed his horns and go to New York City to become a Broadway star. Because, why not?
His biological father, Satan, won’t hear any of his excuses. His mother, Rose, given over by his supposed father to be impregnated by a demonic sect, just wants her wittle hellspawn to be happy. Stan’s cousin and the angel of darkness, Samael, couldn’t care less as she’s busy possessing people. And Stan’s godfather, a cat named Mefisto, busily spends his days tricking people into selling their souls to Satan.
It seems that everyone has a role for Stan to play. And although Satan has given the reluctant teen a box filled with apocalyptic horrors to unleash upon the earth, the only one who can truly bring about the death and destruction of mankind is Stan.
If only it were easier to to balance his life’s calling with his personal desire to fame and Broadway glory. Well, no one ever said being a teen with demanding and manipulative parents would be easy.
Plenty of shows have featured subversive messages about Satan and the demonic realm. But recently there have been a few that have kicked subtlety to the curb and opened the doors wide to the real deal. Enter HBO Max’s latest series, Poor Devil.
This animated, TV-MA show is all about the Antichrist and the life he could lead, according to producers. What if the Antichrist came as a young adult, ready to live his life without the restraints of his father, Satan? What if he wasn’t really into the whole death and damnation thing?
That’s where Poor Devil picks up. Eighteen-year-old Stan is now of age to initiate Armageddon. And although Satan sends him to New York City to begin unleashing terror along with his demon cousin and demonic godfather, Stan just wants to sing, act and live his life.
Blood and violence are a given here, mostly in the name of destroying humanity and people’s souls, and so are Satanic “jokes.” Satanism, worshiping the devil, the occult, rape, pedophilia, demonic possession, drugs, alcohol, partying and selling one’s soul in exchange for fame and fortune are all present here.
This is supposed to be a satirical comedy. And while the creators here are really trying to get a laugh out of their audience, it’s unnerving to watch a series that makes light of such darkness.
Teen Antichrist Stan goes to New York City to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor while simultaneously wrestling with his calling to bring damnation to the Earth.
Stan’s grandmother shouts “Hail Satan!” multiple times, and Satan sends her straight to hell. Satan tells Rose, Stan’s mother, that she was impregnated by him after she was drugged and given over to a Satanic sect.
Samael possesses an executive, but her possession backfires and only makes the man more popular. The possessed man shouts evil Latin phrases, twists his head around his body and crawls on walls. Mefisto, a cat, tricks people into selling their souls for their dreams. He signs contracts in blood, kills off those who are in his way (which we see as people are shot with arrows, their skulls are crushed with signs and some are hit with buses). Someone jokes about feasting on souls.
We hear a joke about pedophiles. A dog licks his privates in an opening scene.
A cat drinks alcohol. God’s name is misused once. The s-word is used once, and the words “d–n” and “dumba–” are heard a few times each
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
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