2021: Year of the Louds

 2021: The Year of the Louds

As the pandemic continued, Nickelodeon was getting ready to put most of their library on a little streaming service called CBS ALL ACCESS, including a few of their originals that were stated to release new episodes there. But on March 4, 2021, it became Paramount+, the place to watch ViacomCBS content (now known as Paramount Corporation). Up until now, people weren’t interesting in getting yet another streaming service. But then come a bunch of Nickelodeon shows and it got more people subscribed. What can go wrong? Let’s find out by the end at this paragraph. Continuing their hot streaks from 2020, 2021 is another great year for Nick in terms of content.  Unfortunately, as a business, they started to go downhill once again during the middle of the year and all the things people hated about them are back full force. Reruns of non-cash cow shows were becoming less and less as time goes on and the only way you must watch then if you want to catch up was on their side channels, which are reduced to being rerun farms of Nick. Nicktoons is pretty much nothing but current cartoons (including the two shows you already seen enough on the main channel) since April 2021 after making so much progress of bringing back older cartoons. TeenNick became the superhero sitcoms as reruns consist nothing but the DangerVerse and the Thundermans. And Nick Jr is Nick Jr, just with less and less shows. They hadn’t adapted to the binge-a-thon strategy, for now, but the classics are pretty much gone from the channel. To make matters worse, NickRewind was on its death bed by the end of 2021. You see, Paramount+ was relaunching and so they decided to made Rewind more exciting this year by airing other classic Nicktoons they don’t normally air. It was too good to true when it all turn out to be a scheme to get Paramount+. I will explain that more for the 2022 review. It’s a bummer that the moment Paramount (or Viacom at the time) was finally interested in streaming, they all forgotten about the wonders of live television. But as the title of this journal stated, it’s really was the year of the Louds for Nickelodeon. The Loud House has turned 5 years old, making it the longest running Nick show from the 2010’s, due to its popularity from younger generation and standing a chance against SpongeBob. So it was only a matter of time that people worshipped it for being lucky during its first year and eventually grew tired of the show when it’s just another cash cow for Nick at this point. I do think people are harsh on it but I get where they’re coming from. Nick did focused on TLH too much for its own good that you forgot that Nick have other cartoons, including the mascot himself. It was so bad that It’s Pony became another victim of the Nicktoons death treatment by fall 2021 (another example of why Nick should ditch the side channel for good already). But yes there were TWO Loud House movies this year: an animated movie for Netflix that has been in the works for years and a live action Christmas s movie that was supposed to come out in 2020, but the pandemic delayed it a year later. I don’t want to get too negative, so let’s look at the bright side. Nick Animation is making tons of projects and while some people may consider it quantity over quality, it’s nice to see a studio so dedicated in pumping out content even if crew members are working from home. As usual, Nick hired some executives such as Brian Keane (coincidentally right around the time Blue Sky closed its doors), Even if 2021 wasn’t as good as 2020 for Nick business wise, the content they premiered this year is even better than last year since I did not found any bad shows (I really hope Kamp Koral doesn’t really ruin that for me since I hadn’t it seen yet). So I’ll remain optimistic for what Nick will have to offer for years to come. So without any further ado, let’s review the shows! Certain shows are too good or interesting that they will have their separate reviews in another journal (the rest of the shows won’t be that long). Though I may give all the subsequent shows (any show to come out from 2022 and beyond) their own journal from this point on since my reviews will be even longer.

Reviewing the shows

The Barbarian and the Troll (9/10)

After nearly 15 years of not doing any puppetry for older kids because a certain awful show freaked everyone out in 2006, Nickelodeon is finally back producing those type of shows. I’m glad it came out at the right time because 2021 was the year I gained an appreciation for puppet shows. The show’s title explains it all. It features a barbarian named Brendar who loses her princess status and sword after fighting a serpent. A bridge troll named Evan leaves home so he could pursuit a musical career. The two main characters met at bar and join forces to go on an adventure to save their kingdom. They are soon accompanied by a wizard named Horus and his daughter, who got turned into an owl. I won’t be copying the first impression review from last year but here’s a finalized review instead. The Barbarian and the Troll is my favorite Nickelodeon show to come out of 2021, although Middlemost Post might dethrone it if it continues to impress me. The puppets they used for the characters aren’t as creepy as you know what (I dare not to mention it at all). The characters themselves are all good in their own ways with such distinctive personality. Brendar is someone who wants to take things seriously, while Evan is a person who just wants to have fun. They are total opposites of each other, but their interaction is great to watch. If you want to get into this show, I will say this - it’s not a laugh fest like most of Nick’s shows nowadays. It’s actually a drama and action-adventure. Most of the comedy comes from Evan due to his goofy nature. Not only that, but due to his talents, it’s also a musical since he tends to break into song every episode. Nick actually had a lot of faith in this show, but since it was story driven, it was getting harder to catch up without getting lost in the story. Since it was hard to tell whether puppetry was animation or live action it was aired on both Nicktoons and TeenNick. I was investigated in the story the whole time and the show got better and better as it went on. I won’t give away spoilers, but the finale was the best episode of the show as it gave the characters a satisfying conclusion. Though it’s weird that the queen’s name was Alvin, which is a guy’s name. Although the way how it ended, there might be a season two, but since Nick never tells us when a show is over or not, it might as well be cancelled. The show and Drama Club both felt like miniseries rather than a full series honestly. Regardless, I’m just glad Nick got a puppet show again. I hope we see more of these type of shows.

Middlemost Post (9/10)

Full season review coming soon. In the meantime, have a first impression review that I wrote back in July 2021 - From the moment this show was greenlit, I knew I was going to enjoy it. After a long drought with new original Nicktoons on the main channel (I know there’s It’s Pony but the articles keep ignoring its existence and that’s because it’s a British show), we finally got one. Even better this is created by a SpongeBob artist and I think we need a Nicktoon with that honor to finally succeed since The Mighty B and Harvey Beaks failed to reach an audience. Thankfully Nick is pushing this show to be the next big hit even if it’s somewhat overshadowed by The Patrick Star Show. Based from both episodes I saw I preferred First Delivery slightly more as it established the show’s premise. The second segment Chore or Less can be relatable for a slacker like me. I sometimes don’t want to do chores but when I cooperate, it can be easy. All in all I think I’m going to have a rainbow of a time with this lightning new cartoon for Nickelodeon. These anti vaxxers may have rained on our parade the past year but as the creator stated in interviews, it’s a great escapism from the real world. And while I enjoy the wacky style that modern SpongeBob and Looney Tunes Cartoon use, I’ve been wanting for this to be used on a totally new original cartoon. Let’s just hope this show delivers for the target demographic and it can stick around for several years. Before I end this review I gotta say it’s so fitting that my hometown got to experiment rainy days on the same week this show came out. 

Tooned In (9/10)

After a series of unfitting reality shows, Nick went back to their old roots by producing a game shows where kids are tested on their cartoons over the years. Yes you heard me - it’s a Nicktoons themed game show! And it has an interesting history - there was a pilot of the same name in the late 90’s, functioning the same way it did with some differences. It didn’t came the light of day back then but it finally came to be last year as a full series. Let me just say it was worth having another game show after a sea of mediocrity (I’m referring to the reality shows they did for a couple years). When you do compare it to the previous game show Unfiltered, the difference in quality is astonishing. Unfiltered wasted everyone’s time, but rest assured, Tooned In is an improvement as it combined Double Dare (due to the slime) and other famous game shows with a cartoon theme. Now you may notice that the kids will be tested on shows they know nothing about (especially that came out long before they were born, although SpongeBob and Fairly OddParents are fair game since they continued for a long time), but the end credits stated that they arranged the questions for the kids to study which is why they ace a question easily. Although some of the kids can be dumb as rocks if they get such simple questions  wrong which made me roll my eyes. The host of the show is cartoon robot with a fitting name of Nicky. He makes this show a joy to watch thanks to Rama Vallury’s goofy performance. He was pretty normal in season 1, despite still being a jokester when sliming the kids for every wrong answer they get. By the time season 2 comes out, his silliness is up to eleven as he tries to do a voice impression as much as possible. Oh, and did I forgot to mention that Jerry Trainor become the human cohost as well? He turns everything to gold so the show is even better as a result. Tooned In isn’t the most perfect game show ever though. Other than kids being dumb from time to time, I do have a few gripe with the show. They consider ALVINNN!!!, The Smurfs, and Paw Patrol (as well as other preschool shows, regardless if Nick Animation is involved) to be Nicktoons and that doesn’t sit right with me. Of course, they also include Henry Danger questions only because it was a cartoon at one point. Second, as much as I’m happy to see the mistreated cartoons shown, I don’t think it’s going to make up for Nick’s reputation of how they handled them. Even when the show is airing new episodes, they don’t even bother giving them reruns on Nicktoons, but instead you must watch them on Paramount+. Third, they screwed up the aspect ratio for the older shows so badly that it’s jarring to see stretched images of Nick shows (since Viacom was never known for doing that as they always done a great job showing content in the original aspect ratio). And last but least, I notice an awful lot of Loud House/Casagrandes questions that were asked during the show. And this is what proves my point on Nick giving the franchise too much spotlight compared to others. It’s best to keep count on how TLH/TCG questions Nicky will ask. Then again, I rarely see 90’s Nicktoons representation but it’s for the best considering how much everyone know about them at this point. All in all, Tooned In is a fun experience of testing your Nicktoons knowledge and reminds me why game shows is their strongest suit in the unscripted department.

Star Trek Prodigy (8/10)

A separate review on this show coming soon. But first, I must watch some past Star Trek show because I might get confused at what’s going on.

Drama Club (8/10)

It was February 2021 - out of the blues, this show was announced just one month shy of its premiere. Created by two female writers of the All That revival, the show revolves on a group of students at a middle school trying to get people to notice their drama club. I didn’t keep up with the show when it was airing but when I rushed my way to watch the rest of the episodes on Hulu, I realized it felt like a miniseries. The whole show follows a story arc of the drama club members doing the show. So, if you want to watch the show at all (especially on tv), you must watch it in order to follow the story. It’s not confusing, but everything that was established the first (or two) episode came to an well deserved conclusion. But I will say this with a straight face - this is High School Musical The Musical The Show done right. Why is that? Well, not only the show isn’t based off a mainstream media, but it handles the mockumentary genre very well without being too self aware. In other words, Drama Club did what HSMTMTS failed to impress me. I really enjoyed the interactions with the characters, especially with Mack and Darci and Oliver and Bianca (whose chemistry is similar to a friendship of mine because of their constant arguments and agreements). I’ve been saying the interactions have been improved from the days of ICarly and Victorious, but this and Danger Force still feature characters at each other’s throats, but they aren’t as mean-spirited as before. Bench is the glue that keeps the club together and the last episode is proof that the show wouldn’t survive without him. Skip, on the hand, is my least favorite main character, since I recalled him spending most of the time obsessing over Bench and nothing else. Honestly, I think the show would’ve been a tad better without him. The show at its worst is still tolerable than Nick’s sitcoms in the 2010’s, but the worst episode featured characters having disagreements and didn’t invite the leader to a party. That didn’t make it a good episode but the last few minutes made up for it. The best episode is the final episode where the drama club is finally noticed by the school, despite the principal desperately wanting it to flop. I know some people want another season, but like with the Barbarian and the Troll, it look like an one and done deal. Drama Club really feel like a miniseries than a full series. Not to mention, there’s no laugh track whatsoever, so the show won’t be renewed regardless since it’s expensive to do a show with such an interesting setup. Still, it continues the streak of good recent live action Nick shows, even though it’s not my favorite.

The Beatbuds (8/10)

I believe Nick Animation had a hand in this show, so I can count it as an official Nick show (unlike Deer Squad). It revolves on two brothers (I think) going on tour. On their way to the concert, they encountered several things in the way, and they encouraged to join them each episode. There’s at least one song per episode as well. In a way, this show only exists to be a vehicle for the Music Fest, even though it aired during June rather than July. There’s nothing much for me to say about this show, except that it’s a decent way to pass the time. Each episode is only several minutes long, so you should finish the entire run in a day. Like Barbarian and Drama Club, this show is just a miniseries, so they might be considered filler shows. It’s a shame though because Nick really needs more preschool content to counter out their Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, and Blaze boner.

That Girl Lay Lay (7/10)

See review here: 

Rugrats reboot (7/10)

On July 2018, Nick announced that they’re rebooting one of their first Nicktoons, which is Rugrats. Since this is a Paramount+ original, I’m going to make a separate review of it soon. I only seen the first episode and holiday specials so far, but I like thought it was okay for what it is, if not necessary.

NFL Slimetime (6/10)

To continue their deal with NFL, Nick announces that they’re doing a weekly show recapping football. Nathan “Nate” Burelson returns to Nick to host this but he is joined alongside Young Dylan (Nickelodeon’s newest answer to Jace Norman, a star that gets all the glory) to talk about football highlights, No k style. The ESPN influences is showing when you have Adam Schefter’s daughter Dylan (didn’t know it was a unisex name) as correspondent. Lincoln from The Loud House joins during the final act to declare the MVP. I’m not the biggest sports fan so I only got to watch two episodes and it was okay. Good background noise but not something I’d watch every week. Imagine if ESPN did the same thing with this show. It might be boring since there’s no slime involved. Nick’s obsession with The Loud House continues with having the main character to do a part and I do have a nitpick - I feel like Lynn Jr. would’ve suited the role very well because of her athletic skills, but I digress. Nate is great as always and he’s an interesting addition to the Nick family after the Wild Card game. However, my opinions on Young Dylan has soured because of Tyler Perry’s show about him. He’s not bad and definitely have the talent to showcase it, but what I mentioned earlier before is that he’s already the new it boy for Nick, even though there’s better stars out there. Dylan Schaffer, on the other hand, isn’t too bad, for someone who’s related to a sports writer. In conclusion, the show’s not my cup of tea, but I respect it because it will introduce kids to sports.

Kamp Koral (??/10)

Hadn’t watched the show yet. I will update this journal when I finally get to watch it.

ICarly revival (??/10)

I got a lot of interesting stuff to say about this show when I get a chance to watch it. A separate journal about the revival will be posted eventually and I will reveal my score later.

The Patrick Star Show (??/10)

Alongside Kamp Koral, I will watch and then review them on a separate journal.