The Boondocks

:

Season 1
Season #: 4, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 278 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 248 out of 278
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 278
  3. Negative: 23 out of 278

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User Reviews

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  1. infjaxcritic
    Jul 7, 2022
    9
    I first watched this show in May 2022, and I was generally impressed. The characters are well-crafted and relatively accurate to real life. However, I would take issue with the racial stereotypes, such as Uncle Ruckus, as well as the depiction of other black people, which I found slightly offending. Other than that, I would recommend this show to anyone curious.
  2. pablojob1
    Mar 4, 2021
    10
    The best season opening ever its hella funny bro and the animation is like japanese style animation
  3. bmoore07
    Feb 22, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The title of this show is an interesting one because the show’s setting isn’t exactly in ‘the boondocks’ of American society. The Boondocks is about two children named Huey and Riley Freeman who move from the ghettos of Chicago to the fictional, peaceful (and very white) neighborhood of Woodcrest, where they embark on hilarious misadventures with their grandfather Robert Freeman as they adjust to their new environment.

    Huey Freeman is The Boondocks’ main character and narrator (as well as the person I chose as my profile picture), an Afro-wilding martial arts master, a gun-toting terrorist with a Che Guevara poster on his wall, a supremely intelligent prodigy of few words (and one of my all-time favorite characters). Riley Freeman is Huey’s younger brother and someone I was never fond of, a cornrowed hip-hop enthusiast famed for his expletive-filled rants and someone I find mostly one-dimensional, extremely egocentric, and unbelievably selfish. Robert Freeman is similar to Riley but is equipped with depth to his character (and a bizarre habit of dating psychotic women). The Boondocks offers a variety of richly detailed supporting characters like the politician Tom DuBois who looks exactly like young Barack Obama (and has a peculiar phobia), the infamous Uncle Ruckus, a racist who passionately despises his own kind (and someone whose voice I can imitate very well), Jazmine DuBois, who is Tom’s innocent daughter, and Ed Wuncler III, a red-headed delinquent who looks a lot like Eminem. The Boondocks offers one of the best cast of characters I’ve ever seen.

    There are more than a few notable Boondocks episodes like “The Story of Catcher Freeman”, an attempt to analyze Huey and Riley’s slavery-era ancestor who is profiled in three ways (Robert’s version of Catcher is a beloved and brave hero who freed black people from slavery, Uncle Ruckus’ version is a primal and vicious slavecatcher preventing black people from escaping the plantations, and Huey’s version is an intelligent playwright who accidently kills his white father). There’s the episode “Smoking with Cigarettes”, where Riley befriends Lamilton Taeshawn, a juvenile felon who punched his grandma and hijacked a car for a joyride (the detective chasing Lamilton sounds and looks similar to Obi-Wan Kenobi). There’s also the episode “The Color Ruckus”, an extremely emotional journey into Ruckus’ past, and the episode “The Fundraiser”, where Riley’s attempt to make money from selling chocolates becomes out-of-control (highlighted by an unforgettable speech by Riley). “The Fundraiser” and “The Color Ruckus” are two of my three favorite Boondocks episodes.

    After the third season concluded, The Boondocks fell into a dry spell, only airing re-runs as America furiously pushed for Season 4. Four years after Season 3, The Boondocks returned. Season 4 was the show’s first attempt at a running plot and it unfortunately aired for a pitiful 10 episodes. In those 10 episodes, The Boondocks mostly tried to recycle ideas from episodes of previous seasons (lowlighted by a return of the notorious Colonel Stinkmeaner as a mechanically modified clone to once again fight Grandpa Freeman), but there were a few shining moments in Season 4. The episode “Early Bird Special” was an interesting one but it didn’t hold a candle to the classic “I Dream of Siri” (my third favorite Boondocks episode), where Robert’s malfunctioned phone came dangerously close to destroying his life. The 10th (and final) episode of Season 4, “The New Black”, was about Riley being targeted for calling a kid ‘gay’ and ‘retarded’, and the episode ended with Riley getting pummeled by a gigantic group of mentally disabled children as the show played Lethal Interjection Crew’s “Stomp ‘Em In the Nuts”, a homage to the earlier seasons. It was a classic ending to a sub-par episode in a disappointing season.

    Sadly, when Season 4 concluded, Aaron McGruder (the creator of The Boondocks) quit his involvement in the beloved animated series for Black Jesus, a hilarious comedy that is nowhere close to The Boondocks, which was the last African-American classic, a show with supremely solid characters, first-class comedy, and occasional martial arts scenes, a show that casually ventured into polarizing social topics (race, snitching, homosexuality, etc.) and incited controversy along the way (The Boondocks labeled BET as “Black Evil Television”, a sinister enterprise corrupting America, and the show suggested the famous playwright Tyler Perry is gay). With its memorable main theme, and historical and pop culture references, The Boondocks is a show that doesn’t deserve to be ignored.    … Expand
  4. TheQuietGamer
    Aug 10, 2014
    9
    A hilarious satire show with a beautiful anime-esque animation style. It's brings plenty of laughs and just has smart writing all around. It's views and language may be controversial, or downright offensive to some, but it manages to be hilarious enough where you don't have to agree with what's going on in order to laugh at it.
  5. Kencage
    Jun 25, 2014
    10
    What a beautiful show and work of art. If you are an activist, interested in art, want to learn very valuable lessons, or just want a good laugh in general. This is the show to watch. I love this show deeply and it gives great lessons.
  6. EPIXMAN15
    Dec 25, 2011
    10
    Hilarious show, very amusing with its wit and racial stereotypes which they manage to turn into pure laughter, great jokes, and just comedy at some of its finest.
  7. Spielberg00
    Oct 4, 2011
    9
    THE BOONDOCKS is the gem of absurdly hysterical (but, nevertheless, controversially racist) humor. Based on Aaron McGruder's comic strip that was first published six years before this show was first aired, it has humor that can't get more funny. (The only bad thing about it is you feel so cruel for being sucked into laughing...)
  8. Chrislake94
    Aug 21, 2011
    10
    The Boondocks does an amazing Job when it reflects on Black American Culture. People either have no clue that this Show is satirical or have no understanding of the word whatsoever. People complain about the heavy use of the word **** but fail to realize that some black people repeatedly use the word **** It tackles many issues and many stereotypes in society today. The Boondocks did notThe Boondocks does an amazing Job when it reflects on Black American Culture. People either have no clue that this Show is satirical or have no understanding of the word whatsoever. People complain about the heavy use of the word **** but fail to realize that some black people repeatedly use the word **** It tackles many issues and many stereotypes in society today. The Boondocks did not create stereotypes; stereotypes have been through Black Culture for many years. Aaron McGruder is merely putting those stereotypes onto his Comic strip, now onto to his TV Show.… Expand
  9. TheReasonWhyGuy
    Jan 10, 2011
    10
    Great series I thoroughly enjoyed each successive season more than the previous.
    The hidden meaning are especially great.
    My only hope is that the continue making episodes for as long as possible.
    Hell, I'll buy the dvd if it would help ;D
  10. showmestate
    Nov 28, 2010
    10
    I love this show and hope they air another season. It is not for the faint of heart. It depicts the way some african-americans converse amongst each other. Of course, the "N" word has met much scrutiny in the last few years. However, in some african-american households, it's still a common world that's not offensive when speaking to each other. Especially in the 'the hood'. TheI love this show and hope they air another season. It is not for the faint of heart. It depicts the way some african-americans converse amongst each other. Of course, the "N" word has met much scrutiny in the last few years. However, in some african-american households, it's still a common world that's not offensive when speaking to each other. Especially in the 'the hood'. The show is very funny especially because it's down-to-earth. There are some Uncle Ruckus's, Riley's and/or Huey's in many families.
    This show is not for children (thus the rating TV-MA). .    … Expand
  11. misstyty
    Sep 20, 2010
    10
    i love this show and i think the writing is brilliant. i love the way it keeps up with pop culture and sort of shows how kids these day are so easily influenced by it. and also how it shows opinions from different view points with the different character's personalities.
  12. Cazatuz
    Sep 2, 2010
    9
    I love it!!, Its a very Clever & Witty Show, I love the Art, the characters, the plots. Its very funny, At times it can be funnier than even that of Family Guy, & Boondocks doesn't try too hard to force comedy down our throats, Its genuinely & Naturally funny. I think the Creator is a Genius. This is more than just a Cartoon, its real, its a rare cartoon for all ages. It mainly depictsI love it!!, Its a very Clever & Witty Show, I love the Art, the characters, the plots. Its very funny, At times it can be funnier than even that of Family Guy, & Boondocks doesn't try too hard to force comedy down our throats, Its genuinely & Naturally funny. I think the Creator is a Genius. This is more than just a Cartoon, its real, its a rare cartoon for all ages. It mainly depicts The BlK Community & shows the ignorant side of it without going to far or being too offensive which is done threw humor. At times it even adds in positive Messages, most likely used as a way to balance out the Controversial Ignorance, often expressed threw the Kid & Uncle Ruckas. Perhaps its best asset is that it's very daring & not afraid to branch out into new territory; Its Brilliant, its fearless... Too bad season 3 is the last one, 85% of the episodes in this series are good, not all of them are.… Expand
  13. Mugen
    Aug 13, 2010
    10
    This is a great series that really exposes the hypocrisy in the african american commuinity in such a funny way but in the same light it tries to educute african americans as well.
  14. SolR.
    Apr 19, 2010
    10
    Great show alltho some may not under stand the humor (very racial and political) is season #3 coming out??
  15. MadHouse
    Feb 22, 2010
    10
    I love it!!, Its a very Clever & Witty Show, I love the Art, the characters, the plots. Its very funny, At times it can be funnier than even that of Family Guy, & Boondocks doesn't try too hard to force comedy down our throats, Its genuinely & Naturally funny. I think the Creator is a Genius. This is more than just a Cartoon, its real. It kinda depicts The BlK Community & shows the I love it!!, Its a very Clever & Witty Show, I love the Art, the characters, the plots. Its very funny, At times it can be funnier than even that of Family Guy, & Boondocks doesn't try too hard to force comedy down our throats, Its genuinely & Naturally funny. I think the Creator is a Genius. This is more than just a Cartoon, its real. It kinda depicts The BlK Community & shows the ignorant side of it without going to far or being offensive which is done threw humor. At times it adds in positive words also, often expressed threw the Kid. Perhaps its best asset is it is very daring & not afraid to branch out into new territory; Its Brilliant & fearless.… Expand
  16. Name
    Feb 1, 2010
    10
    Really good. People boast that it has a lot of intelegent, satirical humor, but don't let that intimidate you. I'm not the smartest guy on earth, but almost every episode produced belly laughs.
  17. DouglasS.
    Nov 15, 2009
    10
    As a 45 year old Black man ,husband ,and father of two young boys, I find it easy to relate to all the people in those stories. My fave is the one where Riley gets called "Nigga" by his Teacher.Man! I aint laughed so hard at a cartoon since .Swear to God my face was a mess from the tears and snot, my stomach was cramping.Laughter overdose. Now I'm hooked on the Boondocks.I need the As a 45 year old Black man ,husband ,and father of two young boys, I find it easy to relate to all the people in those stories. My fave is the one where Riley gets called "Nigga" by his Teacher.Man! I aint laughed so hard at a cartoon since .Swear to God my face was a mess from the tears and snot, my stomach was cramping.Laughter overdose. Now I'm hooked on the Boondocks.I need the DVD box set(uncensored).… Expand
  18. WonderBread
    Jul 19, 2009
    10
    Love the show and i can wait til season 3.
  19. AlbeonJ.
    May 11, 2009
    10
    Brilliantly funny!
  20. DavidS
    Apr 6, 2009
    10
    Brilliant piece of art. No one critiques American culture with more punch or hilarity than Aaron McGruder. And if you're not socially aware enough to really get that sort of thing, you'll laugh anyway. Everybody wins.
  21. AdamH
    Dec 7, 2008
    10
    A consistently witty and funny series. A must see for anyone who values intelligent humor.
  22. shannettee
    Sep 10, 2008
    10
    I love this show i think it shows how people act but it makes it things more funny then they are. i live in the uk and think that they need a show like this to show then just what funny is. xxx bring theboondocks to england!
  23. BabaGump
    Aug 11, 2008
    10
    You know how there's those TV shows you watch regularly, and then there are the ones you've heard about, maybe caught a few glimpses of, but never really got into? and then you watch an episode in its entirety and, just like you've heard... you find it amazing? Don't let me overhype this show. A TV show is just that, a TV show. But this is far from a cartoon. I You know how there's those TV shows you watch regularly, and then there are the ones you've heard about, maybe caught a few glimpses of, but never really got into? and then you watch an episode in its entirety and, just like you've heard... you find it amazing? Don't let me overhype this show. A TV show is just that, a TV show. But this is far from a cartoon. I don't know much about Japanese cartoons, but I think the drawing style is called anime... well, this is American anime. The typical American crowd portrayed in the anime style is a shining combination. Voice acting is unprecedented. Persons behind the mic include Regina King, Charlie Muprhy, Samuel L Jackson, John Witherspoon, guest appearance of Lil' Wayne, and many other incredible performers. The music makes the show flow like nothing else. The dialogue is the most hysterical thing I have ever heard... The bottom line is that this may look like a cartoon at first , but it's much more than just that. This "cartoon" is on par with some of the classics of the big screen. But seriously, don't have unrealistically high expectations. It's just a show.… Expand
  24. BabaGump
    Aug 11, 2008
    10
    You know how there's those TV shows you watch regularly, and then there are the ones you've heard about, maybe caught a few glimpses of, but never really got into? and then you watch an episode in its entirety and, just like you've heard... you find it amazing? Don't let me overhype this show. A TV show is just that, a TV show. But this is far from a cartoon. I You know how there's those TV shows you watch regularly, and then there are the ones you've heard about, maybe caught a few glimpses of, but never really got into? and then you watch an episode in its entirety and, just like you've heard... you find it amazing? Don't let me overhype this show. A TV show is just that, a TV show. But this is far from a cartoon. I don't know much about Japanese cartoons, but I think the drawing style is called anime... well, this is American anime. The typical American crowd portrayed in the anime style is a shining combination. Voice acting is unprecedented. Persons behind the mic include Regina King, Charlie Muprhy, Samuel L Jackson, John Witherspoon, guest appearance of Lil' Wayne, and many other incredible performers. The music makes the show flow like nothing else. The dialogue is the most hysterical thing I have ever heard... The bottom line is that this may look like a cartoon at first , but it's much more than just that. This "cartoon" is on par with some of the classics of the big screen. But seriously, don't have unrealistically high expectations. It's just a show.… Expand
  25. TLDragon
    Aug 3, 2008
    10
    The Boondocks in real in the best of ways. The show remains oblivious to political correctness and instead focus's on the truth as McGruder see's it. Its funny, shocking, educational at times and always entertaining.
  26. Jasmine
    Jul 27, 2008
    10
    Excellent satire that people either get, or they don't. The people who don't get it are usually the ones being made fun of.
  27. SymiraH.
    May 29, 2008
    10
    This is one of the best shows. Aaron Mcgruder is not afraid to take on subjects dealing with the black community.
  28. AshaG.
    Apr 24, 2008
    10
    Simply amazing!!
  29. Ashley
    Apr 14, 2008
    10
    I think this is the best show in years. Its a real depiction of so many things that happens in black America. Everyone can relate to uncle rukus. We all know someone that hate their own race. This is what t.v. should be about. Give us all some thing entertaining and intellectual.
  30. ShaneH.
    Apr 8, 2008
    10
    I love this show because its honestly funny...Mr. McGruder did nothing but expos what we go threw as African Americans. Don't get me wrong we got some work to do...but he took what we go threw and turned it into comedy. Whats the difference between a cartoon and a regular film.....
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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best TV Season of 2005
8
#8 Most Discussed TV Season of 2005
15
#15 Most Shared TV Season of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 21
  3. Negative: 2 out of 21
  1. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    90
    Animation has rarely felt so explosively, hilariously defiant.
  2. Kansas City Star
    Reviewed by: Aaron Barnhart
    90
    An out-of-the-gate triumph.
    Read full review
  3. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    75
    "The Boondocks," with all its knowingly controversial observations and language, is a sort of animated equivalent of "All in the Family." It'll make you think, and maybe even wince - but at the same time, it makes you smile.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »