The Midnight Gospel

Netflix | Release Date: April 20, 2020

8.0	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 60 Ratings

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User Reviews

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anselhelmJul 10, 2020

Despite all the hype over this show, it's dull, slow and storyless. At its core, it's just a tedious, late-evening podcast, which has been slightly adapted then had random animation bolted on to make it look like each episode has a coherentDespite all the hype over this show, it's dull, slow and storyless. At its core, it's just a tedious, late-evening podcast, which has been slightly adapted then had random animation bolted on to make it look like each episode has a coherent story.

I've seen reviews making statements like "it's the opposite of Ricky & Morty". If by this people mean that it's the opposite of interesting and smart, then yes, this is true. Sure, it's less abrasive, but that's due to its slow and dull nature, rather than any qualities worth praising.

This isn't a show you "watch". If you enjoy the narration, you'll probably just listen to it. In that case, you'd be better off actually listening to the original, unedited podcast - Duncan Trussell Family Hour.

At the end of the day, if you really enjoy this, then you do you, boo.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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juanititoApr 21, 2020

What a terrible show. Random does not equal brillant. To sum up, this is what happens when you take a very self indulgent podcast, cut it and ask an animation studio to put random images to it. You are left with parts of insufferably mundaneWhat a terrible show. Random does not equal brillant. To sum up, this is what happens when you take a very self indulgent podcast, cut it and ask an animation studio to put random images to it. You are left with parts of insufferably mundane conversation between two stoned people you don't know. This is unwatchable. As boring as it is random.
I really don't understand the professional critics, maybe they were afraid of missing something...
I use psychedelics, but thank god, I don't record the conversations! These guys thought it would be a good idea to broadcast them out of context. This is the proof that Netflix will produce absolutely any half baked concept show if the creator has a remotely recognisable name.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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raorianApr 21, 2020

I was sure I will enjoy this show immensely as it's the type of things that I like... psychadelic and philosophical... but the show fails HORRIBLY where good art succeeds. instead of having a good storyline conveying your message, eitherI was sure I will enjoy this show immensely as it's the type of things that I like... psychadelic and philosophical... but the show fails HORRIBLY where good art succeeds. instead of having a good storyline conveying your message, either directly or through metaphores, this show has two parallel things going on: a minb-numbing ongoing fun yet hollow plot, while the writer of the show preaches to you in a way that sounds cool to the kids.

I know liberal brainwashing is oxymoronic, but if liberal brainwashing existed, this is what it would be.
PS: I mostly agree with the opinions eardrummed in the show and maybe they could be used for educational purposes to kids with parental guidance.

anyway: did not have fun not recommended… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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MajidahApr 21, 2020

Terrible show. Its basically 2 cartoons in an interview about nothing, just rambling, while random thing that doesn't matter happens around them. And what they say doesn't really go anywhere nor is it interesting. Its basically a really badTerrible show. Its basically 2 cartoons in an interview about nothing, just rambling, while random thing that doesn't matter happens around them. And what they say doesn't really go anywhere nor is it interesting. Its basically a really bad act of improv.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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NeiruApr 25, 2020

Hm... Definitely do not get the hype. The Midnight Gospel is weird but not in a good way. It seems that Pendleton is overcompensating for doing a kids show previously by making an overly unnecessarily violent and obscene cartoon to conveyHm... Definitely do not get the hype. The Midnight Gospel is weird but not in a good way. It seems that Pendleton is overcompensating for doing a kids show previously by making an overly unnecessarily violent and obscene cartoon to convey some kind of "message".

I get they're trying to do the 'Creature Comforts' style of real interviews to animation but it just comes off as overly pretentious and, more to the point, is just dull spiel that serves no purpose other than making the visual aspect feel like filler.

Other than the excellent character design and animation, which I would expect from Pendleton Ward, it feels very much like an "edgy" student project with shock for the sake of it and shallow rambling.

As a a cartoon enthusiast I'd thoroughly recommend giving it a miss..… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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independenttactApr 23, 2020

If you expect some fun loving adventures with quirky ideas and commentary on things, exposing new ideas and making you think -- look elsewhere -- unless you're high. Midnight Gospel has a market and Adventure Time viewers are likely not theIf you expect some fun loving adventures with quirky ideas and commentary on things, exposing new ideas and making you think -- look elsewhere -- unless you're high. Midnight Gospel has a market and Adventure Time viewers are likely not the same one. The bulk of Adventure Time viewers were not the "stoned to watch it" as the 10 season arch had wacky adventures but deep lore and character development. With heavy marketing surrounding Pendleton Wards Adventure Time as a leap off point it's quite the misdirect. While review outlets praise it for it's trippiness and in depth discussions, if you're not watching it high it feels more like asking "why does pizza come in a square box if it's round and all the pieces are little triangles". If you're not stoned these answers are simple. And that's what Midnight Gospel is. A show to watch if and only if you're likely high and want to ask questions no deeper than round pizza in square box. Basically a show that could have been awesome if not a weak stoner source material with as much depth as a sheet of paper. I've never listen to Duncan Trussell's podcast which served as in inspiration and thus not the demographic. This reinforces that I'll likely not listen to his podcast (or I will just to test) because if it is like this it's just surface level what ifs.

Poor stoner writing aside, it still falls down. The main character development is weak to non-existant in some episodes. It's hard to develop a character when their words and the actions are so disconnected (another stoner appeal mechanism). Ricky Gervais Animated HBO show did the concept better because the animated segments related and highlighted what was happening -- it added comedy, context, misdirection, surprise but you knew it was just that on top of the podcast. Midnight Gospel is throwing a misdirect so that the discussion and the visual art are unrelated which means you have to try and follow two unrelated stories -- one visual and one auditory. Not a connecting thread between them.

So if you're stoned it's going to feel interesting and trippy and soooo meta. Midnight Gospel for the non-stoners might well be improved if you watch it with audio off, and then later listened to it. It might actually get better with subtitles re-written for the actual story.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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Arko777Apr 22, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This made me feel weird and not in a positive way.

I've never seen a show where the visuals and story are disconnected this much. Don't get me wrong, there is some food for thought laying around here and there, but the vast majority of the art presented in the background doesn't correlate with the narrative at all. Why are there fantastic creatures talking about real places and people from our world? Can't they mix both visual and audio to make a compelling, in-universe story with the same morals they want to teach through those interviews?

You can turn off your screen and just listen to those podcasts as the animation is irrelevant except for the out of simulation Clancy stuff and some of the last episode (the Clancy and mother parts and not the random teddy bears).

I was interested in the premise of the show, but it's a disappointment that tries to be deep, but fails to engage the viewer with only half of the medium being used.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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FimbulApr 27, 2020

to put it simple, utterly boring and wanna be philosophical. you can dive into deep questions way better than this. non sensical episodes, 90s way of computer jokes, just no!

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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