This review was made possible by Popped receiving advanced screeners of the first 3 episodes of Smiling Friends Season 3.
The renaissance men are coming. No, not those renaissance men. I mean the Smiling Friends! The whole gang is back to once again continue the renaissance of hyper-comedic ADHD-addled “brainrot.” Is it just a passing fad — a new generation’s Rick & Morty, doomed to die a slow death? Or is it a genuine evolution in comedic television? Well, only time will truly tell, but with Smiling Friends being three seasons deep now, it’s as good a time as any to assess if it really has legs.
A Silly Start To ‘Smiling Friends’ Season 3
The season begins in typical fashion, with Charlie (Zach Hadel) and Pim (Michael Cusack) being summoned by the ever-kooky Boss with an assignment to make someone smile. The client this time? Silly Samuel (Conner O’Malley) — a 3D-animated hodgepodge of colorful, noisy junk, who wants nothing more than to be taken seriously. If you feel like you’re having deja vu, it may be because the Season 2 premiere similarly featured a 3D-animated character who wants to be taken seriously… Gwimbly. But is it a rehash here? Maybe a bit… they both stretch the medium in a way that grabs your attention. But what this new character ultimately has going for him is a standout guest performer.
Silly Samuel at first feels like a passenger in the episode, but he quickly turns to being an extension of O’Malley. His particular brand of yelling or ranting about sociopolitical conspiracy fits perfectly in the world of Smiling Friends. While the episode doesn’t break any wild new ground, what ends up coming of it is a decently funny, quite relatable story that’s sure to resonate with neurodivergent viewers. It’s a solid start for the new season.
’Smiling Friends’ Season 3 Takes Things Up A Notch
While Episode 1 is perhaps middling in both its heart and its humor, those dials are cranked up to a 10 in Episodes 2 and 3, respectively. Without getting too into spoiler-y territory, Episode 2 sees the return of a fan-favorite character, and actually does something quite unexpectedly fresh with them. It still has its laugh-out-loud moments, but it actually aims to be far more than that. The small gags are largely traded for an emotional journey that’s a meditation of sorts. The episode is actually very reminiscent of Bluey and its stories that deal with big philosophical questions. Is it intentionally playing off of the fellow Australian animated series? Or is it merely coincidence that this sincere one-off has a similar vibe? I’d wager the latter, but wouldn’t be surprised to hear if Bluey did perhaps have some small impact. Either way, it’s a lovely change of pace for Smiling Friends, and the humor feels like it serves the story well, while most episodes aim for the contrary with stories that are built around setting up humor.
Speaking of, that’s exactly what Episode 3 does — and that’s perfectly fine, because the Smiling Friends writers excel at it. The episode is a classic balls-to-the-wall chaotic journey, with equally hilarious A and B plots. It doesn’t try to play with the bounds of the medium, and it doesn’t try to delve into an emotional arc… it’s just pure fun, and wildly funny in all the right ways. Between the new characters, the punchlines, and the quotability, it’s a riotously funny episode all around.
‘Smiling Friends’ Season 3 – Final Thoughts
Smiling Friends is back in full force with Season 3, delivering plenty of laughs and a surprisingly good dose of heart. The premiere episode is a great foundation with a guest performance that viewers are sure to love, and the season only gets better from there. The series is adept at giving more of the same that fans know and love, while also going in crazy new directions. If the first 3 episodes are anything to go by, we’re in for yet another wild ride of a season.
Smiling Friends Season 3 airs on Adult Swim every Sunday at 11:30pm ET, and can be found streaming the next day on HBO Max. Check out the trailer below:
The Review
'Smiling Friends' Season 3
Smiling Friends is back in full force with Season 3, delivering plenty of laughs and a surprisingly good dose of heart. The premiere episode is a great foundation with a guest performance that viewers are sure to love, and the season only gets better from there. The series is adept at giving more of the same that fans know and love, while also going in crazy new directions. If the first 3 episodes are anything to go by, we’re in for yet another wild ride of a season.
