All Episodes Of "Love, Death + Robots," Ranked From Dope To Nope
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Though Netflix has had their fair share of negative headlines as of late, the streamer has generated some real buzz for the third volume of their exceptional series, Love, Death + Robots.
Blur Studios / Netflix
Hot on the heels of a special sneak preview event at Alamo Drafthouse locations, fans are chomping at the bit to see the third volume of David Fincher and Tim Miller's awesome animated anthology program come to life once again. With that in mind, I've put together a definitive ranking of every episode of Love, Death + Robots, including the spoiler-free rankings of select segments of Volume III, premiering Friday, May 20, on Netflix.
30."Alternate Histories"
"Alternate Histories" attempts to showcase a cheerful multiversal comedy but sadly never hits the right notes or tone to garner laughs. As such, it's never quite funny enough to justify its risqué attempts at humor. While the premise is novel, it's ultimately wasted under the weight of revisiting its one-note joke.
29."Three Robots: Exit Strategies"
This sequel segment from Volume III of Love, Death + Robots is certainly nice enough to elicit some chuckles and is wonderfully animated as expected, but "Exit Strategies" is just a ho-hum retread of the original short with a greater (and sadly more repetitive) emphasis on social and political commentary.
28."When the Yogurt Took Over"
"When the Yogurt Took Over" is a funny premise that works in parts, but it rarely reaches the blissful absurdity necessary to make it more than the sum of its parts.
27."Fish Night"
"Fish Night" is undeniably visually spectacular, but in terms of its narrative, it's fairly empty and aimless, playing almost like a dreamlike music video without the music to drive the story home.
26."The Witness"
"The Witness" is visually frenetic and visceral, but there's something ultimately off-putting about the in-your-face color scheme and dizzying cinematography, which is only more emphasized by the dialogue-free storytelling.
25."Ice Age"
"Ice Age" is harmless fun with some legitimately great moments, but the uninspired live-action segments don't meet the energy of the imaginative and captivating animated sequences.
24."Zima Blue"
Though the story feels ironically undercooked, "Zima Blue"'s stunning, unique animation and poignant premise make it more than worth its short runtime.
23."Jibaro"
From the same director of "The Witness," "Jibaro" shares many of the same pacing and aesthetic issues as the aforementioned film but is far more visually impressive and benefits from a more engaging and heartbreaking narrative.
22."The Secret War"
This badass and action-packed sci-fi short is undeniably impressive but misses the soulful nature of the series, and eventually feels atmospherically closer to an extended video game cut scene.
21."Shape-Shifters"
"Shape-Shifters" is a dazzling creature feature with a meaningful message, but the episode is trying to juggle so many different beats at once that none of it really hits as hard as it should. Nevertheless, "Shape-Shifters" rules on its own merits as a clever little sci-fi/horror hybrid short film.
20."The Drowned Giant"
The spirits of Terry Gilliam and Terrence Malick intertwine in this affecting and sublimely strange short film about the discovery of a giant dead body on a beach and the subsequently unbelievable local response.
19."Suits"
This blue-collar tale of cyberpunk farmers fending their crops and livestock from Starship Troopers-esque megabugs is funny and well-crafted but ultimately feels lightweight and toothless, even if it is a technical marvel.
18."Lucky 13"
Samira Wiley's photorealistic tale of a supposedly cursed airship and the instincts of its rookie pilot tugs at your heartstrings and showcases a blend of visual narrative devices that can be just as exciting as any blockbuster CGI-padded action sequence in the live action space.
17."Automated Customer Service"
This biting satire of AI gone haywire is a damn good time with some fittingly outrageous animation. It's not the most thought-provoking entry into the series, but you'll be grinning from ear-to-ear throughout.
16."Good Hunting"
Anime fans will savor this story of old myths finding their way into the future with this hypnotic and provocative episode.
15."Blindspot"
"Blindspot" is, at its best, a violent, foul-mouthed version of the Saturday morning cartoons of yesteryear, pitting robotically-enhanced thieves against a resilient and adaptive state-of-the-art defense system during a high speed chase.
14."Helping Hand"
This desolate yet spellbinding story of a wounded astronaut facing insurmountable odds and unthinkable sacrifices after she is hit by a passing object and knocked off of her spacecraft will keep you glued to the screen, even through its harsher moments.
13."The Tall Grass"
Not to be confused with the Stephen King & Joe Hill Netflix project of the same name, this petrifying period piece has a more unique visual palette than some of the more striking CGI creations on the series, but it only helps to paint a scarier, more nightmarish portrait of the horror on display.
12."All Through the House"
This beautifully executed bait-and-switch of two children who sneak out to watch Santa Claus deliver presents offers up chills, gross-out gags, and a hysterical climactic reveal in addition to its impressive stop-motion animation.
11."Life Hutch"
Michael B. Jordan headlines this claustrophobic and intense worst-case-scenario sci-fi episode with some of the most lifelike photorealistic animation ever produced for the medium; in fact, one wouldn't necessarily be out of line had they confused "Life Hutch" for an episode of Black Mirror!
10."The Dump"
It's gun-toting rednecks vs. a literal trash monster in this sensational sci-fi/horror/comedy short that eventually ends with a bittersweet moment of comeuppance that would make William Gaines proud.
9."Three Robots"
Essentially playing like a buddy comedy between three robots examining human society years after its downfall, "Three Robots" set a terrific tone for Love, Death + Robots by offering something a little edgier and darker than most animated comedy while still injecting a broader and more appealing wit that culminates in a fittingly funny final moment.
8."Ice"
Two brothers (one cybernetically enhanced, one not) undergo a deadly rite of passage on an off-planet ice colony in this compelling and visually arresting story of intergalactic gangs, dysfunctional family, and alien whales.
7."Night of the Mini Dead"
Volume III may be a few days out of reach for its fanbase, but Love, Death + Robots die-hards will surely appreciate this gut-busting retelling of generic zombie movie mythology told at 1:100 scale and 10x speed.
6."Sucker of Souls"
This gory and spine-tingling Dracula story brings more than just stunning animation to the table, filling it with shocking twists, empathetic characters, and pulse-pounding action to boot.
5."Beyond the Aquila Rift"
"Beyond the Aquila Rift" was the talk of the town after the series' first volume debuted, and for good reason, as this jaw-dropping slice of R-rated cosmic horror featured a genuinely unnerving gut-punch of an ending that you may not be able to shake.
4."Pop Squad"
Set in a future where birthing has become strictly regulated (and punishable by death), this captivating yet tragic noir with Blade Runner-esque pathos follows a detective who must come to grips with the mental and emotional toll of his increasingly violent work.
3."Sonnie’s Edge"
Part Twilight Zone, part Pacific Rim, "Sonnie's Edge" was another standout of Love, Death + Robots' first season, matching its heavy-hitting monster slugfests with a tale of outlaws and rogues giving the rich and corrupt a taste of their own brand of bloody justice.
2."Snow in the Desert"
For those clamoring for R-rated offerings in the Star Wars universe, look no further than "Snow in the Desert," a shockingly gruesome space western that offers a wealth of history in its smallest details while exploring characters that you could (and honestly, would really want) to spend a whole damn series with.
1."Bad Travelling"
David Fincher finally gets behind the director's chair for Love, Death + Robots' third season, and let me tell you: The wait is absolutely worth it. Fincher's Lovecraftian horror tale of a shark-hunting galleon besieged by a sentient giant crab is a genuine masterpiece and may just be the best monster movie in any format in years, if not longer.
