Imagine Rick and Morty, but instead of soft science fiction, the chaotic surreality is accomplished with the tropes of modern demonology, and you have the premise of Little Demon. Unfortunately, despite having Dan Harmon attached to the project, FXX's new show rarely if ever captures the stellar writing that makes his collaboration with Justin Roiland great.
Little Demon was created by Darcy Fowler, Seth Kirschner, and Kieran Valla, longtime TV and film professionals with diverse careers. The primary listed animation studio is ShadowMachine, who has work like Tuca & Bertie and Bojack Horseman in their catalog. The three creators, most of the major cast, and Dan Harmon's Harmonious Claptrap have EP credits on the project.
Little Demon's grand premiere includes the first two episodes of the six-episode series. It's enough to get a representative slice of what the show's going for but also enough to suggest that it might be less than the sum of its parts. The premise, established in full about five minutes into the first episode, sees Lisa DeVito's volatile 13-year-old girl Chrissy discover that she's the spawn of Satan. Her tough-talking single mother Laura, portrayed by Aubrey Plaza, has been operating as a demon slayer while moving the family constantly to keep the girl out of her father's sight. When Chrissy's powers come in, none-too-subtly synchronized with her first period, Satan, portrayed by Lisa's real dad Danny, informs her of her grim parentage and his plans for their relationship. Before long, Chrissy has worked out a classic divorced parents visitation arrangement, setting up the "typical high-school sitcom but with demons" format for the rest of the season.
The first episode sets the stage, the second allows the show to play with its ideas. Chrissy is powerful, but she's also reckless. One of the most interesting aspects of the show's characterization is that it isn't doing the angel/devil thing with Chrissy's parents. They both alternate between good and terrible influences on the young lady. Satan is cartoonishly evil, but that primarily comes across in throwaway lines of dialogue. Laura is simultaneously a hyper-competent demon slayer and a messy inexpert mother, desperately trying her best to relate to a kid she can barely keep safe. The Devil wants Chrissy to help him reclaim his power while Laura wants anything but, leaving Chrissy caught in the middle. Most of the bigger apocalyptic ideas, however, will be taking a backseat to Chrissy's coming-of-age journey.
Little Demon is a simple show. Its premise is straightforward and its sense of humor is fairly standard-issue. Rick and Morty really is the best comparison point, from aesthetic to comedic style, it feels like it was made for fans of Adult Swim. The reason it falls short of that show's lofty heights is almost entirely in the writing. It's simply not as funny as its competition. It tries and fails to somehow wring gags out of semi-accurate usage of Gen-Z's turn of phrase. It feels like the team thinks saying the word "canceled" or "slay" is enough to get a laugh on its own. There are very few jokes that land with the level of precision that the show needs to be memorable. It's good for a chuckle every couple of lines, but, it consistently feels like material that thinks it's funnier than it is. Audience mileage may vary, however. Viewers who never tire of banal suburban living juxtaposed against horrific violence or people ambivalently no-selling existential nightmares will find a lot to love in Little Demon.
There are some great aspects of the show. The voice acting is stellar across the board. Danny and Lisa DeVito have no trouble slipping into the snarky chemistry of a rebellious girl and her snarky dad. Aubrey Plaza shines in her role, bringing much-needed genuine pathos along with excellent comedic timing. Lennon Parham is fun as a classic nosy neighbor character, like Agatha Harkness without the requisite subversion. Eugene Cordero also lights up the cast as a shy classmate of Chrissy's who swiftly becomes her only friend. Weirdly, the action is a high point of the series. Laura's fast-paced spellcasting and ripped physicality make her dynamic to watch in the show's myriad fight scenes. It's also reminiscent of Rick and Morty, but the comparison doesn't serve as an insult this time.
Little Demon has a solid premise, a great cast, some well-executed animation, and a genuine heart at its center. Unfortunately, it just doesn't do what it sets out to do well enough to stand out in a crowded market. Hopefully, over the upcoming four episodes, the show will find its legs and put the strengths of its concept on-screen. In its current state, it's worth a look for fans of the genre, but it might not stick in the memory long enough to tune in for the next episode.
Little Demon is available on Hulu now. New episodes will premiere on FXX Thursday nights.