F is for Family?

This week, I sat through the first two episodes of F is For Family. I still find myself enjoying animated media (hence why I reviewed Bojack Horseman two weeks back. Most adult cartoons successfully establish their tone very early in the show, exemplifying what the viewer may expect of the series as a whole.  For example, Family Guy demonstrated its unapologetic gross vulgarity early on, South Park established its classy sociopolitical satire, and Bojack Horseman exhibited its charming nihilistic existentialism within the first few episodes. I found myself mildly confused by the type of comedy and general message that F is for Family wanted to establish.

F is for Family is about a family. That is the best way to explain it. There isn’t anything innovative or interesting about it. It’s about a dysfunctional family and the interactions that they have with each other and the rest of the world around them. You have the problematic teen character, the annoying little brother and sister, the flat character mother, and the hate-filled, consistently enraged father.

On one hand, you have the satirical aspect of the show, which is definitely not one of the most prevalent  aspects of the comedy of the show. In the first episode, there is a gag where they turn on the television to an interview show hosted by a middle aged white man. The host speaks with black people and women about their issues, making comments that are obviously counterproductive and disrespectful. I found myself appreciating this gag because of its obvious, blatant satire. This was one of the very few jokes that I appreciated in this show.

One thing that contrasts to its form of satire is the character of the father along with his interactions with others. Perhaps, the father is the only gimmick or specialty that the show has, which is unfortunate because the father is so unpleasant to watch. Nearly every communication between the father and other characters involves him screaming obscenities and insults. The temper exhibited by this character is slightly off-putting and awkward to watch on screen. But this makes me wonder, was that the goal the creators had while making this show? The father is obviously the embodiment of the idea that family life is unbearable and insufferable for middle aged men (see: most sitcoms). I’ve found that this common illustration of family life being the absolute worst occurrence for men, to be exhausting and overused. That being said, I can not, and will not believe that the short temper and miserability of the father character is meant to be a punchline. If so, it is a sad and concerning punchline.

Overall, the show is not enjoyable. The jokes in the show that are clearly meant to be jokes fall flat and everything else is questionable and concerning. The goal and direction of the show is unclear, and none of the characters are likable. I would not recommend this show to anyone and I honestly wonder who watches this show and what keeps them coming back for more.