From the day that it aired on Sept. 6, 2010 to the release of the final episode on Jan. 16, 2017, Regular Show was one of Cartoon Network's most prominent series, competing with the likes of Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and The Amazing World of Gumball to be the top show on the network. The show follows 23-year-olds Mordecai the blue jay and Rigby the raccoon as they slack their way through their groundskeeper jobs at a local park. Seems like a pretty simple job, right? Mow the lawn, clean the fountain, rake the leaves, or simply just set up the chairs. How hard could it be? Well, not every situation that Mordecai and Rigby get into is what it seems on the surface.
Created by J.G. Quintel, who also created the cartoon Close Enough, Regular Show uses simple animation, efficient storytelling, and classic 80s rock music to deliver one of the best cartoon experiences a viewer can get. The show also walks a fine line of being great for children while also having more mature themes and subtle jokes that make it just as entertaining, if not more for an adult viewer. This combination along with how crazy the show can get, the cast of characters, and the surprisingly emotional moments help solidify Regular Show as one of the best cartoons of the 2010s.
Despite Its Title, the Show Was Anything but Regular
The main premise of Regular Show is that the characters, usually Mordecai and Rigby, are given a simple task or are going about any seemingly normal day when some kind of supernatural, ridiculous element derails everything. For example, the very first episode of the show, The Power, sees Mordecai and Rigby using a magical keyboard that grants wishes in hopes of getting a raise from their boss, Benson. Of course, the two slackers end up getting themselves and others sent to the moon and almost killed before narrowly escaping. This formula not only allowed for unexpected and funny moments to happen, it also allowed J.G. Quintel to be as creative with the show as his mind would let him.
Another example of Quintel's creativity and the wackiness of the show is season three, episode 17, Eggscellent. The episode begins with Mordecai and Rigby learning of an omelet eating challenge to earn a sweet trucker hat. Once they actually start the challenge though, the episode quickly evolves into a Last Crusade-esque story with Rigby's life on the line. While this main premise keeps the show fresh throughout its run, the characters of Regular Show are what really keeps viewers coming back.
Amazing Cast of Characters With Serious Voice Talent Behind Them
The characters of Regular Show truly are the heart and soul of it all and are a primary reason of why this truly is a cartoon to remember. Of course, you have Mordecai and Rigby, two lazy yet lovable characters despite their faults. There's always a way to root for them, even if they act out of their own self-interest from time to time. However, the other park employees can add just as much to the show as the two main protagonists. For example, park manager Benson, who is a walking gumball machine, is the perfect foil to the two with his recurring anger issues because Mordecai and Rigby just can't seem to do their jobs. Or you have Skips (voiced by Mark Hamill), the immortal yeti that is always cleaning up the mess that Mordecai and Rigby leave behind them.
Another duo in Regular Show is that of Muscle Man and Hi-Five Ghost, two best friends that are always cracking jokes with each other. Muscle Man especially is a fan favorite, with his iconic voice (Sam Marin) and "my mom" jokes. And of course, there's Pops, with the purest intentions of them all and a love for lollipops. This core cast of characters was the engine that kept Regular Show running, and is still a main reason to go back and watch the show today. Even though the characters are a huge draw to the show, Regular Show's ability to touch on more emotional beats is an unexpected reason to revisit it.
More Emotional Than You Remember
While it is easy to remember Regular Show as crazy and ridiculous show that it is, the more adult themes that are visited throughout are worth looking back on as well. One of the main themes that is touched on throughout the series is dealing with a love interest that it's just not going to work out with. For much of the show, Mordecai is hopelessly in love with Margaret the robin.
The first seasons of the show have Mordecai too scared to even admit his interest to Margaret, until they eventually start dating and then break up in later seasons. Throughout Mordecai and Margaret's relationship, numerous episodes touch on the struggles that can come with it. Whether it's working up the courage to talk to her, losing his best friend Rigby for her, or having to break up so Margaret can attend her dream college, Regular Show illustrates real-life struggles and portrays them much more realistically than one would imagine. Regular Show paints a real picture of having your heart ripped out by the person you love the most, but also shows how to move on and get better from it.
Regular Show is a perfect storm of crazy creativity, well-written characters, and strong, emotional moments that all contribute to truly make it one of the greatest cartoons of the 2010s.