Even if you're just a casual Adult Swim viewer, it's hard to avoid the constant advertisements surrounding the network's newest series, Royal Crackers. Originally picked up alongside the viral smash-hit Smiling Friends, Royal Crackers has not only been featured in the network's annual April Fools' prank but has also seen an entire preview episode released on YouTube, a three-episode premiere, and a second season renewal before the first season even finished airing. A lot of faith is being put into this animated series -- but is the actual show itself worth watching?
If you've seen any adult animated comedy in the past five years, chances are you've already written off Royal Crackers as another Hoops or Chicago Party Aunt. F-bombs, sexual innuendos, and "satire" all seem to be the winning formula for making a mediocre animated sitcom nowadays. But, underneath the show's rough art style and familiar qualities, there may be an Adult Swim series worth checking out. All we're asking is this: is Royal Crackers worth all the corporate interest surrounding it?
What is Royal Crackers?
Royal Crackers is an adult-animated comedy that may sound familiar if you're a fan of HBO's Succession. Stebe and Theo Hornsby are the sons of Theodore Hornsby Sr., the current head of the "Royal Crackers" saltine cracker company. As the dysfunctional brothers and their respective families attempt to recapture the heyday of the company, they indirectly compete with each other for the potential takeover of Royal Crackers once their father ultimately passes. With their father being in a comatose state, it may come sooner rather than later.
Stebe, the older of the two brothers, can be considered the more "responsible" one, having started a family in addition to managing the company in Theo's absence. Theo, conversely, spent most of his early adulthood in the nu-metal band "Taint," a send-up of the similarly-named musical acts that were prominent in the early 2000s. His stage presence and energy make him a direct competitor to Stebe for control of the company, especially as his music career may not be a viable path going forward. Rounding out the cast is Stebe's wife and son, Deb and Matt, and the family's legal counsel, Darby.
Despite the show's grounded premise, it is still an animated series. Ludicrous ideas that would never work in live-action are given their time to shine, with some particular highlights being when the series fully breaks away from its stiff visuals. A particularly hilarious sequence in the pilot sees Theodore Sr. take a lengthy fall down a flight of stairs in gruesome slapstick fashion, while the show's third episode features hordes of giant mutated chickens.
Royal Crackers was originally created by Jason Ruiz, whose prior credit in television is the short-lived Fox animated series Murder Police. In addition to creating the series, Ruiz also lends his voice to Stebe. The rest of the cast is made up of a mix of familiar faces and prolific comedic actors, including the likes of Maile Flanagan (Naruto, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations), David Gborie (A.P. Bio), Andrew Santino (The Disaster Artist, Dave), Jessica St. Clair (Bridesmaids, Avenue 5), and Fred Tatasciore (Star Trek: Lower Decks, Family Guy).
Is Royal Crackers Worth Watching?
First impressions are a double-edged sword in television. They're often what we base an entire series' potential on, and even though comedy shows in particular benefit from expanding over multiple seasons, sticking with a show to its full potential is often a tall order. Compare the first season of The Simpsons to your personal favorite season, for example. Thankfully, Royal Crackers seems to already be finding its footing after an uneasy pilot.
Episode two in particular is notably strong. Titled "Theo's Comeback Tour," the episode featured Theo's middling attempt at a comeback career quickly going south, as he's forced to enlist "The Fixer" -- played by the late Gilbert Gottfried -- in some illicit criminal activity. Meanwhile, Stebe and Deb find themselves alone in their estate, prompting them to take what was believed to be CBD candy with some hilarious results. Despite the comic slapstick featured in the B-plot, there's a genuine effort to make Theo a sympathetic character underneath his pompous attitude and overconfidence. It's particularly touching how Gottfried's character encourages him to keep trying despite the constant negativity surrounding his subdued musical act. Seeing as how an audience in their 20s can draw parallels to real metal acts, it feels earnest and relatable underneath the crude humor.
With a handful of episodes left to go in the season, Royal Crackers feels like an answer to the growing vacancies left in Adult Swim's schedule. As shows like Bob's Burgers are slated to leave Adult Swim in 2023, following Family Guy's removal in 2021, something other than more King of the Hill re-runs needs to fill in what's leftover. Following the network's further expansion into primetime hours, Royal Crackers feels like it can comfortably replicate what audiences want out of its respective time slot, all while carving a unique identity amid Adult Swim's other offerings. Let's just hope the series gets its chance to grow and shine. Even NBC's Parks and Recreation had a middling first season, but those who stuck with it found one of the best television comedies of the early 2010s.