We’ve all been there. Sweaty palms and a dry mouth leading up to the moment you’ve both yearned and feared for since the beginning of puberty. Deafening sexual tension fills the awkward silence before it happens, your first kiss. It’ll be a memorable milestone – good or bad. Kroll, Goldberg, Flackett, and Levin capture this nuance of growing up in their cartoon, Big Mouth.
Big Mouth follows the agonous journey of three middle schoolers and their friends as they navigate their way through puberty. The show sets off with Andrew Glouberman, Nick Birch, and Jessi Glaser in seventh grade where they begin experiencing the effects of puberty. During this turbulent time in their life, the onset of their raging hormones comes from their puberty shoulder monsters, Maurice and Connie. Often over-sexualized and raunchy, the hormone monsters teach the pubescent teens how to handle masturbation, sexual arousal, and their thoughts and emotions. Throughout the 5 seasons, feelings and objects are brought to life as the kids engage with them to learn the importance of their mental and physical health. From pillows that help realize sexual orientation, to vulvas that teach sexual pleasure, Big Mouth never ceases to disapointduring this confusing time.
Although the target audience are viewers who have already gone through the depths of puberty, all watchers are sure to learn something new. The show is an ~uncomfortable~ watch, to say the least. It’s crude and anarchic, but so is puberty. The theme song’s line, “I’m going through changes” says it best, and the show is sure to portray the distressing changes that take place during puberty. While we were experiencing our own changes, we may not have noticed or learned about the changes our peers were going through. Big Mouth uses humour as a way to undercut the uncomfortable journey and shines a light on the embarrassing moments we experience. The overly explicit and frank depictions teaches and, more importantly, de-shames puberty.
While the show is NSFW (Not Safe For Work) and rated 16+, there’s a big debate on whether younger viewers should be able to watch. Its blue humour is tied with heartfelt and educational sentiments that make parents’ decisions hard when deciding if they should allow their pubescent children to watch. The obscene and transparent execution of the show, including dry-humping pillows and sending dick pics, while mature, is an experience many pre-teens go through. Though Big Mouth is definitely not a How-To guide on puberty, and should not be used as a sole sexual education curriculum, the show can be a great resource. Pre-teens and teens can use the show to fill in any blanks and find solace in knowing everyone is going through the same thing. Big Mouth is the new Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul. Whether you’re a teen experiencing the effects of puberty or an adult who’s lived through the embarrassment, Big Mouth has something to offer for everyone. In any case, the show is sure to make you tear up from both laughter and touching moments. Kroll, Goldberg, Flackett, and Levin have made a show that makes us all feel a little less alone.