Krapopolis: Not Krap, But a Mere Mortal Compared to Harmon’s God-Tier Creations

Fittingly for an animated comedy centered around Greek mythology, it seems that FOX’s Krapopolis is the stuff of myth. Announced in 2021, the latest animated series from Community and Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon—which got heavily touted to be the first animated network television series curated on the blockchain, something I still don’t understand but find laughable considering that NFTs are officially as useless as Pogs now—somehow got a three-season renewal long before it got to make a public impression outside a still image of the animated ensemble cast. As the latest mere mortal trying face against the longstanding Gods of the Sunday Night FOX Animation Domination lineup—The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, and Family Guy—Krapopolis is demi-good. It’s not that good or not that bad. But considering the show is a solo Dan Harmon creation, it’s a far departure from the high quality he’s produced in the past.

Set within Ancient Greece, meek and scrawny King Tyrannis (Richard Ayoade) establishes one of the world’s inaugural cities, Krapopolis, a day’s walk away from a cannibal horde. Despite his royal status, not a single soul within the city respects him, especially his dysfunctional family unit—his sex-obsessed centaur dad Shlub (Matt Berry), barbarian brute sister Stupendous (Pam Murphy), genius science-obsessed fish-brother Hippocampus (Duncan Trussell), and matriarchal narcissistic goddess Deliria (Hannah Waddingham). In Tyrannis’ administration, he and, to a lesser extent, his family tackle various trials: declaring war on other colonies, establishing diplomacy, treaty deals, surviving Olympian gods’ vanity, and each other. 

The dysfunctional family concept for an animated television series has become a routine tradition, especially on the network that gave birth to the Simpsons and Griffins. At this point in the genre’s existence, the setting plays a minimal role, since it’s merely a backdrop for gags; it’s all about familial relationships and the creator’s hope to make their audience laugh. In Krapopolis‘ case, there’s a Bluth-flavored familiarity in the royal family’s dynamic, even with the star power weapon being the matriarch. 

Tyrannis is your real J.B. (Jason Bateman, Jason Biggs, Jay Baruchel) type. He’s the pessimist underdog who wishes for peaceful solutions to the savage problems in his surroundings. The show’s most enticing and ironically effective mechanic is his dysfunctional relationship with his mother, Deliria. 

In the premiere episode’s opening, Deliria viciously mocks Tyrannis’ newly built kingdom and turns a subject into a snake (a recurring gag and her primary power) just for confusing her name with another goddess’. Tyrannis asks, “You can’t die, right mum?” She laughingly responds, “Of course, I can’t die. I’m a goddess. What kind of idiot are you?” “Just one with a dream,” Tyrannis whispers to himself. Their hateful dynamic is the show’s funniest selling point. Across the three episodes sent to the press, Tyrannis and Deliria are constantly adversarial with each other. Most of the episodes explore their disagreements on various ruling topics, pitting his spineless tactics against her violent methods. Plus, most of the episodic antagonists are gods from Deliria’s past when she once lived on Olympus before getting kicked out. Admittingly, their constant banter could quickly get stale. However, it hardly does due to Ayoade and Waddingham’s sharp comic timing, lively line deliveries, and frequently funny character writing.  

Most of Krapopolis‘ strengths lie in its vocal talent—primarily Waddingham—who try to keep the humor afloat when the show’s plain, laid-back jokes fail. Berry can appear in anything, and his voice and casual one-liners would amuse me. Some guest stars include Dave Franco, Ben Stiller, and Amber Stevens, as god/demi-god characters who make their brief time in the sun worth it. 

The animation team at Bento Box Entertainment deliver visually appealing and expressive designs and detailed backgrounds that makes this Greek city come alive. There’s also impressive movement and shots in several comedic action sequences. Might be the only NFT and animation related anything to look like a real cartoon with a budget. 

Apart from the vocal talent and animation, the show’s writing is mildly amusing but never surpasses the “just there” vibe check that much former FOX Ani-Dom fodder fails at. The other family members hardly make a mark outside their one-note attributes, because we’ve seen the horny dad, tomboy sister, and genius-sibling-nobody-understands dynamic countless times in shows of the same ilk. It goes down the mediocre adult-comedy checklist that comes with the ancient Greek setting: numerous jokes about a modern creation not being invented yet but people referencing it and dull plotting that riffs on concepts like dating and sports but in ancient Greece. And, of course, given Harmon’s on-brand glee for comical gore and ironic sense of humor where nothing goes in Tyrannis’ favor, most situations end with pounds of blood spilling across his face or in his city. 

Bojack Horseman writer Jordan Young acts as showrunner for Krapopolis’ first season, with Harmon alumni Alex Rubens (Community, Rick and Morty) taking over the following two. As of now, even by animation standards, the series doesn’t take advantage of its absurdist potential, and I can’t see it continuing for two more seasons with its current limitations. It’s significantly stronger than many short-lived series from the 2010s era but doesn’t feature any unique qualities to entertain past its third episode mark.

Upon the three episodes sent to the press, it’s safe to admit Krapopolis is the most dramatically different Harmon production yet, in the sense that it’s a mere mortal amongst comedy demi-gods and gods currently in his repertoire.

Rendy Jones is a film and television journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. They are the owner of self-published outlet Rendy Reviews, a member of the Critics Choice Association, and a film graduate of Brooklyn College. They have been featured in Vulture, The Daily Beast, AV Club and CBC News.