The Sly and Strange Ultra City Smiths Puts a Hat on a Hat with Its Quirk Factor on AMC+

In an oversaturated TV era, the first barrier to entry for even the best shows is “where is it streaming?” When you have almost endless choice, much of which is decent (or at least given a pass because of convenience), it’s hard to be convinced to sign up for yet another service. In almost all of our recent television reviews for series airing on smaller streamers, part of the review is whether or not it’s worth a subscription. Because at this point, we’re not just recommending a show itself, but its place on an entire platform. (The concept of “a la carte television” is both a myth and a curse). That’s a lot for any show to overcome.

So enters Ultra City Smiths, a half-hour stop-motion doll noir from writer Steven Conrad (Patriot, Perpetual Grace LTD) and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Robot Chicken, M.O.D.O.K). With all due respect, these two elements are also barriers in their own way. Conrad’s writing is soulful but strange; it’s not for everyone, yet if it resonates with you, you will become a devotee. Then there’s the puppetry aspect, which is another very quirky hat on a quirky hat here. Even if you are willing to journey forth with these caveats, the show is only available on AMC+, the premium subscription streamer for AMC the cable network. That is all a lot for even the most adventurous viewer to overcome.

And Ultra City Smiths doesn’t quite make the case for it. The story revolves around a rookie detective, David Mills (Jimmi Simpson), who arrives in the town just before its most prominent citizen, Carpenter K. Smith (Kurtwood Smith), goes missing. Ultra City is something of a vintage, ratty New York City by way of Gotham—always night, always full of crime—and it’s also heavily populated with Smiths, many of whom become leading suspects in the crime.

Like Conrad’s other work, Ultra City Smiths is hugely ambitious from a narrative perspective. It introduces a ton of disparate characters and storylines in way that can feel chaotic, even though the emotional core is sound. The voice cast is excellent, especially Simpson, Damon Herriman, and Bebe Neuwirth, not to mention Tom Waits as the show’s narrator. But the narration is partly exposition and mostly philosophical musings, which matches the show’s use of magical realism, including occasional short original songs that are both funny and poignant.