After six seasons, the Shlorpians—fans of trash culture, junk food, bodily fluids, sci-fi quick fixes, selfishness, and petty revenge—are signing off, bringing Solar Opposites’ main story and its two rather involved B plots to a close.
The final installment, executive produced by Mike McMahan, Josh Bycel, and Sydney Ryan, leans into big themes, like the apocalyptic mission that brought the aliens to Earth as it nears its predestined end. It also furthers the show’s ongoing exploration of what it means to be a family. How can a home be happy if all everyone does is argue? What does it really mean to be a dad or a truly supportive spouse?
Of course, and this should go without saying, the season also comes stuffed with random call-outs, silly puns, subversive humor, and fart jokes. Perhaps in honor of season six being the swan song, we also get quite a few self-referential nods, with little reminders to nudge the memories of Solar Opposites fans who haven’t done a recent rewatch. (We’ve seen all 10 episodes, and while this review will be spoiler-free, it’s safe to say if you’ve been longing to check in with the Wooden City or the Red Goobler, you’re in luck.)
As the season six trailer made clear, a huge overarching dilemma comes as Korvo (Dan Stevens), Terry (Thomas Middleditch), Jesse (Mary Mack), and Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone) suddenly realize they’re flat-ass broke. This leads to schemes that fail (who knew an estate sale could cause such cosmic drama?), as well as one surprising success, in a plot that dovetails nicely with season six’s ongoing fascination with fantasy in general—and romantasy in particular, praised in part because “It’s got twice the adjectives of any other genre!” (BookTok gets name-checked.)
The Opposites also find new ways to be stymied by their own Shlorpian biology, as is tradition. We already knew they could sprout strange creatures from their plant-based bodies, but who knew their brain chemistry was so easily tampered with, making them extra-smart, extra-dumb, or extra-extra horny?
The adorable yet potentially deadly Pupa, whose gradual but inevitable evolution toward full terraforming capabilities has long been Solar Opposites’ ticking clock, also causes multiple snafus when he unlocks new extraterrestrial quirks.
We also dig into just what it means to be an alien on Earth, a planet with its own ideas about what invaders should look and act like, even with genuine Shlorpians in their midst. And building on that, what does it mean to be a financially strapped alien on Earth without any access to advanced technology? As Yumyulack asks at one point, “Without sci-fi, who even are we?”
Fans of the Wall storyline need only wait until the second episode to catch up with Cherie (Christina Hendricks), Ringo (formerly known as the Duke, voiced by Alfred Molina), baby Pezlie, and the rest of the tiny people trapped inside Yumyulack’s wall. The Wall’s drama is played far more seriously than anything the aliens ever face; at one point, Cherie recites a speech from Crimson Tide to rally the troops. Their struggle over leadership takes a new turn before they hatch a complicated plan to escape. This provides Solar Opposites with more chances to craft clever visual gags centered around tiny people in a huge world—but will we see these long-suffering characters achieve their ultimate dream of becoming big again?
Again, no spoilers on that front. But while the desire to become human-sized has long been the Wall’s most obvious endgame, Ringo’s internal struggles also get a fascinating showcase: how can a man who found his identity in the Wall as a ruthless dictator and then transformed into a decent person deal with the guilt he now feels about his past actions?
The SilverCops, Solar Opposites’ other side hustle, also get their due as part of a crucial plot twist. Among the supporting cast, the frequently exasperated spaceship computer, Aisha (Tiffany Haddish), does her best to keep the Shlorpians on task—saving the day when she must, but also doling out advice and even comfort when it’s called for. She also reveals a surprising new ability that becomes crucially important as the season reaches its climax.
And while Solar Opposites season six does have a more consistent throughline than earlier seasons—makes sense, since it’s pressing toward a final good-bye—the true joy of the show lies in its sense of humor, which finds inspiration in the mundane (brawling over whether or not to keep peanut butter in the fridge), the surreal (say it with me: “3 Body Problem on ice”), and the obvious (a Bluey parody; Terry’s revolving wardrobe of silly graphic tees).
It also, yet again, proves itself a master of starting with a simple idea and spiraling that out into wild, hysterical chaos. To give just one example, Terry’s longing for a “meet cute” do-over with Korvo eventually makes him realize he should be grateful for the romance they already have—but only after lots of comedic violence and supernatural snafus make him regret wishing for more.
And as always, the voice performances bring plenty of personality to all the shenanigans. Stevens’ triumphant recasting as Korvo ahead of season four may be Solar Opposites’ greatest legacy, though Molina’s performance as Ringo—a tiny man with truly oversized problems—is also a notable achievement.
Solar Opposites season six hits Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ starting October 13.
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