Beloved Sci-Fi Comedy Series Gets Ridiculous Conclusion Thanks To Netflix
“Why was there bacon in the soap?!?” If you get that reference, then congratulations; you’re one of the twisted, deranged souls who enjoyed Invader Zim while it was on the air. I should know because we can smell our own. Right now, you smell kind of gamy, and if I were you, I’d hop in the shower—but not until you’ve read this entire article about Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus on Netflix.
Or you could read it in the shower I suppose. Are iPads waterproof?
From Nickelodeon To Netflix
Enter the Florpus is a 2019 continuation of the original Nickelodeon series from the early aughts. For some reason, the Invader Zim revival ended up on Netflix despite being produced by Nickelodeon. But that’s okay because Nickelodeon has never known what to do with Invader Zim.
Can you blame them though? Before Zim, creator Jhonen Vasquez’s biggest claim to fame was an indie comic called Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. If Nickelodeon was expecting Vasquez not to create a show where a kid’s eyes get gruesomely plucked out and replaced with cybernetics, that’s on them.
Nickelodeon’s weak stomach and low ratings led to the cancellation of Invader Zim after only two seasons. Thankfully, Netflix had the stones to bring Invader Zim back, and it only took them 17 years.
Picking Up Where The Series Left Off
Netflix’s Invader Zim revival takes place an indeterminate time after the events of the original series. Not far enough in the future for Zim’s arch-nemesis, Dib, to visibly age but long enough for him to gain a lot of weight due to inactivity. Apparently constantly trying to thwart Zim’s plans to take over the world burns a lot of calories.
Who knew?
Zim knew, and revealed as much to Dib. The alien invader planned to leave long enough for Dib to be too out-of-shape to oppose Zim as he begins Phase Two of his plan. Unfortunately, Zim has forgotten what Phase Two entails.
Takes A Dark Turn
A desperate Invader Zim calls the leaders of his home world, the “Almighty Tallest,” to ask for advice, but discovers something disheartening: they don’t care about his mission. Netflix’s Enter the Florpus finally makes good on a gag from the Invader Zim pilot where the Irkens send Zim to “conquer Earth,” to get rid of him.
Rather than take the hint, Zim vows to impress the Tallest no matter what it takes. The hilarious results are just as dark and messed up as you’d expect from Invader Zim, albeit not necessarily up to the Netflix standard for dark and messed up. Enter the Florpus is still essentially a kid’s movie, after all.
Not A Nostalgia Grab
Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus doesn’t trade on nostalgia, and that’s by design. Vasquez was adamant that the Netflix Invader Zim revival picked up as if the show was still on the air. Judging by the results, he achieved his goal.
Enter the Florpus isn’t full of callbacks and cheap references like the one I made at the beginning of this article. Instead, it plays like a really good extended episode of Invader Zim.
A Critical Hit
Usually, I don’t trust Rotten Tomatoes further than I can throw it, and considering it’s an intangible website with no physical presence whatsoever, that’s not very far. However, when it comes to the Invader Zim revival on Netflix, I’m inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt. Enter the Florpus currently has a perfect 100 percent critic score and a 91 percent audience score.
Meanwhile, that nine percent of the audience that didn’t like the movie should be ashamed of themselves. I’d like to personally track down every person who gave Enter the Florpus a rotten score and punch them in their squeedily spooch’s. They deserve nothing less.
Stream Enter The Florpus On Netflix
GFR SCORE
But since I’m not a violent person, I’ll settle for encouraging you, dear reader, to fire up your Netflix box and stuff Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus directly into your ocular cavities. After you take that shower of course.
