Housebroken

Housebroken is Fox’s animated comedy that lines up an array of anthropomorphized animals, all of whom attend a therapy group run in the suburban backyard of a poodle called Honey. This comedy series was rolled out in 2021 with a fresh and hilarious take on a genre that was dominated for years by family-focused fare. With the charm of the backyard setup, the show furtively deals with a knowledgeable metaphor on mental health therapy and life in general, along with its conventional focus on the humor-value.

Honey, played by Lisa Kudrow of ‘Friends’ fame, is a standard poodle who leads the group therapy in the neighborhood. Apart from being the bearer of serious psychiatric insights, Honey also is a dog with her predicaments concerning her person-owner, a middle-aged middle-class woman. Different from the tame-tempered Honey, her husband Chief, voiced by Nat Faxon, is a St. Bernard who boasts about his exploits from his past life as a stray dog.

The therapy group spans across the animal kingdom, with a wide range of suburban pests, pets, and critters attending weekly group therapy sessions. In this mix, we can find a self-absorbed Persian cat, a sex-positive tortoise, an aging bulldog, an anxious hamster, a troubled Gray Catbird, and many more—each having a unique backstory, eccentric personality, and mental baggage.

Every character in the therapy group represents a variety of mental and emotional maladies common to humans, making the animals symbolic labels of human psychological troubles. Each episode of ‘Housebroken’ follows these animated creatures as they journey through their respective psychological demons and express their feelings in the circle led by Honey. Much of the humor telecasted centers on how these suburban critters deal with their mundane human-like problems, interspersed with their innate animalistic behaviors. It’s fascinating to watch these characters encapsulate a range of neuroses that resonate powerfully with the viewers' mental health concerns, making the series openly critical about mental health issues.

Apart from Lisa Kudrow, the other star-studded voice over cast of 'Housebroken' includes Clea DuVall, Sharon Horgan, Tony Hale, Jason Mantzoukas, Sam Richardson, and Will Forte. With their excellent vocal performances, they animate the animals and commit to the mood of the drama, lending their unique charm to the proceedings.

The series is created by the trio of Jennifer Crittenden, Clea DuVall, and Gabrielle Allan, who form an essential part of the writing team as well. Their creative inputs are evident in the witty dialogues and poignant moments which punctuate the show.

'Housebroken' is a lighthearted jaunt into the comedic possibilities of a group therapy of animals, and Fox has taken it a step further by imbuing them with human-like nuances. There are plenty of hilarious situations that arise from the clash of their animal instincts with their supposed human personalities. It’s this perfect blend of bizarre-yet-relatable comic situations, the clever use of animals to express human emotions and challenges, and engaging storytelling that sets 'Housebroken' apart from other comedy animated shows.

Visually, 'Housebroken' follows in the modern tradition of adult animation. The visuals are bold, colorful, and suitably exaggerated for comic effect. As a bonus, the animations beautifully bring out their surroundings, adding to the aesthetics of the show.

'Housebroken' is a brilliantly-crafted series that merges comedy, therapy, emotional trauma, and the usual quirks of anthromorphized animals. Even though it’s a conventional anthropomorphic show, it gives new spins to the most common tropes, making the series feel fresh and attractive. One can call ‘Housebroken’ a show of clear-cut caricatures, but the usage of underlying symbols and their figurative interpretation make it a considerable depth entertainer.

Finally, if you are seeking a healthy dose of comedy provided by your favorite household pets and pests discussing their week-long struggles and achievements— while relateably processing of various emotional and mental health-related themes— 'Housebroken' is a show for you. With all its humor, charm, and gentle satire, it will keep you hooked, making it a delightful watch.