“Every monster / Has a country…” 
Very cool.
Huh. I barely remember them laughing at each other’s jokes in the original. I’ve been watching it a lot lately and I don’t think it was very common at all.
Just saw Reptilicus and really enjoyed it with a few caveats.
I really don’t like Servo’s voice. It’s too similar to Crow’s (but Crow’s is done better). I think they need someone with a much deeper voice with Servo.
I like the musical bits they’re trying to do, but if they don’t know the song, someone needs to teach it to them. Listen to when they sing the word “Xanadu”–either they don’t know the song at all or someone’s completely tone-deaf. There are only three notes and they get at least two of them wrong.
I hope they lose the invention exchange quickly. It was only sorta funny when Joel did it and it was never funny when Mike did it.
I agree that it feels stiff and scripted, but the early Joel and Mike episodes did too. I assume the performers will relax and it’ll sound more natural.
They won me again when the first monster was “El Cadejo” Not only famous in Yucatan (Mexico) but known in Central America, considered one of the basic monsters to know if you came from El Salvador.
I agree with you about the robot voices, but I assume I just need to get used to their voices. I can’t tell the difference between them and Johah’s voice, either.
I don’t mind the slightly scripted feel. To me it seems like a fresh update with clearly a larger budget but they do an excellent job staying true to the hand-crafted, sort of slapped together feel. I’m really appreciating the effort it took to get just the right balance like that.
I disagree with you about Gypsy’s drop-ins. I like seeing her during the movie. In the old shows we rarely got to see her so she was under utilized. Now you get the feeling that while they’re dealing with Movie Sign, she’s still going about her job keeping the ship running. I also love her being ceiling mounted. I’m intrigued by the square things she picks up and sets down every now and then. In the first episode I thought maybe she was building another robot, but now I suspect maybe she’s just moving cargo around. Any thoughts or speculation on that?
I watched the first episode today, good fun. I got a good chuckle out of the line about the fish chewing through the electric cables.
Nice that I don’t have to wait for it to come to Europe or resort to torrents to enjoy it too.
“Cry Wilderness”, the second movie and episode is much better in the riffing sections. The movie is a lot funnier.
Is the music the band is playing over the closing credits in episode 2 a sped-up version of “Creepy Girl”?
Watched about half of episode 1 this weekend (The show isn’t Ms. Cups’ thing, so I can only watch shows like that in bursts).
I’m sure I’ll get used to it, but the voices are really really throwing me for a loop. As much as Tom is mentioned here, I think Crow’s voice is terrible. It’s like someone doing a bad impression of Crow’s voice. I would almost wish they would have two entirely new voices. Although I say that, but I think Gypsy’s voice is HORRIBLE. I keep expecting her old voice and it’s killing me. I’ll be out on a ledge and say I hate her drop-ins.
Having only watched half of an episode, I’m a bit annoyed at how much they interact with the movie physically. Tom flying up to point something out comes to mind. They did that from time to time in the original run, and I always thought it was a bit of a special treat when they did. I hope they don’t do that too much more.
As for the riffs…they’re good-but-not-great. I did find myself laughing more often than not, but they were more of a “ha!” kind of laugh than actually laughing. Then again, I only saw a little bit so I’m not judging too harshly. Based on what I saw, I liked it and am looking forward to watching more of them.
Love the new intro, love the music of the show.
Still getting used to the Bots’ new voices, though they do seem to be distinguishing themselves as time goes on. I still feel like we’re missing some essential character to them, though - Tom and Crow’s personalities are as similar as their voices right now, which is to say that they’re both kind of just hyperactive jackasses. That’s my number one issue with the show right now.
(I just finished the Loves of Hercules.)
Lesser quibbles include the pacing of the riffs - Reptilicus was WAY too fast. They seem to be finding a better pace with the later movies, though.
I’m also not sold on the set - I’m not sure if it’s how much better everything looks, or a lower camera angle than on the previous show, but everything kinda looks greenscreened even when it isn’t. It doesn’t help that the special guests to Moon 13 and the SOL, thus far, have not actually walked onto the set, but only appeared over a monitor. This may be an artifact of not having everyone on the set at the same time, but the overall result is that I feel like the sets aren’t really ‘places’.
I’m very pleased, despite these quibbles - I’d give it 4 or 4 and a half stars, if Netflix hadn’t inexplicably gone to a thumbs-up, thumbs-down model.
Let me preface by saying I prefer Joel-era over Mike-era. Part of Joel’s appeal was that the bots weren’t counterparts but were more his children and they were a family unit. I also prefer the jokes that were on Cinematic Titanic versus Rifftrax or The Film Crew. (Moreover, Mike being a conservative loses appeal for me as well. (Cite) )
I was really impressed with the rapping song in Episode 1. Jonah is like Joel but with a twist and I really think he was a good choice.
Tom and Crow? I’m getting used to their voices. I’m glad that they didn’t try and ape their predecessors since they’d have to choose which iteration they’d be, but maybe new bot shapes would’ve helped.
Gypsy? I have no idea what’s going on with her. What she’s picking up or dropping in the theater? (Is it the film juice?)
The mads? Great characters although I’d like to see a bit more story arc.
The band? A fun new addition.
The riffs? Spot on. It really comes down to the humor and I’m digging it. The one small facet would have been Frank Conniff helping to write as he always had some really arcane and delicious riffs (and he and Trace are out touring as “The Mads”. )
I’m really happy this is back on. I’m trying not to binge but savor and it’s hard.
I thought the riffs were too slow in Reptillicus. Too much silence.
I have only watched Cry Wilderness and the riffs are way better paced. Felt like an episode of the old show. It was hilarious.
I just finished the Beast of Hollow Mountain. I think they’re just getting better as the show goes along. The third interval, with Tom and Crow doing the dance, had me in stitches. “What do they want???”
Did Jonah really film the opening 14 times? I have yet to line them up side by side to see if there are any differences. Anyone?
The pace gets slower and more even later in the season - you are literally the only person on the entire internet that I’ve seen voice the complaint that the riffing in Reptilicus was too slow. I mean, they’re literally almost talking over one another at some points, not letting one riff land before someone starts the next.
Watched Yongary and Wizards of the Lost Kingdom last night - both were perfectly paced, and the voice issues seem to be fading, but now I’m annoyed with the silhouette activity in the theater - they need to cut those gags down by about 80%.
That rap was ridiculously good and I was glad they played it again during the credits.
I’ve just seen the first ep so far but so far so good. The robot voices seem off but I hope to get used to them.
Watched Reptilicus over the weekend.
Took some time to get used to the new voices and some of the gags seemed to be trying a little too hard but overall enjoyed it and I think they will improve as the series progresses.
Unfortunately this clip is missing the opening backstory… featuring Erin Gray, Wil Wheaton, and and a Joel Hodgson cameo as Ardy!
Wow! Just caught this Stranger Things/MST3K Promo
Awesome! Now I wish they’d done the whole episode!
I’ve watched five episodes so far and I am loving it. Three episodes were very good and the other two were freaking fantastic, IMO. The riffing is excellent - a little fast in some places as others have mentioned - but overall I’m chuckling constantly throughout with several belly laughs thrown in for good measure.
Host segments are hit and miss (as they’ve always been, IMO). I loved the rap, the trademarked list of disaster/monster movie titles was AMAZING, and Kinga’s song with Neil Patrick Harris was awesome, even if it came out of nowhere. Jonah started off way too bland for my taste, but he’s starting to get a little more personality. I think he may have been trying too hard to emulate Joel.
They really captured the “feel” of the old MST while still updating some things. Joel was writing about that all along to Kickstarter backers, and he’s totally right. They did a great job on the tone and look.
My biggest complaint is the door sequence. I like the idea of seeing a little more of the guts of the SOL, but the doors are too similar. I miss the drawbridge 