This “Astrid & Lilly Save the World” review covers the first three episodes.
Lilly (Samantha Aucoin) and Astrid (Jana Morrison) may not have it all that easy, but they at least have each other. Though the two are at the brunt of many jokes made by bullies at school, they have a powerful bond and do all they can to lift each other up. They are an eccentric duo, finding fun in the name of science and randomly observing others. After an attempt to fit in at a party goes poorly, the two take off and hold a little ritual to burn some possessions related to their bullies; but what is meant to only be an innocent act of catharsis ends up accidently opening a portal to a monster world.
When a monster by the name of Brutus (Olivier Renaud) appears before them, he shares that it is now up to the girls to obtain body parts from 10 other monsters, or otherwise the world will be destroyed. Created by Noelle Stehman and Betsy Van Stone, “Astrid & Lilly Save the World” proves to be a hilarious time with a great deal of heart.
Without a doubt, “Astrid & Lilly Save the World” is funny as all hell – and very much so thanks to the titular duo. Aucoin and Morrison have excellent chemistry together, their dialogue banter and antics giving off a sincerity to their friendship. Accompanying them is also a plethora of other characters, each bringing their own charm and humor to the show. That of the high school cast come across as genuine and never like shallow stereotypes. This is very much so with characters like Valerie (Christina Orjalo) and Sparrow (Spencer Macpherson), who each bring a playful angle to their respective personalities. The dialogue is sharp and witty, making for a strong presentation that doesn’t try to force this idea of, “This is how kids talk nowadays,” but rather provide authenticity. Then you have the likes of Tate (Kolton Stewart) and Candace (Julia Doyle), who play more into the show’s emotional focus.
Because while “Astrid & Lilly Save the World” involves a lot of comedy and sci-fi/horror flavor, it’s also a sincere and touching story about overcoming bullies and loving oneself. Coming back to that of Lily and Astrid, we see over the course of episodes how the two not only start to believe more in themselves, but how those who used to bully them begin to ease up and respect them more. The trajectory of their growing self confidence is inspiring and makes for a compelling drive to follow them as they take on monsters.
Speaking of those – the monsters of this show offer a great variety in look and abilities. Each monster has a specific power to them, as well as a specific way they feed; one example is that of the Tearjerker, who drinks the tears of others and can weaken people by bringing out what makes them sad. To defeat the Tearjerker, Lily and Astrid are required to use specific means; what is neat about this approach is how it plays into the duo’s already established lifestyle. They both are into investigative work, so it is second nature to them to put the effort into tracking down monsters and attempting to find their weaknesses.
Along with already offering a solid premise, the show sets out early on to prompt several questions for that of the duo and the audience. Can Brutus be trusted? And what is going on with the cult-like activity at the nearby church? If the first three episodes are anything to go off of, “Astrid & Lilly Save the World” looks to only get funnier and more intense as it plays out. With superb humor, a great cast, neat monsters, and strong execution regarding thematic focus – this is absolutely a show to not miss out on.
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