Mother Up

Another new Hulu exclusive cartoon series. Mother Up

Rudi, a big shot in the music recording industry, comes up with a brilliant plan to escape blame when a scandal erupts. It involves moving to a Canadian suburb with her children to devote more time to her family.

Being heavily self-absorbed, Rudi fails to notice that her husband has failed to make the journey with her. She also didn't realize that without a maid or nanny, she actually will have to raise Dick and Apple personally.

She's...not a very good mother, but finds a new meaning to her life in besting the local Alpha Bitch.

It's mostly a parody of those stories where the career woman must suddenly adjust to taking care of children and becomes a better person. While she's not totally irredeemable, Rudi is finding it hard to give up her old ways of doing things.

edited 1st Mar '14 3:22:47 PM by SKJAM

Hulu has its own exclusive series?

"Because we don't think we're copying Netflix nearly enough!"

So, Rudi is the Peter Griffin this time around?

Well, that's... New-ish.

I tapped out after 5 min. into the first episode - this was just everything wrong with The Buzz On Maggie AND The Mighty B! for me, all over again (With some hints of Eliot Kid, as well, unfortunately... so what if the protagonists are female?! They ain't worth the time if they ain't likable or funny in the slightest!) - I'm not going to put myself through similar pain.

I didn't make it through the whole pilot either. I just don't like unsympathetic main characters (especially in settings where common sense -if not reality itself- take a backseat to comedy.) It's a pity, because it has potential. And it is animated and acted well. But by the part she nearly killed her own children because of her carelessness I realized this was just another Family Guy ripoff, and turned it off.

Exactly - to see good art-styling/animation (it being Flash even moreso, proving Flash CAN be a tool of good) in general, wasted on/by someone else attempting to be like Seth Mac Farlane - and continuously failing to realize that he ain't funny (and NEVER FUCKING WAS!), who I personally feel is a disease upon Western Animation in general, is one of many things killing this medium.

We got to stand united against this BS!!!

edited 29th Nov '13 6:04:34 AM by TheShopSoldier

Dude, calm down

I haven't yet seen any sign of this show, but i'm certain it will find it's fans.(Be it Seth fans or newcomers of the genre.)

Yeah, I'm not so sure it's worth it to take such a stand against a show that most people probably aren't going to even know exists anyway.

I didn't even know Hulu makes original series—the first I ever heard of any of this was this thread. You think any old layman is going to know about it?

By stand united, I mean don't support ripoffs of Seth Mc Farlane's brand of humor - that end up being worse in practice/execution than his own for failing to have their own identity/vision to bookend it.

Right now, this show lacks an identity/vision of its own to make it stand out as even remotely watchable, hence my hatred... and my rant toward it!

Is it worth it to rant about something that barely anyone has even heard of, though? That's like complaining that Nuclear Bubble Wrap did a lazy and stupidly written Taylor Swift parody song. Do you know who Nuclear Bubble Wrap is? Probably not, so that statement means nothing to you. Likewise, complaining about Mother Up publicly is not going to mean much to most people, because most people are going to have the reaction of, "What the hell is Mother Up, I've never heard of it and TV Tropes doesn't even have a page on it." Complaining about things that no one has ever heard of only gives it more publicity and, thus, more money. How do you think The Room became such a phenomenon?

edited 30th Nov '13 5:53:44 AM by Odd1

Hey, if ranting allows him (or any of us) to let off steam, let him. At best, it might lead to a conversation ("What is this show that so pisses this guy off?") and at worst, can simply be ignored.

And yes, Hulu features original series too. The Awesomes is one, it was good enough if you ask me, that's why I gave Mother Up a chance (and regretted it, but hey, those are the risks.)

edited 30th Nov '13 6:26:57 AM by Sijo

For those curious, I'm bumping this up because the series is now playing on Canada's City TV line of stations.

And while I won't say the Seth McFarland comparison is completely basis, it's not quite the same thing. Yes, Rudi is an Unsympathetic Protagonist, but for those who made it to the end of the pilot will notice that she does have a slightly redeemable moment. Unlike character like Homer Simpson or Peter Griffon, Rudi's failing is that she's self-absorbed and formerly spoiled, not that she is mentally impaired. There is room for her to be redeemed as she learns how to be a proper mother to her children. Although she doesn't say it, she does actually have moments where she is aware of where she went wrong, and that her children are important to her.

I'm not saying this is a good show, or is going to last another season, but you might want to give it another chance. I admit, I didn't really find any funny moments, but I do applaud their attempt at something new and changing the typical formula even just a little.

First season now over, liked how they lampshaded the Status Quo Is God thing these sort of carrtoons have, "If there's anything we've learned from Darwin, it's that human beings are incapable of growth or change", while showing us that Rudi has in fact had character development. (Not a whole lot, but she is measurably a better human being.)

And now there's a page: Mother Up.

edited 1st Mar '14 3:58:37 PM by SKJAM