The Netflix series Love, Death + Robots is a combination of dark humor, anthology, adult animation, and, of course, the title’s three main ingredients – love, death and robots. For the most part. Although the majority of the episodes contain at least one or two of these elements, Volume 3 seems to have missed out on one of them.
The best thing about Love, Death + Robots may also be the worst thing about it. The series follows no specific storyline. Each episode is created and produced separately, in different countries, which makes for a very diverse and entertaining show. That also means too much of some things, yet no love in Volume 3.
The expectation isn’t for an entire romance, just a taste. Like with Volume 1’s “Beyond the Aquila Rift,” and Volume 2’s “Pop Squad,” and “Snow in the Desert.” In fact, it doesn’t have to be all romantic love. Volume 1, Episode 9’s “The Dump,” features an adorable skit of an old man and a creature at a dump – an interesting take on the relationship between an elderly man and his pet in true Love, Death + Robots style.
It’s true that there is a very interesting, very dark episode in Volume 3, “Jibaro,” that could be considered a twisted take on how people use one another – and love – as a means to get what they want from the next person. Which means there is an episode about love, yes? Except that the episode also ends in quite a bit of bloodshed. Or rather, a lot of bloodshed. So, we’re still on the fence about that one.
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It must be said, though, that the appeal nowadays is more for blood than it is for hugs, with 90% of today’s content in movies, video games, television series and so on containing bloodshed and violence of some sort. And fans love that, so no one is really complaining about the series’ newest season having more gore than happy moments. And understandably so once one actually watches the show — it does not disappoint.
Although the series is supposed to be considered “dark” and will therefore lean more towards that side of the spectrum, it isn’t just called “Death and Robots,” so the content needs to follow suit. One or two little happy episodes would not be so terrible.
Volumes 1-3 of Love, Death + Robots are available to stream on Netflix.