‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’ Review – A Wild And Joyous Ride

Out of all the properties to make a comeback this year, Scott Pilgrim was not one that we expected. Comic creator Byran Lee O’Malley published the series in the summer of 2004 in a modest black-and-white run. Later the comic series would get reprinted in color and go on to become an indie hit. Most people, however, became familiar with the big screen adaptation that burst off the screen in 2010 thanks to Edgar Wright’s visually sublime film Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Both the comic and film very much reflect a particular time, place, and changing gender-politic landscape.

You see, for those who didn’t grow up in that time, this was all about young men adrift, and finding that very special quirky girl that would get them out of their apathetic state. Enter the manic-pixie-dream-girl. Critic Nathan Rabin coined the term for his review of Elizabethtown (2005); this refers to a flighty, carefree girl who serves to help the male protagonist wake up and enjoy the richness of their lives. While the term has a complicated history (especially with its creator), it’s a trope that has by in large gone out of favor.

Pilgrim’s Ramona Flowers is very much cut from this cloth. Yet, all of this is to say that while the movie (which bombed but gained a huge cult following) is very much a product of its time, the series can bring it up to date while remaining faithful to the source material. This was the most interesting aspect of Netflix rebooting the IP with Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. The series is clever in how the first episode is faithful to the earlier adaptations. Outdated concepts and all. Yet, by the second episode, it’s clear that the showrunners are invested in telling a new and interesting story, updating the visuals, as well as some of the more problematic elements. Ramona is reduced to a prize to be won in earlier adaptations but it’s nice to see that she is given more agency here, and in turn more depth. We also get a nice glimpse into the inner workings of the League of Evil Exes, which is played up for all the wicked fun you could hope for. As the season progresses, not only do the stakes get bigger, but we get a tenderness and depth that nicely balances the more absurd elements.

The biggest ‘draw’ to this series, outside of its fun storytelling, is its visual language. Each episode starts like a video game start menu and proceeds to delight with a bombastic anime style that is utterly gorgeous. Seriously, you cannot overstate just how much of a love letter this is to anime, with not only the style but little touches like the over-the-top expressions and gestures that are commonplace in anime, especially of the old-school variety. The fight scenes are of course a treat to behold and act as the centerpiece of an already amazing show. Anime has always been stylistically embedded in the world of Scott Pilgrim so it’s only natural that the show follows that course.

It’s very exciting that the entire main cast from Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World returns to voice their original characters. Of course, every performer knows these characters so insanely well and nails the voice acting. How can you go wrong with having a supporting cast that includes Chris Evans, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza, Will Forte, and Finn Wolfhard, among many others?

Ironically, Scott Pilgrim started life as a tiny black-and-white comic in 2004 and almost twenty years later it has had two highly enjoyable adaptations that are bursting with color and filled with life. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a fun rollercoaster ride that is fueled by anime, video games, high-octane action, and hilarity. This will undoubtedly make many lists of the best shows of 2023.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is currently available to stream on Netflix. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLvRvqByxUI]