Netflix’s “The Vince Staples Show” plays out like a Saturday morning cartoon for adults.
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“The Vince Staples Show” Plot Summary
“The Vince Staples Show” is a sugar rush of absurdism and black humor wrapped up in a bow by Vince Staples’ ever-furrowed brow. The Netflix limited series plays out like a Saturday morning cartoon for adults: the characters are silly, the action is wacky, and events can grow from plausible to bonkers in the blink of an eye.
Each episode of “The Vince Staples Show” starts with “This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to actual events are purely coincidental.” While some episodes are undoubtedly influenced by the rapper/actor’s actual life (Staples plays himself), each story takes unexpected turns that delight in how demented they are. From being locked in prison to meeting a class of unenthused kids, Vince Staples paints a life where his fame is a curse and anyone who knows him wants to beat him up.
The five-episode Netflix comedy ranges from 20 to 30-minute vignettes that feel like walking into Vince Staples’ worst nightmares. The show sometimes feels like a sample of something larger and more inventive, and while you’ll have a good time watching it, you can’t really find a reason why it should continue. “The Vince Staples Show” is more of a variety show than narrative fiction, with the only string holding episodes together being Vince Staples’ misery. Like a daytime dream, the series is good fun, but you’ll have trouble remembering the details when it’s over.
Content Information
“The Vince Staples Show” is rated TV-MA due to profanity throughout, gun violence, fights, and some smoking.
Other Noteworthy Information
- “The Vince Staples Show” was filmed entirely on location in Long Beach, CA.
“The Vince Staples Show” General Information
| Network | Netflix |
| Genre(s) | Comedy |
| Noted Characters | |
| Vince Staples | Vince Staples |
| Deja | Andrea Ellsworth |
Renewal Status: To Be Determined
Directory: (Series Page | Character Guide)
“The Vince Staples Show” Review
Our Rating: Positive (Watch This)
Let us know your thoughts in the comments:
- What did you think of “The Vince Staples Show”? What did you enjoy, and what would you change?
Notable Performances, Moments, or Episodes
Vince Staples as Vince Staples
Ever the straight-panned mischief maker, Vince Staples makes himself the anchor in the chaos that takes place on his show. Like a black Charlie Brown, Staples guides the audience on absurd adventures and makes himself the victim of any undeserved misfortune. Staples proves himself to be a worthy straight character that we’re willing to follow anywhere.
Episodes to Anticipate
- Episode 2, “Black Business,” showcases dark humor and absurdism to intriguing and unpredictable ends.
- Episode 3, “Brown Family,” is the most grounded episode while still showing Vince Staples’ dynamic with loved ones.
Highlights
“The Vince Staples Show” is a Cartoon Nightmare for Our Viewing Pleasure
The final episode of “The Vince Staples Show” has Staples running away from a gunman like a classic episode of Bugs Bunny. Every episode is split into parts that can basically be different cartoons, whether it’s Staples visiting a creepy chicken restaurant or befriending a gang of bank robbers. The hijinks are high in “The Vince Staples Show,” and while the premises sometimes don’t pay off (nothing really happened between Staples and that other jailed guy), the fun is seeing Staples crawl his way out of any situation.
On The Fence
5 Episodes of Hijinks Without Much Cohesion
“The Vince Staples Show” is connected more by vibes than a plot. The last episode isn’t a build-up of Staples’ struggles and barely shows characters that we enjoy, like Deja or Staples’ mom. It’s a cartoon chase for 20 minutes. As the show plays out like cartoon vignettes, the lack of an overarching narrative or plot to invest in makes the show feel small and non-consequential. It depends heavily on whether you’re a fan of Vince Staples; otherwise, you might feel like you got trolled out of two hours of your life.
Good If You Like
- Dark humor, absurdist comedies, and Vince Staples.
What I Hope To See
If the show were to continue, I hope we continue to see more recurring characters and some type of overarching narrative—even if it’s thin, like we do in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” or “Atlanta,” just something to tie the season together.
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