This might reek of being formulaic at times, but the aliens’ outlandish answers are genuinely hard to predict, and this paired with Gelman’s performance as he scrambles to stay afloat is oddly soothing. It’s just formulaic enough while still being hard to totally nail down. Elements like lengthy flashbacks or extravagant detours in storytelling are turned to as the show sees fit, often to service some sort of dark piece of humor. Those moments where the show’s voice continues to refine itself are usually risks that happen to pay off. However, I’m the sort of person that’s all about going on a ridiculous tangent just to make something a little more disturbing. But it also happens to function as a nice way of fleshing out tertiary characters while making it feel like every event in this show has consequences. Something like that can be crucial in a vehicle where it can sometimes feel like there are no rules.

Stories also escalate at an impressive rate with each episode fitting a surprising amount into each installment. Every time an episode reaches a plot point that feels like it should be the resolution of things, Jeff & Some Aliens instead subverts it into merely the mid-way point, fitting many more developments into this blender of madness in the process. It’s another smart tactic that helps this show stand out amongst the wealth of similar edgy programming that’s out there. In the same way that Futurama and Rick and Morty use science as a means of resolving plot points in some rather brilliant synergy, Jeff & Some Aliens always confidently doubles down on the alien technology that it introduces. Often the original premise is being re-used in some unexpected, clever way that ends up leading to success in some inspired fashion.

In addition to the crazier topics that the series will indulge in, the show also isn’t afraid to explore more cerebral, deeper territory. Topics like the inevitability of life, following your dreams, and accepting what you’ve been dealt all rear their heads in heavy ways. They’re certainly welcome contrasts to the more absurd visual material. When the series attempts something of a deeper significance like this, it all culminates in the show feeling rather complete.

To dig into the series’ aesthetics a little, the animation style might feel a little awkward or janky at first, but I was very quickly getting behind its almost muted color palette. It might be an acquired taste, but it’s a look that is fitting to the dreary life that Jeff leads. Comedy Central has certainly put less polished looking vehicles on the air. The animation is hardly a drawback for the show, it’s just not going to outshine the show’s writing in my opinion.