With its eighth and final season, Big Mouth brings a close to one of television’s most unapologetically outrageous and emotionally earnest animated series. Known for turning puberty into a grotesquely hilarious fever dream, the show doubles down on its signature blend of hormonal chaos, absurdist humor, and surprisingly tender moments. Unfortunately, in its swan song, the balance feels more off than on.
At its core, Big Mouth has always thrived on the universal awkwardness of adolescence, and Season 8 continues that tradition—at least in part. The gang is now firmly in high school, dealing with driving, drugs, porn, cancel culture, consent, and existential dread. There are moments—like the school dance in episode one or Nick's late-start puberty in episode three—that ring especially true. And the addition of Compassion (voiced by Holly Hunter) as a new emotion-based character helps reinforce the show’s throughline: friendship, empathy, and growing up together.
Yet for every heartfelt beat, there’s an eye-roll-inducing gag that undercuts it. Big Mouth has never shied away from raunchiness, but some bits in this final season feel cranked up just for the sake of shock. Watching a few episodes with my parents was a risky move—they laughed, no doubt, but by the end, I regretted the decision. There’s a difference between daring and desperate, and the show often straddles that line uncomfortably.
Some jokes land, like the Magic School Bus spoof in episode three (“Why Do We Go Through Puberty?”), which brilliantly taps into nostalgia while still delivering on educational and comedic fronts. Others—like calling someone a “cum guzzler” or humping a robot—feel more like they're trying to provoke than amuse. The series has evolved into a raunchier, animated cousin of Freaks and Geeks—which is both a compliment and a caveat.
As someone who’s skipped a few recent seasons, I was surprised by how easy it was to jump back in. The characters are consistent, if a little exaggerated from their early-season selves, and the voice cast—led by Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, and Maya Rudolph—remains stellar. Guest stars like Natasha Lyonne, Kristen Wiig, and Keke Palmer add flavor, while standout regulars like Jason Mantzoukas and Ayo Edebiri keep the energy unpredictable.
Episode 9, “Everything We Forgot to Tell You About Sex,” serves as a clever send-off to Big Mouth's more educational roots, using fan-submitted questions as the basis for a series of sharp, sketch-style answers. It’s a thoughtful concept that plays to the show's strengths—but the finale ultimately falters. Its self-referential, overly meta approach feels hollow, lacking the emotional resonance long-time viewers might hope for. Instead of going out with a bang, it fizzles into something unexpectedly subdued and unsatisfying.
Season 8 still has flashes of what made Big Mouth special: real heart, relatable growing pains, and a signature brand of unfiltered imagination. But too often, those moments are smothered by cruder elements that feel more excessive than essential. It’s still a good show—but no longer the great one it once was. For devoted fans, it offers a sense of closure (albeit imperfect). For newcomers? Best to start at the beginning.
Jessie Hobson