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Solar Opposites
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Solar Opposites
Genre
Created by
Voices of
ComposerChris Westlake
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes63 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Justin Roiland (seasons 1–3)
  • Mike McMahan
  • Josh Bycel
  • Anthony Chun (seasons 2–5)
  • Sydney Ryan (seasons 3–6)
  • Danielle Uhlarik (seasons 4–5)
  • Dominic Dierkes (seasons 5–6)
Producers
  • Sydney Ryan (seasons 1–2)
  • J. Michael Mendel (seasons 1–2)
  • Joe Saunders (season 3)
  • Grace Parra Janney (season 4)
Editors
  • Lee Harting
  • Nick Reczynski
Running time21–26 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHulu
ReleaseMay 8, 2020 (2020-05-08) –
October 13, 2025 (2025-10-13)

Solar Opposites is an American adult animated science-fiction sitcom created by Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan for Hulu. Originally created for the Fox Broadcasting Company, the project was shelved before being acquired by Hulu. The series premiered on May 8, 2020, and concluded on October 13, 2025, after six seasons consisting of 63 episodes.

Premise

[edit]

Solar Opposites centers around Korvo, Terry, Jesse, and Yumyulack — a family of aliens who crash land on Earth and are forced to stay there, often disagreeing on whether this is a good thing. The family comes from Planet Shlorp, an advanced alien world that sent out one hundred ships — each carrying 2 adults and their replicants — to colonize new planets shortly before their home planet was destroyed by an asteroid.

The series also features parallel storylines, the most prominent of which follows a society of humans shrunk by the replicant Yumyulack and imprisoned in a terrarium known as "the Wall".[2] Starting in the third season, another storyline follows a group of intergalactic corrupt police officers, known as the SilverCops, that routinely arrest and brutalize Shlorpians fleeing from the destruction of their homeworlds.

Voice cast and characters

[edit]

Main

[edit]
  • Justin Roiland (seasons 1–3) and Dan Stevens (seasons 4–6) as Korvotron "Korvo" Opposites, an intelligent Shlorpian scientist who hates Earth and wants to leave as soon as possible. He is the designated leader of their mission to find a new world and later becomes Terry's husband.
  • Thomas Middleditch as Terrance "Terry" Opposites, Korvo's evacuation partner and later husband, and the pupa specialist who enjoys being on Earth and is fascinated with human culture.
  • Sean Giambrone as Yumyulack Opposites, Korvo's replicant/son who is a self-proclaimed scientist and bounty hunter. As a hobby, he shrinks adult humans who annoy him and keeps them inside a terrarium in his bedroom known as "the Wall". In the fifth season, Giambrone also portrays a fictionalized version of himself.
  • Mary Mack as Jesse Opposites, Terry's replicant/daughter who is generally kind and wants to fit into human society.
  • Sagan McMahan[c] as The Pupa, an infant, color-changing alien who will one day evolve into its true form and terraform the Earth into a copy of the Shlorpian homeworld using the data stored in its DNA.

Supporting

[edit]

Alien associates

[edit]
  • Tiffany Haddish as A.I.S.H.A., the Shlorpians' sassy artificial intelligence built into their ship
  • Justin Roiland (seasons 1–2) and Eric Bauza (seasons 4, 6) as Chris the Red Goobler, a "red goobler" produced from Korvo via Terry-induced stress. His only purpose is to kill Korvo. He becomes engaged to a human woman and is portrayed as a "bro" archetype, often expressing his fondness for The Hangover movie, Joe Rogan, and tight polo shirts, later opening his own bar after Korvo turns his fiancée into a rat.
  • Wendi McLendon-Covey as P.A.T.R.I.C.I.A. (season 1), a robot created by Korvo to serve as his wife. Their name stands for "Patricia Automated Television Retro‐fitted Intelligent Companion In Action."
  • Tony Hale as Little Buddy (seasons 3–4), an artificial alien that hatched from an egg laid by the Pupa
  • JK Sevens (seasons 5–6), a robot from the planet Clervix-3 who follows the Shlorpians back to Earth
  • Dan Bakkedahl as Commander Zarck (seasons 5–6), the Shlorpian's original mission leader who was jettisoned out of their ship as part of a What If scenario and seeks revenge against them

Human associates

[edit]
  • Rob Schrab as Principal Principal Cooke, the principal at James Earl Jones High School, who is openly prejudiced against Yumyulack and Jesse and is engaging in a secret affair with Ms. Frankie. His first name is revealed to also be "Principal", making his full name and title "Principal Principal Cooke".
  • Kari Wahlgren as Ms. Frankie, a teacher at James Earl Jones High School who is openly prejudiced against Yumyulack and Jesse and is engaging in a secret affair with Principal Cooke
  • Natalie Morales as Ms. Perez (season 1), a gender studies teacher at James Earl Jones High School
  • Ken Marino as Kevin (seasons 1, 4–6), a neighbor of the Shlorpians

The Wall

[edit]
  • Andy Daly as Lindsey Tim Weekly (seasons 1–3), one of Yumyulack's captives, shrunken down for wearing a red shirt. Tim becomes a scavenger and resistance leader against the Duke's regime, before taking his place.
  • Christina Hendricks as Cherie, a former Benihana waitress placed in the Wall by Yumyulack for serving him shrimp he didn't want. She becomes one of Tim's allies in his fight against the Duke before being betrayed by Tim. She later gives birth to her and Tim's daughter, Pezlie, the first human to be born tiny. She then seeks to expose Tim for his crimes, saves her daughter when the Bowinian Church kidnaps her, and moves to the Backyard where she becomes queen of the Wall.
  • Alfred Molina as Ringo / the Duke (seasons 1–2, 5–6), the corrupt ruler of Yumyulack's Wall, who maintains order and control by hoarding the supplies given to the Wall's inhabitants by Jesse. Ringo is later unintentionally resurrected with amnesia by Terry after using the make-alive ray on the Backyard.
  • Tom Kenny as:
    • The Janitor (seasons 1, 3), the first person to be placed in the Wall who later hunts mosquitoes in the lower levels
    • Mark (season 3), a deliveryman and Allie's boyfriend
  • Miguel Sandoval as Enrique (seasons 1–2), the father of Pedro and a member of Tim's resistance movement. After receiving insulin from the Duke, he betrays Tim and Cherie and becomes one of the Walldermen.
  • Andrew Matarazzo as Pedro (season 1), Enrique's son who is trying to get his diabetic father insulin
  • Jeannie Elias as Sister Sasha (seasons 1, 3), the first head of the Bowinian Church, who worship Jesse as their god
  • Maurice LaMarche as Sonny (seasons 1–2), one of the Wallderman working for the Duke
  • Nat Faxon as Bryson (season 1), a member of Tim's resistance movement
  • Rainn Wilson as Steven (seasons 1, 3), the former CEO of AT&T who becomes a mouse milk farmer with his pet mouse, Molly, in the lower levels. After Molly's death during the Great Wall War, Steven retreats to the lower levels and gradually goes insane, eventually learning how to control the mosquitoes living in the Wall.
  • Phil LaMarr as Jean-Pierre (season 1), a prisoner of the Duke and cellmate of Tim who joins his resistance movement
  • Sterling K. Brown as Halk Hogam (seasons 2–3), A haunted war hero from the Great Wall War, member of Tim's resistance movement, and a former Bones executive story editor trying to solve a string of grisly murders. He later joins the Wall Council and becomes Cherie's ally.
  • Kari Wahlgren as:
    • Nova / Sister Blista (seasons 2–4, 6), Halk's girlfriend, later wife, and the third head of the Bowinian Church
    • Pezlie (seasons 2–6), Cherie and Tim's infant daughter and the first human born tiny
    • Allie (season 3), the owner of a confectionery shop and Mark's girlfriend
    • Platinum Stevie (season 3), the leader of the Muck People, a group of cannibals living in the lower levels
  • Vanessa Marshall as Mia (seasons 2, 5), the greeter of new arrivals to the Wall and later a citizen of Basketballburgh in the Backyard
  • Jon Daly as Declan (season 2), a new arrival to the Wall and later one of Ethan's victims
  • Nick Reczynski as Steve (season 2), a nutritionist who delivers fresh food to people in the Wall and later one of Ethan's victims
  • Jimmi Simpson as Ethan (season 2), a depraved serial killer with a god complex who murders people in the Wall
  • Sutton Foster as Sister Sisto (seasons 3–4), the second head of the Bowinian Church, who takes over and claims Pezlie as their messiah
  • Eric Bauza as:
    • Blaine / Eyepatch Guy (season 3), a member of the expedition to the lower levels
    • Anthony (season 5), the leader of Sandbox Town in the Backyard
  • Nolan North as:
    • Albert (seasons 3–5), the head of the Wall Council and later the leader of Basketballburgh in the Backyard
    • Joe Sanders (season 3), a member of the expedition to the lower levels
    • Pat (season 4), an enforcer for the Bowinian Church
    • Jerry (season 4), a disciple of the Bowinian Church who works in the market
  • Lauren Tom as Nicole (season 3), the power minister and member of the Wall Council who joins the expedition to the lower levels
  • Steve Hytner as Avocado Eggrolls (season 3), a member of the Muck People
  • Carlos Alazraqui as Montez (seasons 4–6), the chief enforcer of the Bowinian Church who is secretly a spy working with Cherie and later escapes with her to the Backyard
  • Lamorne Morris as Benny (season 4), an enforcer for the Bowinian Church
  • Tim Heidecker as Garth (season 4), a farmer who discovers that the Wall is slowly getting colder
  • Spencer Grammer as Lynette (season 4), a member of the Heathens, who joins Cherie to help save Pezlie from the Bowinian Church
  • Fred Tatasciore as:
    • Jimmy (season 4), a member of the Heathens, who joins Cherie to help save Pezlie from the Bowinian Church
    • Little Richard / the Bounty Hunter (season 5), a ruthless killer working for Albert who travels across the Backyard on his pet lizard
  • Clancy Brown as Gavin (season 5), a drifter who travels across the Backyard on his pet hedgehog, Hedgey, and is hired by Oscar to escort precious cargo
  • Charlotte Nicdao as Sofia (season 5), Oscar's niece who joins Gavin on his journey in the Backyard
  • Oscar Nunez as Oscar (season 5), the owner of a saloon in the settlement of Gutterville in the Backyard
  • Troy Baker as McManus (season 5), a loanshark in the Backyard whom Gavin is in debt to
  • Cree Summer as Rebecca Jones (season 6), a reporter for the Small Things Considered news broadcast
  • Will Sasso as Skip (season 6), an impressionable man whom Cherie attempts to install as a puppet ruler
  • Jess Harnell as the Blood Baron (season 6), a one-handed maniac who drinks blood
  • Gary Anthony Williams as the Falcon (season 6), an aspiring dictator who speaks in the third person
  • Colton Dunn as Greg (season 6), a womanizer masquerading as a skilled pilot
  • Eliza Coupe as Nomi (season 6), part of the crew of the Ariana 1, who is fascinated with Yumyulack
  • Beck Bennett as Chip "Oz" Ozmonski (season 6), the navigator for the crew of the Ariana 1
  • Dan Stevens as Walter (season 6), the silent muscle for the crew of the Ariana 1

The SilverCops

[edit]
  • Kieran Culkin as Glen Kumstein / Dodge Charger (seasons 3–6), a neighbor of the Shlorpians who is later shot into space and joins the SilverCops. After becoming a wanted man, Glen changes his DNA to become a dog-like humanoid and renames himself "Dodge Charger", but after attending SilverCop bootcamp, he joins the GoldCops.
  • Christopher Meloni as LoneSun (season 3), the leader of a squad of SilverCops who recruit Glen
  • Carlos Alazraqui as Ventrez (season 3), the second-in-command of LoneSun's squad
  • Blake Perlman as:
    • Glorgax (season 3), an insectoid alien and member of LoneSun's squad
    • Quigonowski (season 5), an insectoid alien and a SilverCop grunt during the war against the Equinites
  • Sutton Foster as Pobo (season 3), a floating canine alien and member of LoneSun's squad
  • Clancy Brown as Cromus (season 3), an officer of the SilverCops, later revealed to be an undercover GoldCop
  • Skyler Gisondo as:
    • Zylenol "Zy" Peehem (season 4), a bat-like alien who befriends Glen and member of the Holo Thieves
    • Gex (season 5), a SilverCop grunt during the war against the Equinites
  • Gideon Adlon as Gragger (season 4), a squid-like alien and member of the Holo Thieves
  • Algee Smith as Skunt (season 4), a hamster-like alien and member of the Holo Thieves
  • Daveed Diggs as Skeletom (season 4), a skeletal hologram alien and leader of the Holo Thieves, later revealed to be working with the SilverCops
  • Jack Quaid as Tomblr Crundle (season 5), a turkey-like alien who befriends Dodge and a trainee at the SilverCop bootcamp
  • Chris Diamantopoulos as:
    • Zobert (season 5), an overconfident SilverCop trainee who bullies Tomblr
    • The GoldCop Boss (season 6), Dodge's commanding officer in the GoldCops
  • Stephen Lang and Ron Funches as Sergeant Argent (season 5), the two-headed drill instructor at the SilverCop bootcamp
  • Morgan Spector as Buttercup (season 5), the leader of the Equinite Resistance, a race of horse-like aliens whose planet is under invasion by the SilverCops
  • Cree Summer as Portia (season 6), a car-like alien and Dodge's girlfriend
  • Andy Cobb as the SilverCop Boss (season 6), the leader of a squad of SilverCops who are sent to Earth
  • Jess Harnell as Glorpus (season 6), a pterosaur-like alien and member of the SilverCop squad sent to Earth
  • Maribeth Monroe as Qeeflax (season 6), an insectoid alien and member of the SilverCop squad sent to Earth
  • Debra Wilson as Bronkray (season 6), a member of the SilverCop squad sent to Earth

Episodes

[edit]
Main article: List of Solar Opposites episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
18May 8, 2020 (2020-05-08)
298March 26, 2021 (2021-03-26)
SpecialNovember 22, 2021 (2021-11-22)
31211July 13, 2022 (2022-07-13)
SpecialOctober 3, 2022 (2022-10-03)
41211August 14, 2023 (2023-08-14)
SpecialFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
51211August 12, 2024 (2024-08-12)
SpecialOctober 7, 2024 (2024-10-07)
610October 13, 2025 (2025-10-13)

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

On August 28, 2018, it was announced that Hulu had given the production a two-season order consisting of sixteen episodes. The series was created by Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan, who were also expected to serve as executive producers.[3] It is distributed by 20th Television.[4][5] On June 18, 2020, Hulu renewed the series for an expanded third season consisting of 11 episodes.[6] On June 22, 2021, Hulu renewed the series for a fourth season.[7] On October 6, 2022, Hulu renewed the series for a fifth season.[8] On July 26, 2024, Hulu renewed the series for a sixth season.[9] In March 2025, the series was confirmed to end with the sixth season.[10]

Writing

[edit]

The Wall in Yumyulack's room where he imprisons shrunken-down people was, as Roiland has noted, one of the duo's initial ideas for the series, as they were interested in a "B-story" that lasted the entire first season.[11][12]

Casting

[edit]

Alongside the series first order announcement, it was confirmed that Roiland, Thomas Middleditch, Sean Giambrone, and Mary Mack would voice the lead characters in the series.[2][4][5]

On January 25, 2023, Roiland was removed from the show, alongside sister show Koala Man, after he was charged with felony domestic abuse. Both shows are distributed by 20th Television, via their 20th Television Animation division.[13] On June 20, 2023, it was announced that Dan Stevens was officially taking over as the voice of Korvo.[14]

Release

[edit]

The first teaser for the series was released on March 25, 2020,[15] and the first trailer on April 15, 2020.[16] The first season premiered on May 8, 2020. Internationally, the series premiered on Disney+ under the dedicated streaming hub Star as an original series on February 23, 2021.[17][18] The second season premiered on March 26, 2021.[19]

The third season premiered on July 13, 2022.[20] The fourth season premiered on August 14, 2023.[21] The fifth season premiered on August 12, 2024.[9] The sixth and final season premiered on October 13, 2025.[22]

Syndication

[edit]

The series premiered on FXX on July 30, 2022.[23] In September 2025, the first five seasons were made available on Netflix.[24]

Reception

[edit]

Viewership

[edit]

Hulu announced that Solar Opposites became both the most-watched program and the most-watched Hulu Original comedy premiere on the platform following its debut from May 8—12, 2020.[25] According to market research company Parrot Analytics, which looks at consumer engagement in consumer research, streaming, downloads, and on social media, the series was the second-largest gainer in global demand during the week of May 3—9, 2020. It saw a 326.7% spike in demand, making it one of the most popular new series at the time.[26] Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, announced that the show ranked as the tenth most-streamed original series in the U.S. with 196 million minutes of watch time during the week of March 22–28, 2021.[27] It rose to seventh place with 171 million minutes of watch time the following week, March 29–April 4, 2021.[28] In April 2021, Solar Opposites experienced a 40.3% month-on-month increase in U.S. demand, according to Parrot Analytics.[29]

Whip Media's viewership tracking app TV Time, which tracks viewership data for the more than 21 million worldwide users of its app, calculated that the series was the fourth most anticipated returning television series in July 2022.[30] It ranked as the seventh most-streamed original series in the U.S. for the week of July 24, 2022.[31] Nielsen Media Research further reported that it was the tenth most-streamed original series in the U.S. with 309 million minutes of watch time from of August 14—20, 2023.[32][33] TVision, which utilizes its TVision Power Score to evaluate CTV programming performance by factoring in viewership and engagement across over 1,000 apps and incorporating four key metrics—viewer attention time, total program time available for the season, program reach, and app reach—calculated that Solar Opposites was the fifteenth most-streamed series from August 12—18, 2024.[34] It subsequently moved to nineteenth place during the week of August 19–25, 2024.[35] The series ranked No. 12 on Hulu's "Top 15 Today" list—a daily updated list of the platform's most-watched titles—on October 9, 2024.[36]

Critical response

[edit]

Season 1

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 has an approval rating of 92% based on reviews from 37 critics, with an average rating of 7.60/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Charming, hilarious, and surprisingly sincere, Solar Opposites revels in the ridiculousness of life while finding a few fresh things to say about humanity along the way."[37] On Metacritic it has a weighted average score of 72 out of 100, based on reviews from 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[38]

Dan Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter praised the animation of the series, acclaimed the performances of the voice actors, and complimented the humor of the show, writing, "Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan's new Hulu animated comedy Solar Opposites has enough loopy sci-fi elements to appeal to Rick and Morty fans and a distinctly adult sensibility."[39] Alison Foreman of Mashable praised the dynamic and strong relationships between the different characters, drawing comparisons with other families coming from adult animated sitcoms such as The Simpsons while complimenting the humor of the show, calling it a "spectacular gem worthy of its own fanbase."[40] Joe Matar of Den of Geek rated the series 5 out of 5 stars, praised the show for its classic sitcom format, acclaimed the performances of the voice actors, and applauded the comicality, stating that despite the comparisons with Rick and Morty, the series manages to stand on its own.[41] Alex McLevy of The A.V. Club gave the show a B grade and called it "a mischievous cousin of 3rd Rock from the Sun" while saying it doesn't stray too far from the template Roiland set with Rick and Morty. McLevy feels the show is still finding its feet, but "Luckily, the humor is so reliably strong, the pacing so breakneck as it races from one plot to the next, that it's hard not to be won over by Solar Opposites' avalanche of charm."[42] Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media rated Solar Opposites 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "Solar Opposites is an animated show by the brains behind Rick and Morty. It has the same style and vibe, including lots of edgy humor, cheerful gory violence, surreal visuals and plot twists, and wall-to-wall language."[43]

Season 2

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 14 critics, with an average rating of 8.10/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Solar Opposites successfully shoots for the moon in an ambitious sophomore outing that manages to build on the first season while adding plenty of fun surprises."[44]

Jess Joho of Mashable found that the second season gives Solar Opposites its own identity, writing, "Roiland and other Ricky and Morty talent finally releasing themselves from the creative shackles of what works for that show, to find their own uniquely satisfying rhythm."[45] Joe Matar of Den of Geek rated the second season 5 out of 5 stars, found it to be a "bigger, crazier, and funnier" season compared to the first one, and gave praise for its cursed language, references to pop culture, and level of violence depicted across its episodes.[46] Davis Opie of Digital Spy rated the second season of the series 4 out of 5 stars, stating, "Everything that worked in season one is intensified here for the better," and claimed that Solar Opposites manages to be distinct from Rick and Morty across its humor and story lines, saying, "Solar Opposites is very much its own beast."[47] Ethan Anderson of SlashFilm gave the second season a grade of 8 out of 10, stated it brings back the humor of the first season with a dark storytelling, and claimed it manages to be "bigger, crazier, and even more confident" than the first season.[48]

Season 3

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 7 critics, with an average rating of 8/10.[49]

Lex Briscuso of SlashFilm called the third season of Solar Opposites "bright, bold, and, frankly, bananas in the best way," writing, "Solar Opposites has established itself as a spicy animated situational comedy that pulls from the best parts of its predecessor, Rick and Morty, yet doesn't get stuck looking for its place outside of the Adult Swim hit's shadow. The show is self-assured with a unique vibe and tone all its own, and that continues to shine in the third season. By leaning into the more human elements of what the series has to offer — both the base exploration of those concepts with the aliens and the desperate attempt at a reclamation from the wall people — season 3 of Solar Opposites reminds us that clever structure can give way to everything else you love about a story: clever writing, brash jokes, and pure cathartic connective tissue."[50] Anthony Orlando of BuzzFeed ranked Solar Opposites 10th in their "17 Shows And Characters That Absolutely, Positively Should Have Received Emmy Nominations," saying, "Sure, this show may not be as good as Rick and Morty, but Solar Opposites is very much its own comedic beast. Co-creator Justin Roiland and his team inject the same amount of hilarity and creativity into this alien-centric show as he did with the former series. Also, the side-adventures in The Wall should've garnered some nominations by themselves, as they made for an outstanding show within the show."[51]

Season 4

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the fourth season has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 8 critics, with an average rating of 7.8/10.[52]

Ross McIndoe of Slant Magazine called the fourth season of Solar Opposites "a mad blend of pop-cultural references and meta-gags, some of which land and some of which don't," also adding that season four is "true to the scatological, self-awareness of the show's prior ones."[53] Nate Richard of Collider has called season four "the series' most entertaining to date" and "one of the better original comedy series that Hulu has to offer," though the show "start to get repetitive at points".[54] Praising Dan Stevens voice replacing Justin Roiland's, Tessa Smith of Mama's Geeky wrote, "Dan Stevens steps in without missing a beat as the voice of Korvo."[55]

Accolades

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2021 Clio Awards Audio/Visual Social Single Video Solar Opposites Bronze [56][57]
2022 BMI Film & TV Awards BMI Streaming Series Awards Chris Westlake Won [58][59]
Clio Awards Special Event Solar Opposites Gold [60][61]
2024 Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Media Production Dan Stevens Nominated [62][63]
2025 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Media Production for Mature Audience Solar Opposites Nominated [64][65]

Merchandise

[edit]

On January 27, 2021, it was revealed at the 2021 Funko Fair that new figures based on the series would be made, which were released on June 25, 2021.[66] On November 17, 2021, Hulu launched an online storefront which featured merchandise based on select shows from its service, with Solar Opposites being one of them.[67][68]

On July 22, 2022, at San Diego Comic-Con that a 192-page art book titled "The Art of Solar Opposites" will be released in early 2023 for $49.99 and will be published by Dark Horse Books.[69] However, as of September 2024, the book has not been released.

Tie-in media

[edit]

Music video

[edit]

A music video, titled "WTF is Christmas? (A Solar Opposites Song ft. Darren Criss)" and written by Tony Ferrari, was released on November 11, 2021, where Korvo tries to remember what Christmas is all about.[70]

Video game

[edit]

Solar Opposites were featured character players in the crossover racing game Warped Kart Racers, released to Apple Arcade in May 2022, along with characters from Family Guy, American Dad!, and King of the Hill.[71]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Solar Opposites

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is an American adult animated created by and . The series centers on a team of four aliens—Korvo, , Yumyulack, and Jesse—who escape their planet Shlorp's destruction and crash-land in a suburban American home, where they disagree on whether to preserve or eradicate humanity while awaiting a device called the to mature and terraform . Premiering on on May 8, 2020, the show achieved strong viewership as the streaming service's most-watched original comedy debut at the time. The series received critical acclaim for its humor and , earning a 95% approval rating from critics on across its seasons and an average viewer score of 7.9 on . It garnered an Annie Award nomination in 2024 for ' voice performance as Korvo. Produced by , Solar Opposites ran for six seasons, concluding in 2025, with episodes featuring satirical takes on human society, family dynamics among the aliens, and side stories in a miniature human-inhabited "Wall." A notable controversy involved co-creator , who voiced Korvo and other characters until his dismissal in January 2023 by and amid charges—later dropped due to insufficient evidence—and allegations of toxic workplace behavior, including inappropriate communications. Despite the charges being dismissed, the studio severed ties based on the reported conduct, leading to recasting with actors like for Korvo in subsequent seasons. The production adapted without Roiland, maintaining its output and receiving praise for seamless voice transitions.

Premise and Themes

Core Premise

Solar Opposites centers on a family of four aliens from the planet Shlorp who flee its destruction by an asteroid and crash-land in a suburban neighborhood in middle America. The group consists of mission leader Korvo, his partner Terry, and their adoptive children Yumyulack and Jesse, along with the infant Pupa, a gelatinous entity destined to terraform planets once matured. Their primary objective is to repair their ship and facilitate Pupa's growth to recreate Shlorp on Earth, while protecting the entity from threats. The aliens hold opposing views on humanity and Earth: Korvo views the planet as inferior and pushes for swift , while Terry embraces human indulgences; Yumyulack develops an affinity for Earth , particularly celebrity obsession and social experiments, whereas Jesse seeks normalcy through high school experiences. This internal division leads to comedic conflicts as they navigate suburban life, blending advanced alien with human like backyard barbecues and television consumption. The premise highlights the clash between extraterrestrial superiority and terrestrial flaws, with the family evenly split on whether Earth is salvageable or should be overwritten.

Satirical Elements and World-Building

The universe of Solar Opposites is constructed around the planet Shlorp, depicted as an advanced, utopian society whose destruction propels the alien protagonists—Korvo, , Yumyulack, and Jesse—into exile on aboard their crashed spaceship. Their mission centers on incubating the , a larval entity intended to terraform into a new Shlorp-like paradise, though internal divisions arise as Korvo and Yumyulack view humanity's , , and social dysfunctions as irredeemable flaws warranting eradication, while and Jesse embrace 's chaotic appeal. This foundational setup enables expansive world-building, blending , biomechanical technology, and suburban American locales into a framework that juxtaposes alien superiority with absurdity. Satirical elements emerge primarily through the aliens' outsider critique of terrestrial society, exaggerating flaws like and material excess; for instance, Korvo's disdain for "crass " manifests in episodes where alien interventions amplify human greed, such as weaponized fast-food chains or reality TV obsessions, highlighting causal links between unchecked appetites and societal decay. The series further employs in subplots like the SilverCops arc, which mocks tropes and militaristic propaganda akin to , using alien enforcers to lampoon fascism's allure through over-the-top violence and blind loyalty. A cornerstone of the show's world-building is "The Wall," a in Yumyulack's bedroom where shrunken humans form self-sustaining micro-societies, evolving from primitive survival tales into intricate political dramas that dystopian narratives and human . Initially parodying post-apocalyptic genres with resource wars and makeshift hierarchies, The Wall's critique oppression, leadership struggles, and factionalism, serving as a contained mirror to broader critiques while allowing independent narrative escalation, such as transitions to external threats like "The Back Yard." This dual-world structure—alien macro-adventures versus human micro-dramas—reinforces causal realism in , grounding absurd humor in observable patterns of societal breakdown without romanticizing flaws.

Characters

Main Characters

The primary protagonists in Solar Opposites form a unit of Shlorpian aliens stranded on after their ship malfunctions during a mission to assess the planet for . Korvo serves as the leader, a rational intent on repairing the vessel to depart, while his partner embraces culture. Their offspring, Yumyulack and Jesse, exhibit contrasting adaptations to life, with the former rejecting it aggressively and the latter seeking integration. Central to their objective is safeguarding the , a larval entity whose physiological responses gauge 's suitability for Shlorpian colonization. Korvo, full name Korvotron Opposites, is depicted as the intelligent, misanthropic head of the group, despising Earth's chaos and prioritizing the mission's success through scientific ingenuity despite repeated failures. Initially voiced by co-creator for the first three seasons, the role transitioned to starting in season 4 following Roiland's legal issues and departure from the production. Terry functions as Korvo's optimistic counterpart, a sociable and adaptable alien who revels in Earth's media, food, and social norms, often undermining mission efforts with his hedonistic pursuits. Voiced consistently by , Terry's laid-back demeanor provides comic relief amid the group's conflicts. Yumyulack, Korvo's cloned adolescent , embodies cunning and belligerence, styling himself as a who experiments with human technology and engages in petty crimes, frequently clashing with authority figures. provides his voice throughout the series. Jesse, the replicant daughter of Terry, contrasts her sibling by displaying empathy and a desire to assimilate into society, forming friendships and participating in activities while grappling with her alien identity. She is voiced by . The appears as a non-verbal, shape-shifting creature whose skin color shifts—green for positive environmental signals, red for negative—serving as the mission's barometer for Earth's terraform viability; its protection drives much of the narrative tension. Primarily voiced through sound effects by Sagan McMahan, the evolves in capabilities across seasons, occasionally influencing events through unintended powers.

Supporting and Recurring Characters

The Duke, an intergalactic crime lord and recurring antagonist, pursues the Solars across multiple episodes, often allying with or betraying other threats to the team's mission. Voiced by , the character embodies chaotic villainy through schemes involving planetary destruction and personal vendettas, appearing prominently in seasons 1 and 2 before his apparent demise, with flashbacks and echoes in later arcs. Cherie, the Solars' suburban neighbor and wife of Tim, features in domestic subplots highlighting cultural clashes between aliens and humans, such as neighborhood disputes and family dynamics. Voiced by , she evolves from suspicious hostility toward tentative alliances, recurring across seasons 1 through 4 in storylines involving backyard invasions and community events. Tim, Cherie's husband and another neighbor, provides through oblivious perspectives on the aliens' antics, often dragged into absurd scenarios like alien tech mishaps. Voiced by Daly, he appears recurrently from season 1 onward, serving as a foil to Korvo's disdain for customs. Aisha, a classmate of Jesse and Yumyulack, recurs as a bold ally in school-based episodes, participating in pranks, body-swap events, and anti-authority plots that blend teen rebellion with extraterrestrial interference. Voiced by , her role expands in seasons 2 and 3, emphasizing themes of friendship amid secrecy. Ms. Frankie, the school teacher, embodies bureaucratic authority in educational settings, frequently clashing with the young Solars' disruptive behaviors and hosting field trips that devolve into chaos. Voiced by , she recurs in multiple seasons, voicing additional roles like Nova and Pezlie in alien-centric narratives. Other recurring figures include the , a bureaucratic overseer of the Solars' mission who demands progress reports via hologram, voiced variably but central to planetary oversight; and entities like JK Sevens (JK-7), a Wall-dweller involved in miniature civilization arcs, highlighting the show's multiscale satire. These characters amplify episodic variety without dominating the core family dynamic.

Voice Casting and Performance Changes

The main voice cast for Solar Opposites features as the hedonistic alien Terry across all seasons, as the rebellious teenage Yumyulack, as the optimistic human-raised Jesse, and Sagan McMahan as the evolving . provided the voice for the series protagonist Korvo, the team's uptight leader, in seasons 1 through 3 (2020–2022), along with select supporting alien characters. In January 2023, Roiland was removed from the production following domestic battery charges, which were later dismissed in March 2023 but prompted networks including to sever ties. The role of Korvo was recast with for season 4 onward, with the change announced on June 20, 2023, ahead of the season's premiere on August 14, 2023. Production re-recorded Korvo's lines for the entire season to integrate Stevens' performance, which producers described as capturing the character's precise, exasperated tone with subtle enhancements in emotional range. Stevens' portrayal diverged from Roiland's higher-pitched, improvisational style by emphasizing a more controlled British-inflected alien accent, though it preserved core traits like Korvo's disdain for Earth customs. Minor roles voiced by Roiland, including secondary aliens and one-off figures like a season 3 narrator variant, were also re-dubbed or recast in 4 episodes to excise his contributions entirely. No changes occurred for the core beyond Korvo, allowing continuity in ensemble dynamics. Stevens reprised the in 5, released August 12, 2024, where his delivery further aligned with the character's arc amid escalating planetary threats. Critics and producers noted the recast's success in sustaining the show's satirical edge without narrative disruption, attributing this to targeted re-voicing rather than wholesale rewrites.

Production History

Concept Development and Creation

Solar Opposites was conceived by in 2006 or 2007 as a live-action series featuring two aliens studying , drawing from the concept of polar opposites in their perspectives on . The idea remained undeveloped for years until Roiland collaborated with , a writer from , to expand it into an about a family of four aliens who crash-land on after their home planet, Shlorp, is destroyed. This iteration introduced elements like replicants for disguise and a central premise of ideological division: the team's leader, Korvo, seeks to terraform and "fix" the planet, while others hold contrasting views on humanity's worth. The core concept solidified during a single intensive brainstorming session between Roiland and McMahan, emphasizing narrative flexibility through the aliens' advanced technology and isolation from pursuit by Earth authorities, framed as an allegory for immigrant experiences. A key innovation was "," a within the aliens' home where shrunken humans form micro-societies, inspired by Roiland's gameplay in ; this subplot was integral to the season-long arc but became a point of contention during early pitches. Influences included for the stranded ensemble dynamic and a relaxed sensibility toward eccentric newcomers. Initially pitched to , the series faced rejection partly due to discomfort with the full exploration of storyline, which the creators had scaled back assuming broadcast constraints. subsequently acquired the project, providing a two-season commitment that enabled unrestricted development of the serialized elements, including deeper dives into 's evolving civilizations. This shift allowed the premise to mature into a blend of episodic alien-human antics and overarching satire on suburban life and planetary preservation.

Writing and Animation Processes

The writing process for Solar Opposites begins in a collaborative writers' room led by co-creator Mike McMahan, where the team breaks down episode stories collectively before assigning scripts to individual writers or drafting them directly. McMahan maintains oversight on every script, incorporating feedback from artists and refining elements like character rants through iterative input from the room. Scripts often start with an initial funny scene as an anchor, with subsequent scenes built to escalate humor and engagement, while long-term arcs—such as the "The Wall" subplot inspired by serialized storytelling like The Wire—are mapped out early, sometimes before the pilot is finalized, to ensure narrative cohesion across 6 to 10 episodes per season. This approach emphasizes subverting sitcom conventions with sci-fi elements, drawing from a broad pool of genre references to generate "insane" pitches that surprise the writers themselves, fostering creative freedom unconstrained by live-action production limits. Animation production features in-house design generation, led by art director Yaoyao Ma Van As, who adapts co-creator Justin Roiland's stylistic doodles into character and world assets, creating distinct visual tones: vibrant and colorful for Earth-based scenes versus cinematic, level-specific variations for "" micro-worlds. The core animation pipeline is handled by in , utilizing Toon Boom Harmony for rigging, animation, and compositing, with employed for select effects-heavy sequences. In-house teams manage technical retakes, revisions, and final polish, adapting to challenges like the compressed Season 1 schedule (post-production from winter to April 2020) and a swift shift to remote workflows during the lockdown to maintain consistency across batches of 16 episodes for Seasons 1 and 2. This 2D-focused process prioritizes fluid, exaggerated movements suited to the show's absurd humor, enabling rapid iteration on genre-bending visuals without the fidelity demands of higher-budget 3D animation.

Justin Roiland's Role and Controversial Departure

co-created Solar Opposites alongside , developing the series as a to their work on for Hulu's launch in May 2020. He provided the voice for the lead character Korvo, the Shlorpian scientist and family patriarch, across the first three seasons, along with additional roles such as the brawny alien and various minor characters. In May 2020, Roiland faced felony charges in , for one count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one count of stemming from an alleged incident on or around January 19, 2020, involving an ex-girlfriend; he was arrested in August 2020, released on $50,000 bail, and pleaded not guilty in October 2020. The charges remained under seal until they were publicly reported on January 12, 2023, prompting widespread media coverage and scrutiny of Roiland's professional ties. On January 25, 2023, and announced they had ended their relationship with Roiland, stating they would no longer collaborate with him and planned to recast his voice roles in Solar Opposites and other projects, citing the allegations as the basis for the decision despite no conviction at the time. This followed similar moves by and , which had already distanced themselves earlier in January 2023 amid the public revelation of the charges. On March 22, 2023, the Orange County District Attorney's office dismissed both charges against Roiland due to insufficient evidence, a development Roiland attributed to false accusations amplified by media and online narratives. Production on Solar Opposites season 4 proceeded without Roiland's involvement, with his dialogue from prior recordings reportedly edited or removed where feasible; was cast to replace him as Korvo, announced on June 20, 2023, marking a deliberate shift away from sound-alike impressions toward a distinct performance. Additional recasting occurred for at least one other Roiland-voiced character in the season, released August 14, 2023, reflecting the studio's commitment to severing ties post-allegations despite the charges' dismissal.

Season Production and Series Conclusion

Following Justin Roiland's departure after the third season, production for the fourth season continued under lead showrunner at , with animation handled by , maintaining the series' episodic structure of eight to ten episodes per season focused on standalone stories alongside overarching arcs like the containment of Earth copies in "." Hulu had renewed the series for the fourth season on June 22, 2021, prior to the change in creative personnel, allowing production to proceed without interruption, resulting in a premiere on July 25, 2023. The fifth season renewal was announced on October 6, 2022, expanding the total episode order to 53, but production faced delays from the 2023 and strikes, pushing the release to August 12, 2024, after resuming work in early 2024. For the sixth season, co-showrunners McMahan and Josh Bycel oversaw writing and production, emphasizing closure for key elements such as the aliens' mission to repair their ship and the resolution of subplots involving human integration and planetary duplicates. Hulu confirmed the sixth season, consisting of 10 episodes, as the series finale, premiering on October 13, 2025, after which no further renewals were issued. McMahan explained the conclusion as a deliberate choice to provide narrative satisfaction, wrapping character growth and major threats like The Wall's ecosystem while avoiding indefinite prolongation, though he expressed openness to spin-offs or future projects in interviews. Bycel noted the finale incorporated shocking twists, potential character deaths, and heartfelt resolutions to balance the show's sci-fi absurdity with emotional payoff, as corroborated by voice actor . This endpoint followed five years of consistent output, totaling 63 episodes, amid shifting platform dynamics including a licensing deal sending prior seasons to in September 2025 to boost visibility ahead of the close.

Release and Distribution

Premiere and Platform History

Solar Opposites premiered exclusively on the streaming platform on May 8, 2020, with all eight episodes of its first season released simultaneously. The series, produced as a Hulu Original, maintained this platform for subsequent seasons, including the second season on March 26, 2021, the third on July 13, 2022, the fourth split into two parts from July 25, 2023, to April 11, 2024, and the fifth on August 12, 2024. The sixth and final season debuted on and the bundled Hulu on Disney+ service on October 13, 2025, marking the conclusion of the series after 63 episodes across six seasons. Prior to this, on September 28, 2025, the first five seasons were licensed for streaming on in the United States, expanding availability beyond while the series originated and primarily distributed as a property. This move occurred ahead of the final season's release, providing broader access to earlier content without altering 's role as the primary platform.

Season Release Timeline

Solar Opposites seasons are released exclusively on Hulu, with all episodes of each season typically dropping simultaneously to facilitate binge-watching, though select holiday specials have aired separately later in the year.
  • Season 1 premiered on May 8, 2020, consisting of eight episodes.
  • Season 2 premiered on March 26, 2021, with eight main episodes plus a holiday special released on November 22, 2021.
  • Season 3 premiered on July 13, 2022, featuring eleven episodes including a Halloween special aired on October 17, 2022.
  • Season 4 premiered on August 14, 2023, with twelve episodes.
  • Season 5 premiered on August 12, 2024, also comprising twelve episodes.
  • Season 6, the series finale, premiered on October 13, 2025, delivering the concluding ten episodes.

Episodes

Season Summaries and Key Arcs

Season 1, which premiered on May 8, 2020, follows the Solar Opposites—a team of four aliens who escape their destroyed home planet Shlorp and crash-land in suburban America—split on their mission to assess for terraforming. Korvo, the mission leader, aims to eradicate to rebuild Shlorp, while Terry embraces 's chaos; the replicant children Yumyulack and Jesse attend school and develop affections for it, and the infant observes passively. The season introduces "," a hidden enclosure in the family home where Yumyulack and Jesse shrink peers, sparking a miniature society's formation with barter economies and emerging tyrannies. In Season 2, released March 26, 2021, the family repairs their ship for space travel but encounters mishaps, deepening internal divides as Korvo pushes anti-Earth agendas amid Terry's pro-human stance. Subplots expand The Wall's civilization under Duke's regime, involving power struggles and Halk's plots. The begins subtle maturation cues, while the aliens navigate absurd Earth integrations like family bonding parodies. Season 3, airing from July 13, 2022, emphasizes family dynamics post-Korvo and Terry's , with episodes exploring unconventional bonds amid ongoing terraform debates. The Wall storyline intensifies with action, romance, and twists like Cherie's alliances against tyrants; external threats from SilverCops emerge, leaving cliffhangers such as stolen offspring and abandoned allies. Season 4, debuting August 14, 2023, sees the family grappling with marital strains and Earth exodus attempts, culminating in relocation to a new alien world while resolving some Wall conflicts. SilverCops arcs involve recruitment and interstellar pursuits, with the main plot shifting toward off-Earth havoc. Season 5, premiered August 12, 2024, transpires on the new planet Clervix 3, where the Solars seek residency amid bureaucratic hurdles and perpetual mischief, continuing Pupa's growth and family tensions in an alien context. The sixth and final season, released October 13, 2025, delivers conclusive arcs with shocks, character development, and themes of destruction alongside healthcare fraud schemes, providing satisfying resolutions to ongoing conflicts including potential deaths and endgames for subplots. Overarching key arcs include the Pupa's evolution from observer to active participant, consuming elements toward Shlorpian rebirth; Korvo and Terry's partnership maturing into marriage and relational trials; the children's assimilation versus loyalty conflicts; and serialized subplots like The Wall's societal upheavals—from primitive settlements to complex politics and wars—evolving into The Back Yard in later seasons, plus SilverCops' escapades. These elements underscore causal tensions between alien imperatives and adoptive world's allure, with empirical family growth driving narrative progression.

Reception

Critical Analysis

Critics have lauded Solar Opposites for its irreverent humor and inventive sci-fi premises, which effectively satirize human societal flaws through the lens of extraterrestrial disdain, achieving approval ratings of 92% for Season 1 and 100% for Season 5 based on aggregated reviews. The ensemble of alien characters—Korvo's misanthropic leadership, Terry's chaotic enthusiasm, and the contrasting perspectives of Yumyulack and Jesse—provides a dynamic foundation for episodic , with reviewers noting the show's strength in blending high-concept plots, such as planetary debates, with rapid-fire visual gags and voice performances that amplify its anarchic tone. This structure allows for causal exploration of themes like and environmental hubris, where alien interventions expose Earth's inefficiencies without overt moralizing, distinguishing it from more nihilistic predecessors. Despite these merits, detractors identify structural limitations, including repetitive reliance on gross-out violence and surreal escalation that prioritizes shock over sustained narrative depth, leading to episodes that feel formulaic after initial novelty. scores averaging 72 out of 100 reflect this ambivalence, with some analyses critiquing the underutilization of character conflicts for comedic tension, resulting in arcs that devolve into disconnected vignettes rather than building cumulative insight. The show's derivative elements, echoing 's multiverse tropes but with less philosophical rigor, underscore a causal shortfall in originality attributable to shared creative origins, potentially limiting its appeal beyond fans of manic . Justin Roiland's 2023 departure amid legal allegations prompted recasting of Korvo and Terry, which critics generally view as seamless in preserving the series' foul-mouthed irreverence, with Season 4 maintaining strong reviews despite audience backlash. However, targeted examinations reveal a perceptible dilution in the characters' improvisational mania, as new actors and deliver polished but less erratic line readings, altering the causal chain of humor from Roiland's unscripted ad-libs to more scripted consistency. This shift, while not derailing critical favor—evidenced by sustained high tallies—highlights a in voice-driven , where institutional pressures to controversial figures may prioritize continuity over irreplaceable idiosyncrasy, though empirical viewership data suggests minimal long-term detriment. Overall, the series excels in episodic but falters in evolving beyond its foundational , rendering it a competent but not transformative entry in .

Viewership Metrics

The premiere of Solar Opposites on May 8, 2020, marked Hulu's most-watched series debut, topping the platform's overall rankings shortly after launch and becoming the most-viewed adult animated title during its opening weekend. More than 40 percent of viewers who started the first season binge-watched all eight episodes within two days of availability. Season 2, which premiered on March 26, 2021, generated 196 million minutes of viewership in its first full week per Nielsen data, enabling 's first appearance on the Nielsen Top 10 streaming originals chart at the 10th spot. Later seasons sustained competitive metrics despite limited public disclosures from . Season 4's premiere week (August 14–20, 2023) recorded 309 million minutes viewed, again ranking 10th on Nielsen's streaming originals list—figures deemed robust for a animated comedy.
SeasonPremiere Week Minutes Viewed (Nielsen)Ranking
2196 million10
4309 million10
Independent analytics from Parrot Analytics highlight enduring audience demand, rating the series at 14.3 times the average TV show's level and in the 97.9th percentile for comedies, contributing to renewals through five full seasons before the planned conclusion with season 6 in 2025.

Fan Reactions and Debates

Fans initially praised Solar Opposites for its ensemble-driven humor and character development, with some arguing it surpasses by distributing focus across the alien family rather than centering on a single genius protagonist. Viewers highlighted elements like the "Wall" subplots as innovative and engaging, contrasting them with 's multiverse-heavy arcs. However, debates arose over its perceived similarities to , with critics among fans labeling it a derivative "diet" version lacking the original's philosophical depth, despite shared creators and animation style. The 2023 recasting of Justin Roiland's characters, prompted by his legal issues, sparked significant fan discourse on authenticity and show continuity. Many expressed initial skepticism about the replacements, noting the new Korvo voice as noticeably altered and disruptive to immersion, though some adapted after subsequent seasons. Fans debated whether the series could sustain its quality without Roiland's contributions, with early concerns predicting cancellation akin to other affected shows, yet it persisted through five full seasons post-change. The fandom's relatively small size compared to Rick and Morty's has fueled discussions on visibility and outspokenness, attributed by fans to less aggressive marketing and a more subdued community dynamic. Internal tensions emerged over preferences for specific arcs, such as disproportionate emphasis on "The Wall," which some fans viewed as overshadowing main plots and fostering a "bratty" subset of the base. Hulu's March 2025 announcement that season 6 would conclude the series elicited widespread fan disappointment, primarily blamed on declining viewership metrics rather than creative failings. Responses included over the abrupt end despite ongoing enjoyment of characters like Jesse and , with calls for potential revivals on other platforms amid perceptions of undervalued appeal.

Controversies

In May 2020, , co-creator and voice actor for multiple characters on Solar Opposites, was charged by Orange County prosecutors with two felony counts stemming from an alleged incident with an adult woman he was dating: one count of domestic battery causing corporal injury and one count of by menace, violence, fraud, and deceit. The charges remained under seal until early 2023, when they became public amid separate reports of Roiland sending sexually explicit messages to underage individuals online, though no criminal charges resulted from those claims. On March 22, 2023, prosecutors dismissed both charges against Roiland, citing insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a following a review of witness statements and other materials. Hulu, which distributes Solar Opposites, severed ties with Roiland on January 25, 2023—prior to the trial and dismissal of charges—citing the pending case and emerging allegations as reasons for removing him from the series and related projects like . This decision followed Adult Swim's similar action on , reflecting a broader industry response to high-profile accusations against creators, even absent convictions. Roiland was not reinstated post-acquittal, with production proceeding without his creative or vocal contributions. For season 4, premiering July 12, 2023, recast Roiland's primary role as Korvo with British actor , whose deeper, more authoritative timbre marked a deliberate departure from Roiland's higher-pitched, delivery, altering the character's auditory identity without in-universe explanation. Secondary Roiland-voiced characters, such as the and Red Goobler, were also recast—Pupa with an uncredited performer and Red Goobler reportedly by —ensuring continuity amid the transition. The recasting enabled the series to renew for a fifth season in December 2023, though some observers noted it risked diluting the original vocal ensemble's chaotic synergy, a hallmark of Roiland's style.

Review Bombing and Fan Backlash

Following Justin Roiland's dismissal from Solar Opposites in January 2023 amid charges that were later dropped in March 2023 for lack of evidence, the show's fourth season, which premiered on on August 9, 2023, with recast voice actors including as Korvo, faced coordinated review bombing by Roiland supporters. Users on platforms like and submitted disproportionate numbers of low ratings—often 0/5 or 1/10—explicitly citing the removal of Roiland as the primary grievance, arguing that the charges were unfounded and that his creative input was irreplaceable. This resulted in Season 4's audience score dropping to the mid-50% range, a sharp decline from the minimum 81% of prior seasons, while critic scores remained at 100%. Fan backlash extended beyond ratings to online forums and petitions, with threads documenting clusters of identical complaints about the "soulless" recasting and perceived decline in humor, though some users noted that episode quality aligned with previous seasons absent the bombing influence. A petition launched in August 2023 demanded Roiland's reinstatement, garnering signatures from fans who viewed the ousting as premature and damaging to the series' satirical edge. Supervising producer Sydney Ryan acknowledged minimal script changes from Roiland's exit for Season 4, as much of the voice work and writing predated the charges, but detractors claimed the absence eroded the show's chaotic, irreverent tone. Critics of the backlash, including some media outlets, attributed the low scores to Roiland loyalists prioritizing over , despite the dropped charges, while fan defenses emphasized empirical vindication via the dismissal of and accused platforms of amplifying unverified narratives. user reviews for Season 4 episodes averaged around 3-5/10, compared to 7-8/10 for earlier seasons, with explicit references to "review bombing" appearing in both supportive and oppositional comments. This pattern echoed similar protests for , though Solar Opposites bore the brunt due to its smaller fanbase and direct ties to Roiland's co-creator role. By Season 5's release in August 2024, the intensity waned, but residual negativity persisted in aggregated scores.

Comparisons to Rick and Morty

Solar Opposites draws frequent comparisons to Rick and Morty due to shared co-creator Justin Roiland, who contributed to both shows' irreverent sci-fi humor and visual style produced by Titmouse, Inc. Both series feature extraterrestrial protagonists navigating chaotic Earth-based adventures, including portals, alien technology mishaps, and satirical takes on human society, with Solar Opposites incorporating Easter eggs referencing Rick and Morty elements like interdimensional travel motifs. Despite these parallels, has emphasized that Solar Opposites differentiates itself through a lighter tone, focusing on ensemble family dynamics among four aliens tasked with preserving a , rather than the multiverse-hopping central to 's and duo. Creators noted in 2020 interviews that while aesthetics overlap, Solar Opposites avoids 's darker existential themes, opting for more optimistic, workplace-like comedy among characters like the optimistic Korvo and hedonistic Yumyulack. Roiland himself highlighted in 2021 that Solar Opposites characters require more structured invention processes compared to Rick's improvisational gadgetry. Critics and analysts have pointed to Solar Opposites' more serialized narrative—tracking the aliens' ongoing mission and internal conflicts—as contrasting Rick and Morty's largely anthology-style episodes, though both rely on Roiland's signature rambling improv for bizarre dialogue. Voice casting also diverges, with Solar Opposites employing distinct actors for each lead to heighten individuality, unlike Roiland's multi-role dominance in Rick and Morty. Some reviews argue Solar Opposites excels in utilizing Earth settings for grounded subplots, such as the wall-dwelling human society, providing a counterpoint to Rick and Morty's cosmic scale.

Legacy

Cultural and Satirical Influence

Solar Opposites employs to critique human societal norms, particularly American and suburban mundanity, by contrasting them with the aliens' advanced yet flawed perspective on . The central family's internal divisions—exemplified by Korvo's disdain for humanity's inefficiencies versus Jesse's affinity for and media—underscore the irrationality of earthly habits, such as overreliance on disposable goods and . This setup allows for pointed lampooning of cultural excesses, where alien interventions expose the fragility of human systems, as seen in episodes disrupting everyday routines with extraterrestrial tech. The show's "Wall" segments, depicting a shrunken evolving through chaotic experiments, satirize political ideologies and power dynamics, revealing how ambition and conflict persist across scales and structures. These vignettes real-world failures, from authoritarian regimes to utopian ideals, without endorsing any, emphasizing cyclical flaws over ideological solutions. Heavily laden with pop culture allusions—from 1990s sitcoms like Friends and to action franchises such as —the series integrates these into its plots to mock obsessive and , often via the aliens' bemused adoption of media. In terms of broader influence, Solar Opposites has advanced by prioritizing ensemble-driven absurdity and dual-storyline formats, diverging from singular-protagonist models while sustaining irreverent sci-fi comedy traditions. It contributes to a mid-s surge in the genre, appealing to audiences accustomed to layered narratives amid streaming competition. However, its cultural footprint remains niche, overshadowed by stylistic kinships that limit distinct paradigm shifts.

Tie-in Media and Merchandise

Official merchandise for Solar Opposites includes collectible Pop! vinyl figures depicting main characters such as Jesse, released as part of the Pop! Animation line in 2021. also produced 7-inch plush toys of characters including Korvo and Yumyulack, marketed as officially licensed items for fans to expand collections. The Hulu official store offers apparel, accessories, and drinkware themed around the Shlorpian family and series motifs, such as t-shirts and mugs featuring character designs and catchphrases. These items target enthusiasts, emphasizing the show's sci-fi comedy elements without broader licensing expansions into toys from other major brands. In tie-in media, released The Art of Solar Opposites in 2022, a compiling artwork, character designs, and production insights from the first two seasons. Creators and discussed conceptual ideas for a spinoff centered on the show's "The Wall" storyline, styled similarly to Fallout Shelter, but no such title has been developed or released. No official comic series or novels have been produced, despite fan speculation on platforms like about potential partnerships with publishers such as or Marvel.

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  22. https://screenrant.com/solar-opposites-season-5-funniest-easter-eggs-references/
  23. https://solaropposites.fandom.com/wiki/The_Wall
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  28. https://screenrant.com/solar-opposites-facts-trivia-main-characters/
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  42. https://decider.com/2023/08/17/justin-roiland-removed-from-another-solar-opposites-character-who-voices-in-season-4/
  43. https://consequence.net/2023/08/justin-roiland-solar-opposites-dan-stevens/
  44. https://www.awardsdaily.com/2020/06/29/interview-with-justin-roiland-and-mike-mcmahan-of-solar-opposites/
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  49. https://www.polygon.com/23553876/justin-roiland-domestic-violence-charge-arrest-rick-and-morty-high-on-life/
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  54. https://www.awn.com/animationworld/mike-mcmahan-and-josh-bycel-reflect-solar-opposites-final-season
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  97. https://tv.parrotanalytics.com/US/solar-opposites-hulu
  98. https://www.cancelledscifi.com/2025/03/19/cancellation-watch-solar-opposites-will-end-with-its-6th-season-severance-remains-in-the-nielsen-top-5-and-more/
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  100. https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2496195/6-things-solar-opposites-does-better-than-rick-and-morty
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  105. https://www.reddit.com/r/solaropposites/comments/10bp7je/do_you_think_solar_opposites_can_carry_on_without/
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  142. https://www.reddit.com/r/solaropposites/comments/1g03sjh/what_do_you_think_of_the_idea_of_solar_opposites/
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