Despite the fact that the lead character, Frank Murphy, may appear to be a cross between Peter Griffin and Hank Hill, this show is nothing like the shows of the aforementioned characters. "F is for Family" is a brutally honest family and workplace comedy set in the early 1970s. The humor is no-holds-barred in regard to the doldrums of a lower-middle class family. Netflix does not rely on cutaway humor or awkward naiveté. Rather, Frank and his family cut close to the bone for anyone who grew up in even a remotely similar family dynamic. It would be easy to dismiss this show since so many animated family comedies have come before, but this show is worth the viewing time. At only 6 episodes, the first season ends too quickly and displays plenty of potential for continuation. Like BoJack Horseman, this show is not intended for younger audiences. Prepare to laugh, be surprised, be disheartened or even depressed, and most of all, to relate to the Murphys while viewing "F is for Family."
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Suicide_Saint1 January 2016
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ebrailey2218 December 2015Looking for something to watch I stumbled upon this show with no expectations and really liked it. Its funny, has interesting characters, and unique animation. If you grew up in this 70's or have parents that did you'll love this show. The family lives a basic suburban life set in the 70's. A high moral and short tempered father tries to support his family on a small budget while also trying to gain the respect of bis 14 year old son.. The show has plenty of laughs while still setting a serious tone at some points. Don't watch this show expecting something like family guy or American dad, the humor is much more guided and even manages to teach small life lessons. Netflix Originals have always been solid and then have outdone themselves yet again with F is for Family.
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mostgreatestguy2 January 2016I watched all 8 episodes in one sitting when it aired and I'm craving for another season. I haven't enjoyed an adult animated comedy as much as this in a long time. It has the perfect blend of dark humor and drama. The show does a great job of having you become familiar with the characters in a so short season. Hope the next season will be longer but this one was perfectly paced.
My only real complaint about the show is that the animation could look a little better but regardless it's very fun. I hope they take more risks in the upcoming season. Bill Burr and the rest of the cast are also just absolutely wonderful as well. -
spitefire_fan20 December 2015Just finished binge watching the whole first season of this show. It is fantastic. The animation is cool, the voice acting is great and most of all the writing is superb.
Maybe its because I had a similar home dynamic, but never in my life have I seen such an honest portrayal of family life and all the anger and frustration that come along with it. The voice acting is also outstanding from Bill Burr. Most people that play an angry character can make it come off quite cartoonish, yet somehow Bill Burr manages to make a cartoon come off very human by letting the anger build throughout a scene or an entire episode.
I highly recommend this show. -
generationofswine6 December 2018There is a lot of Honeymooners/All In the Family hate around this...and that is fine, I completely understand that. But, I really don't see the "All in The Family" vibe save for the fact it's set in the '70s and has a Honeymooners vibe with the father.
Either way, it starts off kind of slow and dull, but in a way that allowed me to think "OK, I'll give it a chance," and from there it builds in a way that most adult cartoons do not, that is it builds in more of a cartoon sit-com drama than a straight episodic comedy.
The story lines have a clear arc that you hardly ever get in animated shows like this, and it builds on the arc while remaining darkly amusing.
And it kind of sneaks up on you, it goes from dull because you are expecting Family Guy or the Simpsons...to compelling because F is for Family is actually trying to tell a story and not just be another cartoon.
You find yourself bored, then hooked on story arcs and the compelling and identifiable characters.
If you hate it, I think you hate it because you were expecting a straight animated comedy, and if you love it, I think it's because you found it dramatic and compelling with the humor coming from the characters.
They really did a great job on this, it's not the cartoon you'd expect and the pay off is there in spades.
It's worth a shot and you'll come to love it. -
bagiyevmarif7 May 2020I don't know why this show doesn't get the attention it deserves. Every character is hilarious and original. One of the funniest shows out there but people don't seem to care about it as much as they do for other popular animated shows.
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I've been listening to Bill Burr's The Monday Morning Podcast for a couple years now, and a huge fan ever since he became known on Chappelle's Show. Well you don't have to go far to find what is by far the best new comedy at the moment. Set in the 70's, I can still completely relate to the references in the show even though being born in '83. Maybe I'm just an old soul.
Let's just say it wasn't hard to sit through all 6 episodes without moving. Getting to hear Bill voice a temperamental father just like the world needs today isn't only fantastic, but it's just the start. The all-star cast delivers in a modern fashion never seen from these actors. Justin Long epitomizes his role as a rebellious teen, and familiar voices keep popping up at the best times to keep you laughing.
From the podcast, I knew this was coming as soon as it was announced, and been anxiously waiting for it to release ever since. If this show doesn't get extended for more episodes, I really don't know where we can go from here. ("If ya can't do the math on that one, then I can't help ya"...) If anything, I'm in awe of this having taken so long for Bill to sell, but then again he has been busy with that whole dominating comedy thing since he was "Punchin' the muffins!". -
sherylchilders8228 November 2020I started watching this when it was new, but wasn't that interested - put it on the back burner. I wanted to watch it, knew it was my type of show, but wasn't super excited about it. I started adulthood loving shows like King of the Hill, Family Guy, and Futurama, and F is for Family seemed similar. But, why wasn't I interested? First of all, the former are not like F. It is not really an episodic sitcom, but rather made for the streaming era with long form storytelling and more plot development. There are real life struggles in F, and it may be animated, but I wouldn't really call it a cartoon. It is more similar to King of the Hill in that way - the characters don't often do literally cartoonish things. Also, the explicit nature of F is far beyond what you would ever see on network television, although HBO has had some similarly raunchy animation. This is fine and not over the top, but it is worth noting if you have delicate sensibilities.
When I finally binged F, I found myself missing it immediately. You start to get invested in the characters because they are so believable. The story telling is probably the hook, and the voice acting is fantastic. It's not a touchy feely show that will leave you feeling warm and optimistic, but it will give you some shift in perspective because of its unique setting. This gives it an element of escape, to a time before cell phones or home computers, when the traditional nuclear family was still the prominent norm, yet roles were in the beginning stages of shifting toward more progressive times. It's set just long ago to feel foreign, but not so far away that it is unfamiliar.
Overall, the story is centered on a patriarchal figure of a fading culture - the failed father. It could be considered partially as an allegory really, for the beginning of the downfall of modern traditional life. It seems like there's something deeper there that hasn't quite come to fruition, but I will be looking forward to see where it goes. -
clippcool8 January 2016The characters in this show are so multidimensional and well written. I actually care about them. As for the language, I find it hilarious. It gives realism to the show. There are many details of the '70s that are spot on. The coffee mugs, some of the wallpaper. This type of visual recollection, is great. This is the best animated adult show, I have had the pleasure to enjoy. It pulls no punches, and touches on some very real feelings and issues, adults and children face then and now. It's not for the easily offended. Thanks for making an excellent show. I certainly hope we get more episodes. With the quality of writing, I imagine this would be full-time job, and the creator Bill Burr is a comedian who performs full-time as well. I hope he can do both. This show is a great treat.
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bgsmall25 April 2020Thought I Hadn't seen the entire series (3 seasons) on Netflix, but turns out I have!
The characterisation and writing keep me coming back to this series and the tales and traumas of a family in 1970's America. The swearing and Frank Murphy's rage is something to behold, don't remember that from the 70's! -
apelissi18 December 2015The first episode started off a little shaky, but after you get through the second episode you will be hooked. Don't get me wrong the first episode isn't bad and is really easy to watch, I just didn't find it very funny. Don't worry though, as the show goes on and the characters develop the laughs will start pouring in.
Overall it's a great show that any fan of Bill Burr will enjoy. For what it is it's very well written as the show follows a story arc, which is something most comedic animated series don't usually do. I really hope more episodes are in store, because in my opinion this has the potential of having a very nice run. -
mthomas-5814728 June 2020It could be great If they go back to the way they did season one that was pretty funny. after season one each season just got more more depressing.
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hal100229 January 2020No jokes. Cliche storylines. Horrible drawings. Terrible animation.
There is no way the high ranking on this is real. More Hollywood illusion. -
GiraffeDoor17 July 2020F is for Family has become one of the most satisfying TV shows of any kind I've seen in a while.
I thought it was going to be just another animated family sitcom but it was so much more. A powerful saga of the things people had to deal with at this time which is still very much what we deal with now only worse. I know it doesn't sound interesting off the bat to hear about marital trouble and employment anxiety but it's all done with humor, pathos and a lot of vitriol. As the tagline to Heavy Traffic went: "It's funny; but it's not a comedy. It's animated; but it's not a cartoon." And a similar thing applies here.
But of course it is a cartoon.
The first episode is by far the worst. Not because it's badly written, quite the opposite. It's just painful. But once you get past that, it improves every season. They were to keep creating meaningful conflict and the more you know the characters and see them develop the more vivid it becomes.
There is a lot of powerful imagery, both through the use of dreams and hallucination but also in reality. It's very visual in a way that justified every second of animation.
A lot of the bigotry did get under my skin but I suppose it was supposed to. It remains something I like this show in spite of. The weakest aspect of the show were gags that reference the future like when Frank remarks "1985?! There'll be a black president by then". They're just kind of smug when this show is better at humorous character driven story-telling than the pure joke. Leave that to Family Guy (another great show).
There is no show quite like it. It made me think a lot more about a lot of things we face in daily life like feminism and made me feel profound empathy for a character I normally wouldn't. -
The show features a more realistic view on family life and shows us a harsh reality and make the characters like real people. The show's really relatable and gave a real point of view of the world.
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This show is hilarious. It's so honest about family life unlike pretty much everything on television ever. Even the kids curse. I cursed as a kid, we all did, pretty much. The attitudes and dealings with everyday life are so funny and real. I could write a hundred things as to why this show is great and why you should watch it but instead of all that typing, just check it out and then give it a great rating. Well at least give it a watch.
Only down side is I went through all six episodes in a night. I WANT more!!!
(Please make more) -
It can't be a coincidence that 'F Is For Family!' is set in the same year as the program it most resembles, 'Wait Till Your Father Gets Home!'
It has the same format, characters, problems and the same over-burdened dad leading the way. Younger viewers may see elements of Peter Griffin and Hank Hill, but Frank Murphy is Harry Boyle with a hot temper... which is exactly who (what) Bill Burr is!
Here is an avenue of comedy that is difficult to make an impact in. There are many cartoon family sitcoms and thousands of episodes to choose from. But NetFlix has finally liberated this genre by allowing adult themes and language into the mix. (I wonder what Denis Leary would have done with an opportunity like this 30 years ago!)
There are some great gags for the grown-ups... one of my favorites is the 'Castle Of The Elfin King' L.P. in episode 2 of the first season. All King Crimson fans should find a safe space immediately!
Bill Burr does a good job of exploring the ideas that Family Guy would have had if it were let off its 'Fox TV' leash. This is the selfish world view of a today's adult - cast into a world of yesteryear when fathers quietly sacrificed their lives and feelings for their families. So that's initially a rather odd concept to embrace.
And the swearing! Even though people do swear a lot in real life conversations, it's still odd to see the profusion of profanity in this program... but after a few episodes, it becomes more natural and less annoying.
Great fun and Bill Burr followers will be delighted! -
marzbar_loves_you17 June 2020I absolutely love this show, if all the adult cartoons around it's hard to find one with original comedy and relatable humour. I was so excited when season 4 came out, HOWEVER....This season was more depressing then funny. I found myself getting really angry at Frank for his attitude and behaviour. When the final scene ended it was as though this whole season was for nothing? What was the point of it? Nothing really stood out this season, there was no real character development even the episode that was dedicated to Rosie was wasted and he didn't really achieve anything. Let's hope season 5 brings it back.
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mcgrathwillow13 December 2018My husband and I starting watching this when it first came out at first we where skeptical but as it got more into the show we where hooked. It has relatable life, and has very good humor! I hope they keep making more, and more. We've literally watched the seasons over & over!!
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theterminateriscoming21 December 2015"F is for Family" is another in the long line of animated family comedies in the tradition of "King of the Hill". Compared to its contemporaries the humor is sparse, the family drama grim to the point of being uncomfortable, and the the larger world threateningly accurate. Some bright spots of the show include its biting satire of racism, sexism, and the past in general. Nothing is spared having the layers of nostalgia peeled away in an effort to remind us just how bad the good old days really were. However while it is smart the characters are hard to sympathize with. Gone is the bumbling yet goodhearted family dynamic of shows like "Bob's Burgers" and in its place are angry characters whose actions more often than not cross the line from comic nastiness into actual abusive behavior. However these things all play into the show's mission of showing things how they are. It excels at taking the tropes of shows like "Family Guy", stripping them down and presenting a real world equivalent. Real issues drive the show forward and keep it grounded in reality. In the end "F is for Family" is a realistic, bleak, and darkly comic show masquerading as just another animated comedy.
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gostmoster27 December 2018Offesive as it may be someties, it is a comedy that boldly challenge the norms and bounderies and rarely makes me stop laughing. In the end, just gotta know its a comedy and the sarcasm are just for a laugh.
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Daath10 September 2020I am a big fan of Bull Burr, and I expected it to be as hilarious as him. It's not. It has its funny moments, but it's often not funny at all - it's sad. It feels like a self therapy project ;P
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maxb-2898930 November 2021I have been watching this show since it first aired.
Needless to say with an amazing cast and a great writing, this show has become one of my favorite shows of all time. The name of the show itself stands upto the content in it. At the end of the day family is everything and it's a journey of this man who after life beat him down and with the 70's macho persona is just trying to figure himself out while being in charge of 4 kids. The show being hilarious the whole time had some tear jerseys in the middle as well season 5 episode 1 and season 4 episode 10 I'm not gonna lie I kinda tears up a little bit. I suggest the macho men to watch it the first time alone before you watch it with your significant other.
Overall an amazing show and a perfect ending... If I wasn't a fan of Bill burr before I definitely am now..