Rating: 4.4/5
I first saw an episode of Amphibia season 1 on a plane ride, and I thought nothing more of it since it was a standalone episode with no mention of the main plot. It gave me a pretty standard expectation for a Disney cartoon with the attempts at quirky humor and the somewhat emotional climax, so I didn’t think much of it…That is, until I watched the entirety of season 1.
Amphibia S1 is mainly focused on our protagonist, Ann Boonchuy’s early ventures with the planters, a family of frogs consisting of Hop Pop, Polly, and Sprig, after she got teleported to the world of Amphibia alongside her two besties Marcy and Sasha. In this new world, Ann is overwhelmed by the need of adapting to a new environment from home, trying to find her friends, and protecting the new friends she just made from a conspiring group of toads.
Personally, for almost all TV shows that I watch, I love the ones that progress the main story since I just find it more exciting than side quests, so I wasn’t exactly hyped to sit through all the episodes about Ann and Sprig going into town for some adventure for the 20th time. However, personal taste aside, I do believe that all these ventures at the start do serve as character bonding experiences for Ann and the Planters, which will pay off later on in the story. Overall, as a standalone season, I don’t think Amphibia S1 is that strong with regards to telling a complete story, rather, it’s mostly to set up the future adventures that are going to happen in S2.
As a standalone season, I give it more credit than it probably deserves, but knowing what’s next, I can for sure say it pays off.