God’s Favorite Idiot is an eight-part sitcom series released on Netflix on 15 June 2022. The workplace comedy TV show revolves around the theme of god and the apocalypse on Earth. The entire series has 16 episodes, but the creators announced that they would release 8 episodes initially. It is created by Ben Falcone and directed by Michael McDonald. Each episode has a runtime of about 25-30 minutes.
The stellar cast of the show includes Ben Falcone as Clark Thompson, Melissa McCarthy as Amily Luck, Leslie Bibb as Satan, Kevin Dunn as Gene, Yanic Truesdale as Chamuel, Usman Ally as Mohsin Raza, Ana Scotney as Wendy, Chris Sandiford as Tom, Steve Mallory as Frisbee, Denise Roberts as War, Rahel Romahn as Pestilence, Lynn Gilmartin as Susan Storm, Goran D. Kleut as Famine and Yure Covich as Death.
-God’s Favorite Idiot Review Does Not Contain Any Spoilers-
God’s Favorite Idiot: An Average IT Guy
Our main lead is a mid-level tech support employee Clark Thompson who, while looking for his cats outside, gets hit by a dark rainy cloud. He passes out due to the lightning strike and casually goes on in his life. Until he takes his crush and co-worker Amily Luck out on a date. But mid-date his whole body starts glowing up like a light bulb.
Someone records Clark’s glowing up incident in the restaurant and posts it on social media which becomes a viral hit, leading to a media frenzy who wants to know all about his glowing powers and attracting a lot of hate from religious personalities as well. Soon, there’s the appearance of Satan and the four horsemen of the apocalypse are here, which could only mean an impending apocalypse is right around the corner. And our only hope is Clark Thompson, the chosen beacon to god.
Signs of The Times
Yes, Signs of The Times by Harry Styles is played on the show many times when Clark gets his powers. Whenever he feels good, he either glows up or the song starts playing from the speaker in at least the first 3 episodes. The character of Clark is a sweet, innocent guy who enjoys simple things in life like, having a sauna time with dad or petting his cats.
Whereas, his love interest Emily, is the polar opposite of him. But what do they say – opposites attract right! She is boastful, loud and a party lover who loves her special elixir (alcohol, drugs and pills). Clark always had an interest in her but couldn’t muster up the courage to ask her out, until she noticed him glowing one day and they started getting to know each other.
Apart from that, there’s Tom, Wendy and Mohsin at their workplace who later forms the ‘Council of Clark’ to help and protect him from Satan. Oh did I mention that Satan is a black leather body suit donning, bike-riding bad-ass female, which is pretty cool in my opinion? And God is a grandma-like lady who gives Starbucks on the first meeting.
Although Clark gets his unexplored powers, he doesn’t receive any special orders. He is just asked to spread the good word about God and make them believe in the entity. Which he tries to do by doing trendy Tik Tok dances. Meanwhile, there’s an intergalactic war going on between god and lucifer which will decide the fate of the world.
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Final Thoughts: Funny or Unfunny?
God’s Favorite Idiot on Netflix is a needed content on the platform but it doesn’t stand up to the expectations. In the myriad of crime documentaries and thrillers, we really need a fresh and interesting sitcom to liven up our lives. The show talks so much of apocalypse and war in heaven, but we only get one scene which shows that and the rest is just talks.
The main lead is supposed to be an average Joe but even by the 8th episode, there’s not much growth or any change in the character. It depends on its side characters to fill up the runtime with banter and crazy antics rather than progressing the story. Melissa McCarthy is great in the show but sometimes a bit much. The show is a casual watch with bits of funny moments here and there.
God’s Favorite Idiot is streaming on Netflix.
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