There’s a number of reasons why a Disney Channel animated series might not make it to five seasons, especially nowadays. In fact, only two have done it – Phineas and Ferb(returning for fifth season after years away), and now, Big City Greens. In fact, Big City Greenshas become the longest continually running animated series in Disney Television Animation history.
Since its debut back in 2018, the show has continued to find an audience and grow – and for good reason. Despite the wild premise of a country family (composed of chaotic scamp Cricket, older kind-hearted Tilly, frazzled farming dad Bill, and grumpy Gramma Alice) living in a lone tiny farm surrounded (quite literally) by the urban sprawl of Big City, the show feels remarkably relatable and unusually authentic.
Over the first four seasons, the fish-out-of-water concept has even expanded from country family in a big city to big city folk in a small country town. The world has grown, characters have come and gone and come back, and fans still clamor for the open-world video game since it all feels so lived in already.
So now, what do you do in season five? Without giving any spoilers – you keep it going. You do a lot of the same, but at this point you know what works and you keep it going. You also take those little comedic and emotional touches that make your series unique and throttle those up to a new level too. Season Five of Big City Greensis doing just that – doubling down on the fun with the Greens family, including honorary family member Gloria, best friend Remy, and even some of the familiar faces from country town Smalton all in tow.
The jump from the first episode – seeing the compulsive and chaotic Cricket Green try and launch a chicken into space – is only a big one when you look at the world around him. Everything else has grown and expanded, even the roles of once smaller or sidekick characters. Remy has his own storylines (sure the Greens might be part of it), Gloria has her own stories (sure the Greens might be part of it), but Cricket is still finding chaos – like having one of his legs get hit with a super soldier serum, or needing to be baited into a cage with the promise of amusement park tickets just to be bathed.
As I mentioned, the series continues to grow its audience, finding fans not just in casual (who become regular) viewers – but a swath of celebrity guest stars who want to join in the fun. Season Five (at least the first five episodes of it) feels almost like a game of “Whose voice is that?” In those first five episodes alone, we hear guests Dylan Sprouse, Luke Combs, Mike Colter, Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg, Sone Movsesian, Matt Gourley, and Chad Michael Murray, among recurring characters like town hero Mark – voiced by Colin Hanks, and the rarely speaking Saxon, voiced by Dan Stevens.
During a recent press tour, series co-creator Chris Houghton shared that when they approached Luke Combs to voice country star Rusty Twang in the series, he had only discovered it shortly before, becoming a fan of the series. At the recent D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Drew Carter – who provided commentary during both of the Big City Greens themed NHL Simulcasts – shared that he has become a fan of the series, and continues to watch.
I say “more of the same” in terms of expectations. Don’t confuse that with “oh, we’ve done that story before in season two.” In fact, die-hards of the show will notice that continuity is almost an artform as we get into the fifth season. Whether it be a simple explanation to explain how a waiter at a diner became the judge at a farming competition, or a montage of callbacks that summed up Gloria’s entire presence in the show in 30 seconds, most (if not all) questions fans may have are accounted for.
To help keep those episodes and stories fresh, Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecationdirector Anna O’Brian (who has been with the show since the beginning) has been elevated into a new role as Executive Producer, helping lead the ragtag crew behind the show continue to breathe life into the absurd yet sentimental series.
In the first five episodes so far, there has only been one spot where I raised an eyebrow of judgmental negativity – a visual gag featuring a surprised face that broke a character model, channeling a signature visual gag of Disney Channel’s Kiff. At this point, even if Big City Greensdid it first (though I don’t remember a specific moment), Kiffowns it. They own it. It was like that friend who saw a different friend get a laugh, so now they’re trying the same thing. But if a Big City Greensfan doesn’t watch the other show – then they don’t know, so. Grain of salt, I guess.
If Season Five is your first foray into Big City Greens,let it happen. Based on the first five episodes of the season, this season has the same humor, the same heart, the same characters, and the same world that we have grown to love and it all keeps growing. Then, go back and watch the other four seasons so you can pick up on the running gags, callbacks, and the other elements that keep this animated world fresh and exciting. I give Big City GreensSeason Five (thus far) 4 out of 5 country stars held hostage in a basement (yeah, just go watch it).
The first five episodes of the fifth season of Big City Greensare streaming now on Disney+ and are also appearing on Disney Channel. The rest of the series is also available to stream on Disney+.
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