Let’s be honest: we all have that friend who loves Halloween. Like, really loves it. The one who decorates every square inch of their home with ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, vampires, Frankensteins (in “Doctor”, “…‘s Monster”, and “Bride of” varieties) and the like. You know, the one who, every year, signs an internet petition to replace Christmas with “second Halloween.” These are the people who go all out for All Hallows’ Eve. They’ll likely find a kindred spirit with Christine McConnell. McConnell, a baker, actress, model, and all-around Instagram sensation, is the star of Netflix’s new show from Henson Alternative, “The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell.” Given that the debut season is only six episodes long, I thought I’d binge the whole series in the name of ToughPigs. So, will it raise your spirits or is it D.O.A.?
I want to start off by saying that it is a good show. McConnell is a charming, engaging host, who strikes a good balance between friendliness and professionalism. She’s sort of a macabre Martha Stewart. She’s also known for taking in strange creatures and making them part of her family, which is where Henson comes in. The puppet characters have a design that shows off their monstrousness, while just being cute enough to make me want to see them episode after episode. The standout of the group is Rose (performed by Colleen Smith), a reanimated raccoon with a sassy attitude and a lot of heart. She often competes for attention with mummified cat Rankle (performed by Michael Oosterom) and new arrival werewolf-like creature Edgar (performed by Drew Massey, with body by Morgana Ignis). There’s usually a thin storyline to tie the theme of the episode’s creations together, but, like the title suggests, it’s the creations that are the real stars of the show. McConnell’s designs are weird and beautiful, evoking a gentle, playful creepiness not unlike The Addams Family or the works of Tim Burton.
I guess my biggest criticism of the show is that it feels like the powers in charge don’t exactly know what audience to market this show towards. The aesthetic suggests a family-friendly show. The sibling rivalry the puppet characters have could be very identifiable with children, and the characters are fun enough not to necessarily scare older kids off. But this is a Henson Alternative production, and on occasion, there’s some pretty risqué stuff that may not fit with a family feel. (At one point, Rankle mentions that Rose is willing to fornicate with anyone who visits the house. It’s not nearly as dirty as, say, any given moment in The Happytime Murders, but it may be enough to convince adults to not let their kids watch this.)
Perhaps this show is for home bakers and crafters, but it feels like a lot of McConnell’s projects are really elaborate and time-consuming, and some require tools that you may not have in your kitchen, like power drills or molding tools. (Though I will give McConnell credit, as she does try to keep her projects to materials and supplies that should be able to be purchased with some ease.) She also uses blueberry pound cake as a single ingredient for one project, which (as pointed out to us by fellow ToughPigs writer Becca Petunia) is not an ingredient – it’s a separate recipe. In any case, there’s a lot of puppet material to make this more than just a simple instructional show. There are a lot of elements here, and not all of them gel together as well as they could have.
So, after a lot of thought, I think I know who this show is for: people who like to see how stuff gets made. McConnell’s work is remarkable, and I’m sure there’s a significant portion of people who would love to see how she does it. It may not be simple to replicate at home, but it might just inspire you to try and make something creative yourself. Meanwhile, the Henson Company achieves something similar in their complex puppets – creating something fascinating and nice to look at, despite the fact that you may never get the chance to make anything half as cool yourself. The season of six half-hour episodes makes it easy to binge in an evening, and it’s enjoyable enough to do so. Another season may require a little more time in the oven to bring everything together, but what we have should make you hungry for seconds.
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by Matthew Soberman
