WiC Watches: Crossing Swords season 1

Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot”

Crossing Swords doesn’t waste any time letting viewers know that this is going to be one wild, raunchy ride, akin to other animated comedies like Rick and Morty and Family Guy. But there’s no question this Hulu original is aimed at fans of genre favorites like Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings, and The Witcher.

The first episode starts at the very beginning. After a traumatic childhood event resulting in smashed dragon eggs, dead orphan kittens, and a town set ablaze, young Patrick devotes his life to becoming a knight who can help people as well as hopefully atone for his actions. Ten years later, the King is holding a tournament for a squire position, and Patrick eagerly enters. His dream quickly turns to dust when he learns that most of the other knights are just as clueless as his new friend Broth, the Queen is a sexual deviant, and the King is pretty much a moron. He ends up cheating to win the tournament in a blaze of glory, prompting the King to give him the title of Squire. Unfortunately, his nefarious siblings reemerge looking to take advantage of their lame brother’s royal position.

The character introductions are the real highlights of the first chapter. The standouts are without a doubt Patrick’s three siblings. Coral is my absolute favorite, mainly because it sounds like Tara Strong is having the time of her life voicing this dastardly Pirate Queen. Adam Ray’s Rueben, the Robin Hood ripoff, is brilliant, and Tony Hale’s Blarney is a clown who’s funny for all the wrong reasons. Adam Pally’s Broth is also drop-dead hilarious.

The jokes are exceptional, and the laughs hit harder because of the ridiculous way these characters look. The unique animation style does take a bit of getting used too, but those that stick with the Hulu series will not be disappointed as the first season progresses.