Netflix - Inside Job : a zany, witty dive into the world of conspiracies

By Mulder, 22 october 2023

Inside Job, Netflix's animated series, takes a spirited dive into the world of conspiracy theories, workplace chaos and family dynamics, offering a zany, witty experience that takes a satirical look at the absurdity of our times.

The series, created by Shion Takeuchi and produced by Alex Hirsch, brings to life the secret organization Cognito Inc. where all conspiracy theories are true and a council of elites manipulate the world for profit and power. The story revolves around Reagan Ridley, played brilliantly by Lizzy Caplan, a genius scientist and daughter of former CEO Amer Rand, played by Christian Slater.

One of the series' strengths lies in its ability to blend workplace comedy with conspiracy theories, offering a humorous tour of national derangement through the lens of a group of dysfunctional but endearing characters. Reagan leads an eccentric team that includes Gigi, a social media manipulator; Glenn Dolphman, a half-man, half-dolphin military zealot; Andre, a mad scientist with eccentric habits; and Magic Myc, a tentacled psychic fungus from Hollow Earth.

The arrival of a new colleague, Brett, a charming but clueless frat boy played by Clark Duke, adds another layer to the workplace dynamic and satirizes corporate power and gender dynamics. The series cleverly uses humor to explore themes of friendship, ambition, acceptance and the complex relationship between present and past.

Inside Job takes pleasure in presenting conspiracy theories as valid, highlighting their folly while creating scenarios conducive to flights of fancy. The animation style is colorful and elastic, with a frenetic rat-a-tat-tat rhythm and sharp lines that nod to popular culture. The show's self-aware tone, reminiscent of modern animated comedies, is both cheeky and engaging.

However, we regret that Inside Job doesn't tackle certain topical issues, such as the big lie and anti-vax nonsense. The series, while entertaining, also relies on familiar character archetypes and narrative patterns, prompting comparisons with other animated hits such as Futurama.

Despite this familiarity, the series finds its strengths in moments of serendipity, clever references and its ability to provoke laughter from scenarios rooted in the characters' quirks and complexes. Comic performances by Lizzy Caplan and Christian Slater add to the series' appeal, their characters engaging in witty banter and delivering memorable lines.

Although Inside Job sometimes overdoes its pop culture references and struggles to balance its satirical edge, it's certainly an entertaining and promising series. Inside Job may not be groundbreaking, but it offers enough zany laughs and intriguing moments to satisfy fans of animated comedy, blending workplace humor with a dose of conspiracy madness.

Synopsis : 
In a shadow government, every conspiracy theory - from the Illuminati to the Reptoids - is true. One woman struggles to keep this potential chaos under control.

Inside Job
Created by Shion Takeuchi
Voices of Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater, Clark Duke, Tisha Campbell, Andy Daly, Chris Diamantopoulos, John DiMaggio, Bobby Lee, Brett Gelman
Theme music composer : Robert Bolton, Matthew Bronson, Mischa Chillak
Opening theme "Pa$$ the Time (Part 2)", performed by Bronze (feat. BBRC)
Composers : Ryan Elder, Steve Reidell
Executive producers : Shion Takeuchi, Alex Hirsch, Mike Hollingsworth
Producer : Chantal Hennessey
Editor : Molly Yahr
Running time : 26–31 minutes
Production companies : Taco Gucci, Netflix Animation
Animation services : Jam Filled Entertainment
Network : Netflix
Release : October 22, 2021 – November 18, 2022