Review of Future Man: Season Three

By Dave B.

​The third and final season of Future Man (Hulu) takes place shortly after the conclusion of Season Two. Tiger, Wolf, and Josh, thrown into the far future, have been convicted of time-crimes and sentenced to death by entertainment. After a daring escape, they are pursued through time and space while fulfilling a journey of self-discovery that will determine the fate of the multiverse.

One of the things that I enjoy most about Future Man is that the show is both self-aware and confident enough to craft seasons around a dominant theme. That theme in this season is self-discovery, and fittingly, the season largely takes place beyond time (I know that sounds weird, but it makes sense when you see it). Therefore, a lot of the time-travel complexity that Future Man has previously excelled at, is shelved in favor of character growth in a few locations. This, combined with he fact that the season consists of only eight, half-hour long episodes instead of the 13 that were in both Seasons One and Two, make the show feel much more compact and linear, which is at times an odd choice for a show whose plot has previously felt massively sprawling and intricate.

Season Three is often funny, and beneath its trademark seemingly juvenile humor, remains very intelligent. But the vibe of the show is drastically changed. Saving the universe is an afterthought, or at least not a goal that can be accomplished without first saving oneself. That’s a marked departure from previous seasons where the pace was sustained by the ticking clock of infinite time and limited resources. This season is more contemplative and inward focused. Its still interesting, but the pace suffers for this introspection and the season just feels less fun.

Future Man has always been brilliantly written, and Season Three is no exception. Fans of previous seasons should check it out to see how it all ends and fans of time travel done right (unlike frustrating drivel such as “Curvature”) should definitely pick up this show from the beginning. But the energy and verve that’s infused previous seasons of this show is now largely missing, so it ends with less of a bang and more of a whisper. In some ways that’s fitting and true to the growth that the main characters have undergone. But on pure entertainment value, Future Man: Season Three is slightly disappointing.

Rating: 6.5/10