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Last year the most compelling and gripping show aired on Netflix that explored the aftermath of a high school prank that left several faculty members’ cars with a spray-painted dick on them. It was a successful original show that mocked crime documentaries. I was so surprised with the craft behind that show and how I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out who spray painted the dicks onto the cars. I found myself caring about the characters, laughing at all the jokes, and invested beyond belief. I was patiently awaiting a second season and was curious as to what the show would investigate next.
American Vandal season 2 aired on Netflix over the weekend and brought back Tyler Alvarez and Griffin Gluck, two friends who spend their time investigating pranks at high schools. They have received various calls about solving cases since the first season for cases such as vagina paintings in hallways, more spray-painted dicks, and even murder, which sounded too easy for the pair. None of those pranks compare to what they set their sights on, which is the Turd Burglar. The Turd Burglar caused the ‘Brownout’, an event where an unknown high school student tainted the school’s lemonade with laxative which caused the students to soil themselves all throughout the school. The Turd Burglar relies on the social media app Instagram to warn his victims and post pictures of the attacks. No one knows who the Turd Burglar is because his avatar on Instagram is the classic poop emoji. Multiple attacks came forth after ‘the Brownout’ that left the school in panic trying to find the student behind it all. Many students were suspected of causing these attacks and some even admitted to orchestrating the poop attacks on the school very early on in the season. What followed for American Vandal season 2 is another well-crafted, intense, and hilarious show to watch.
The first couple of episodes of American Vandal did a fantastic job of setting up the crime and leaving you wondering who the Turd Burglar is. The show introduces many characters such as Kevin, a high school student who fixates on being the smartest person in the room while people throw fruit at him, calling him the Fruit Ninja. They also introduce the popular basketball star Demarcus, known as ‘untouchable’ and social butterfly Jenna, who may or may not be best friends with one of the Jenner sisters. Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck) present a well-thought out case for each suspect like Making a Murderer. Leading up to the last episode, I had no clue who the Turd Burglar may be. It amazes me that a show about poop could lead to so many questions about the suspects.
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Season 2 of American Vandal has less vivid characters than the first season. The first season had a slew of teenagers and adults with compelling backstories. There were plenty of characters I cared about in the first season such as Dylan, the high school student supposedly behind attack on the faculty cars. I spent the whole season believing that Dylan didn’t spray paint the cars and I wanted his name to be cleared. Not one moment in season 2 did I care about the main character, Kevin McClain.
The craft behind this show made it a true mockumentary. There were jokes in the beginning describing that that they had a higher budget to work with, so they were able to spend more on animations, aerial view shots of the school, and dramatizations. These added effects were funny when they explained that they were able to use them, but it added a lot more to the show and the hunt for the Turd Burglar.
I can’t wait to see what American Vandal season 3 has to offer, if they plan on making one. It is a well-crafted show with messages about social life that really challenge you to think about your own social life. I never would have thought that a show regarding spray painted dicks and poop would be so engrossing and compelling. If you would like to see a season 3, what do think the pair of friends should investigate next?
What did you think of the second season of American Vandal? Hoping for a third? Tell us what you think!
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