Some quick reviews:
Fireman Sam
My kids are really into this one right now. They're apparently not the only ones: it's run for 12 seasons, albeit intermittently and in different iterations, over the span of four decades. It came out in 1987, when it used stop-motion animation. Maybe there's a nostalgia factor for parents who are my age and might have grown up on it. I don't know. All I can tell you is that in it's current form, it totally sucks. The animation is generic and charmless. But the absolute deal-breaker is the voice acting, which is so exaggerated that it renders the show basically unwatchable. I can't even comment on any other aspect of the show because I haven't gotten past those voices. The only semi-bright spot is that there's a character named Elivs Cridlington, which is a cool name.
1 out of 5 stars
Octonauts
We're just coming out of a major Octonauts phase. My kids absently sing the theme song to themselves during the day. Every submarine they see is the Octopod. Every penguin is called Peso. I get the appeal: it's a fun show. The voices are great (are you listening, Fireman Sam??), with every new underwater creature using a different type of accent from the English-speaking world. It teaches kids about about underwater life without getting too wonky about it. And my kids have retained most of it, too. My son told me about the crown-of-thorns starfish, which is a menace to the coral reef. And my daughter used the phrase "marine mucilage" (!?) in its proper context. My only gripe: it's subtly sexist. The three lead characters, the only three who are named specifically in the intro, are all male. Since every character in the show is practically interchangeable, would it have been that hard to make one of the leads female? I know my daughter would have appreciated it. As a consolation, she's latched on to Peso, the penguin medic who is easily the most endearing of the bunch.
4 out of 5
Daniel Tiger
At the age of four, my kids have basically outgrown it now, but it served as a great introduction to tv. It's a sweet show, full of moments that are relatable for toddlers (nervousness about being left with a babysitter, trying new foods, etc.). The jingles are kind of catchy, and because they are sung approximately 67 times over the course of a twenty minute episode, they are quick to stick in my head. Like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, the show that spawned it, it's an incredibly well-meaning show, that's also a little too earnest and saccharine at times. Not that my kids have ever complained. I get that I'm not the target audience, but there are definitely shows I enjoy more.
4 out of 5
Bread Barber Shop
We've only actually seen a few episodes of this show, but it's notable for its incredibly odd premise. Here's the premise, as described by Netflix: "Bread is a master cake decorator who gives life-changing makeovers to his customers." I'd add that the title character is a slice of white bread and that many of his customers are donuts, to whom he gives the works: glazing, frosting, sprinkles, etc. We watched it once, and then I told my kids it was too weird, and turned it off. They didn't protest, although once in a while my son will ask me, apropos of nothing, "Why is Bread Barber Shop weird?"
2 out of 5
Puffin Rock
This quiet, peaceful show about puffins and other animals who live in a remote island off the Irish coast has been in the regular rotation for almost a year. The animation are charming, the characters are cute and pleasant, the stories are full of information about animal behavior and climate, and it's narrated by the delightful Chris O'Dowd. It's a little formulaic ("Another lovely day on Puffin Rock"), but who cares? #ShrewCrew4Life
5 out of 5
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