Kevin Review: Aubrey Plaza’s Animal Sitcom Is A Raunchy Mix Of Humor & Heart

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Prime Video’s new animated sitcom, Kevin, created by Aubrey Plaza and Joe Wengert, starts with a simple premise: Kevin, a cat who wears a tuxedo (voiced by Jason Schwartzman), is happily living his life with his owners. The show quickly reveals its unique world where animals can talk, eat, and act just like people, enjoying both the comforts of home and their own independence.

Kevin lived a spoiled life, enjoying all the comforts his owners provided. But his easy existence is turned upside down when they decide to split up. Though everyone expects him to go with Dana, his female owner, he’s too upset and runs away. After a brief adventure around New York City, he eventually finds a loving home at Furrever Friends, a pet shelter in Astoria, Queens.

At the shelter, Kevin encounters a colorful cast of cats: Cupcake (Whoopi Goldberg), a fun-loving cat with a penchant for getting high; Armando (John Waters), a snobby and antisocial feline; and Judy (Aparna Nancherla), a sweet cat who isn’t feeling well. The shelter owner, Seth (Gil Ozeri), lets Kevin stay indefinitely, which bothers his grumpy dog housemate, Brandi (Amy Sedaris).

The show follows Kevin as he adjusts to a new life and searches for meaning, unfolding through eight funny and chaotic episodes. Each story is filled with jokes and references to popular culture, offering Kevin a fresh outlook. Despite some uneven humor, the series is ultimately a heartwarming story centered around animals.

Kevin’s So-So Humor Is Balanced By Admirable Characters

Even though Kevin is a comedy streaming series, not every joke hits the mark – and that’s okay. The show really shines when it focuses on two things: over-the-top, slightly naughty humor and jokes involving animals. Like many animated shows for adults, it includes plenty of jokes about drugs and sex, often delivered cleverly by the show’s more outrageous characters.

This comedy really shines, especially with its funny take on pet ownership – dogs, cats, and horses are all fair game! It brings a special kind of humor to the show through relatable situations. Plus, the voice actors are fantastic, delivering lines perfectly and making even the silliest moments hilarious in a way you won’t find anywhere else.

The show isn’t perfect, mainly because it relies too heavily on references to pop culture. I missed a lot of these jokes, which seemed geared towards an older generation or people who closely follow musicians and celebrities from previous years. These inside jokes don’t always work and sometimes feel like an easy way for the writers to fill space rather than adding anything meaningful to the show.

It’s a bit strange that the show focuses on pop culture references, given how much chaotic fun Kevin and his friends usually have. The storylines – like Kevin’s wild exaggerations and ridiculously funny mishaps – are genuinely great for both the plot and the humor. The pop culture jokes, though, just don’t stand out as much.

Even if some of the jokes don’t quite land, the characters are incredibly well-written. Kevin is a relatable main character, especially when compared to his more eccentric friends. His cat-like personality provides a lot of funny moments, but underneath that, he’s a bit of a frustrated and lost individual, and the show treats that side of him with genuine care.

Armando is a particularly interesting character. Though first introduced as a potential guide for Kevin in a world without humans, the orange tabby quickly reveals himself to be self-centered and looks down on people. Despite this, he has the most compelling backstory of all the characters, offering a surprisingly emotional explanation for his behavior.

Judy was always my favorite character. She’s incredibly funny, constantly making unexpected jokes about ridiculous illnesses and saying whatever comes to mind. But the show doesn’t just use her for laughs; it cleverly builds on her humor to create a surprisingly well-developed and genuinely funny character.

Cupcake wasn’t my favorite character, unfortunately. Despite a fantastic voice performance from Goldberg – and a strong cast overall – her character didn’t fully resonate with me. While she provided the most adult humor, her storyline felt separate from the main plot in the later half of the season, unlike what happened with the other three characters.

Kevin Gets More Endearing The Longer You Watch It

The characters in Kevin are a strong point, especially considering it takes the show a little while to really get going. The first episode is a bit rough around the edges and feels rushed, quickly introducing Kevin and the world of Furrever Friends while also including storylines that weren’t the most engaging.

I wasn’t immediately captivated, but by episode 3, I was completely hooked. While the show’s humor isn’t always consistent, each episode is entertaining thanks to the crazy situations Kevin and his friends encounter. The main storyline usually revolves around Kevin getting into increasingly chaotic and unexpected trouble.

The show does a great job of weaving together several different stories each episode. Every character feels important, whether it’s Armando struggling with his dislike of humans or Seth doing anything to rescue animals. Kevin really goes above and beyond to keep things entertaining.

Not every episode is fast-paced; some take a more deliberate approach. Thankfully, the writing is consistently sharp and the characters are so well-developed that the dialogue always feels engaging. This, combined with strong acting, makes the series feel vibrant and believable, even when the story slows down.

What makes Kevin special is its knack for giving every character a clear role while still being genuinely funny and well-written. While it’s not flawless, the show comes together beautifully, creating moments that really stick with you – and the smooth animation is just an added bonus.

Despite being short with only eight episodes, Kevin is a funny and enjoyable show on Prime Video. While it sometimes relies too much on pop culture references, and not all the characters are fully developed, the strong character moments and successful humor make it worth watching. It’s not flawless, but it’s a good show that will definitely make you laugh, especially if you like cats!

All eight episodes of Kevin arrive Monday, April 20 on Prime Video.

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2026-04-17 21:06