Ronit J

Love Death Robots Season 4 Synopsis:

A collection of animated short stories that span various genres including science fiction, fantasy, horror and comedy.

Love Death Robots Season 4 Review:

I’ve been following Love, Death & Robots since the first season was released back in 2019. As is expected of an anthology like this, every season has at least one episode that’s pure gold, and some that just don’t work. Expecting such a mixed bag, I went into season 4 with restrained expectations.

Also, there are a few points I want to get out of the way before I dive into the review. Every episode at its least was visually stunning. There is no doubt that the animation and artwork were top-class. It’s Netflix after all, and this show thrives on the best of the animation world. So, I might not mention this aspect in every review, unless it is pertinent.

Secondly, I realised that a lot of the episodes are based on SFF short stories, which makes me want to go back and see how much of the previous seasons are adaptations. I feel so weird having missed such a crucial detail in the previous seasons.

With that out of the way, what did I think of the Love, Death & Robots Season 4 episodes? Let me break it down episode-wise:

Episode 1: Can’t Stop

I just outright hated this episode. Don’t get me wrong, the animation with puppets was great. A gloriously beautiful music video. But, that’s not why I am watching Love, Death & Robots, am I? Yes, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers song was great. But, I’m not a fan of the band, so the hype was lost on me, making this episode, for me, possibly the worst opening to a season. I mean, if you really wanted to… you could have just done a music video or a promo video. You didn’t have to waste an entire episode on this. It didn’t even have the 3-logo iconic opening. What a waste.

For the puppetry only, I rated it 5/10.

Episode 2: Close Encounters of the Mini Kind

Made by the same folks who did Night of the Mini Dead in season 3, this one imagines an alien invasion that’s presented with a wide-angle, tilt-shift effect. A comedy that pokes fun at all the tropes of such an invasion horror film, this was my personal favourite in season 4. It’s short, hilarious, and unique in its approach. You could argue that this is just a spiritual sequel to a well-received animation style from the last season, but that doesn’t mean this was any less enjoyable.

Episode 3: Spider Rose

One of two shorts in this season that had very heavy gaming vibes. The setting and the art direction made it feel like a short film that’s set in the world of a massive space opera video game. Spider Rose’s character design and setting were beautiful and twisted. Her personal and emotional arc in this whole episode was moving, making me want to rank this one quite a smidge higher than I would have originally. Emily O’Brien’s performance (mo-cap and voice) is probably part of the reason I enjoyed this episode.

I’ll admit, Spider Rose’s story wasn’t all that great, which is odd because this is based on a short story by Bruce Sterling, and adapted by one of my favourite fantasy authors, Joe Abercrombie. Perhaps, the short film format wasn’t enough to explore elements of this story in all its glory. Plus, the ending left me with mixed feelings. Spider Rose Ending Explained: Rose gets her revenge, but she has exhausted all of her resources to keep sustaining herself and Nosey. In an altruistic moment, she allows Nosey to eat her to survive. When the aliens arrive to retrieve Nosey, they find a cocoon, which later opens to reveal a Rose-Nosey hybrid.

Still, for the character work and design alone, this one is worth watching.

Episode 4: 400 Boys

Based on a short by Marc Laidlaw, this was the second weakest episode of the season in my opinion (although this one at least was a short film). 400 Boys didn’t work for me on multiple levels. While the art style was beautiful, and the climax made me imagine this as the setting for an indie game, the storyline and world didn’t feel developed enough to immerse me. The characters didn’t stand out, and neither did the whole gang-culture vibe that the makers tried to put in here. All that led to the world feeling shallow and uninteresting. And I say this despite the stunning artwork, absurd magical powers, and dystopian setting.

Episode 5: The Other Large Thing

A hilarious short starring John Oliver as Thumb Bringer (a highly advanced domestic help robot), Chris Parnell as Sanchez (a cat who is plotting to take over the world), and Rachel Kimsey & Fred Tatasciore as their human owners, this one was the perfect palette cleanser after two dark and serious episodes. The setting is just the right amount of absurd and believable to make sense. The art is just the perfect balance between dauntingly real and cartoonishly distorted to present this story appropriately. In its short runtime, The Other Large Thing offers a fantastic experience.

Also, I found out after the episode that this is based on a short story by John Scalzi. I haven’t read his work yet, but this short makes me want to grab something by him. Another addition: I read somewhere on Reddit that this short (because of its treatment and style) could just be a prequel to the iconic ‘3 Robots’ episode (another John Scalzi short!). Something worth thinking about…

Episode 6: Golgotha

IIRC, this is the first live-action episode of Love, Death & Robots. Starring Rhys Darby, the short is based on Dave Hutchinson’s short. Another Joe Abercrombie script, the short features the coming of aliens who believe a black dolphin off the coast of Australia is their messiah. The concept and visualisations were stunning as expected. But again, the depth and development that would make this a compelling watch were missing. The comedy completely undercut the drama and tension, and the relative lack of animation further made me question why this was included in the first place. The VFX was some of the best I’ve seen, but still.

Episode 7: The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur

The second game-like short of the season, this features a dystopian society in Jupiter’s orbit. Based on a short story by Stant Litore, and directed by Tim Miller, the short is essentially a race between gladiator like slaves. With MrBeast voicing the commentator (of course, they chose him) and Bai Ling voicing the protagonist, the short is full of imaginative visuals. The race itself features naked, tattooed gladiators who use grappling hooks to hop on the backs of racing triceratopses, trying to survive the gauntlet. With not-very-subtle commentary on economic disparity and the extremes of exploitation for the sake of entertainment—ironic, given MrBeast is the commentator—the short almost reaches for greatness. Overall, still enjoyable, if you’re able to look past the irony.

Episode 8: How Zeke Got Religion

Based on John McNichol’s short, this one features a group of soldiers flying a plane into Nazi-occupied France. Their mission is to bomb a church, where a Nazi priest is summoning a demon. Of course, the demon escapes, and the short is essentially an action set-piece where the soldiers struggle to fight the demon.

This one had some of the best visuals of the season, in my opinion. The style was unique and perfectly fitting for the story at hand. Even the story was appropriately explored. Out of principle, I wholeheartedly reject and denounce anything that will promote accepting blind faith, and this story does just that. Spoiler Alert: The soldiers defeat the demon by using a cross. However, the story conveniently ignores the science or logic behind it. I would have appreciated an explanation, but to simply ask someone to ‘believe’ because of religious ideals is just… idiotic and anti-intellectual. Even if it’s a short story.

Episode 9: Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners

Starring the voices of Melissa Villaseñor, Ronny Chieng, Amy Sedaris, Kevin Hart, Josh Brener, Nat Faxon, Niecy Nash-Betts, and Brett Goldstein, this short had the most expansive star-cast of the season. The concept is simple, bordering a series of Reels/TikToks. But, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t entertaining. Another John Scalzi short adaptation, I really enjoyed this one. It didn’t take itself too seriously, and still managed to comment on the absurdity of increasingly advanced ‘smart appliances’.

Episode 10: For He Can Creep

Based on a story by Siobhán Carroll and adapted by Tamsyn Muir of Gideon the Ninth fame, the last episode of the season featured two elements that have already been explored in previous episodes—religion, and cats. While I wasn’t a fan of the religious elements, the cats did make up for that aspect. Overall, a lukewarm episode that was just enjoyable enough to bookend the season, but nothing unique to stand out. If this were one of the earlier episodes, maybe I would have liked it a smidge better. But as the finale, it was just… meh.

Love Death Robots Season 4 Episodes Ranked

Because I’ve reviewed each episode in detail, I will only rank the episodes here. And my ranking is:

1. Ep 2: Close Encounters of the Mini Kind
2. Ep 9: Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners
3. Ep 5: The Other Large Thing
4. Ep 3: Spider Rose
5. Ep 7: The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur
6. Ep 10: He Who Creeps
7. Ep 6: Golgotha
8. Ep 8: How Zeke Got Religion
9. Ep 4: 400 Boys
10. Ep 1: Can’t Stop

Love Death Robots Season 4 Watching?

Depends. If you liked the previous seasons, and love watching the best of animation, even if the writing and characterisation aren’t always on point, then this is a must-watch. But, if you’re looking for a holistic experience in the animation space, you’re in for a mixed bag even with this season.

In Conclusion:

Love Death Robots Season 4 delivers exactly what it promises. The best of animation, some amazing concepts in the science-fiction, fantasy, and horror space, and a stellar cast of voice actors who make the experience worthwhile.

Also check out:

• Adults (2025) | Season 1 Review
• Captain America: Brave New World (2025) | Film Review
• The Last of Us Season 2 | Review
• The Studio | Apple TV+ Season 1 Review | Episodes Ranked
• Black Mirror Season 7 Review | Episodes Ranke
• Island of the Dying Goddess

What did you think of my Love Death Robots Season 4 Review? Any other show/movie/book you would like me to review? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time.