Fired on Mars
Fired on Mars
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Fired on Mars

"The new corporate landscape."

7.0
Yr 2023
Status Ended
Animation Comedy Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

After taking a one-way trip to the Red Planet, graphic designer Jeff Cooper finds himself adrift when his bosses unceremoniously eliminate his role.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 78 /100

Fired on Mars received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised it as an underrated adult animated tragicomedy that deserved wider attention. Reviewers highlighted the show's relatable satire of corporate drudgery and workplace culture, noting that its sci-fi premise serves as a unique backdrop for a surprisingly down-to-earth narrative.

Critics also singled out the visual presentation and voice work, commending its mid-90s graphic-novel animation aesthetic and Luke Wilson's lead performance. The show's mix of awkward humor and mature themes earned praise for providing a fresh perspective on the workplace comedy genre.

However, the reception was not universally glowing. Some reviewers felt the season struggled with uneven pacing and an overall identity crisis, leaving the narrative feeling fragmented despite occasional moments of brilliance.

“the best new adult animation series of 2023”

“underrated animated sitcom available on HBO Max, and despite the Martian setting, it's a very relatable workplace comedy”

“feels more like a graphic novel and perfectly highlights the drudgery of corporate life”

“suffers from a serious identity crisis, feeling like a completed jigsaw puzzle made up of pieces from different pictures”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

HBO Max
US • UK
HBO Max Amazon Channel
US • UK
YouTube TV
US
Show 2 more
Crave
CA
Crave Amazon Channel
CA
Why fans love it

Fired on Mars applies the crushing realities of a corporate desk job to an extraterrestrial environment. By placing a graphic designer millions of miles from home, the premise transforms the anxieties of a mid-level tech career into a survival scenario. The distance from Earth heightens the absurdity of office politics and the feeling of becoming obsolete in a landscape that barely knows you exist.

The animation leans into the isolation of a rocky, barren planet to mirror the protagonist’s headspace. Luke Wilson anchors the comedy by providing a grounded perspective amidst the surreal indignities of being laid off in space. The show avoids high-concept sci-fi pyrotechnics to focus on the quieter, stinging humiliation of waiting for a paycheck while stuck on Mars. It is a workplace comedy for those who understand that even thousands of lightyears away, human bureaucracy remains the same.

Signal Match

Similarity

Where Fired on Mars overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

planet mars space adult animation workplace comedy tech company based on short film
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
April 20, 2023
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
32