Season Analysis: The best way to recommend Out There is to describe it as an animated Freaks and Geeks, which I’ve never actually watched. I need to get on that…
“Ace’s Wild”
Chad Stevens – voiced by Out There creator Ryan Quincy – is an ideal protagonist for a show with lots of voiceover because he is about as introspective as a teenager can possibly be. Chad’s narration clearly conveys how he is dealing with the dilemmas and desires of his youth. This strength is ideal for an episode like “Ace’s Wild,” in which Chad’s doodling ability attracts the attention of the yearbook staff, which is apparently the school’s hipster contingent. (Accordingly, the staff is memorably voiced by Ellen Page, Jason Schwartzman, and Sarah Silverman.) Chad’s desires are met by acceptance from a respected group thanks to his artistic talent, but he faces the dilemma of working on an assignment that paints his best friend Chris as the biggest idiot of the school. A more cynical show would either have Chad ignore Chris’s feelings or have him stand by Chris and meet certain embarrassment. Chad’s ultimate and consistent loyalty to Chris does not make him the big man on campus, but he and Chris are both comfortable enough with themselves that it does not really matter if they have the approval of the supposed cool crowd.
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