Big Orgasms and Reasons to be Big Mad

Adult cartoons are an interesting genre of comedy. I will willingly admit to indulging in, and thoroughly enjoying without shame, Rick and Morty and Bob’s Burgers. Big Mouth has been my favorite series for the past two years. Tracing the shenanigans of Nick Kroll’s childhood, the show recounts the trials and tribulations of being a middle schooler and going through puberty. The shame, humiliation, discomfort, and awkwardness are all perfectly portrayed. The all-star voiceover cast includes Jenny Slate, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, Jordan Peele, Gina Rodriguez, Chelsea Peretti, John Mulaney, and Nick Kroll himself. The most recent season is riddled with laugh-out-loud moments and I found myself having to cover my mouth in attempt to stifle them. Connie and Maury, the leading hormone monsters for all the children in the show, portray the ridiculousness of internal monologues and the second-guessing of peers. Maury constantly goads Andrew and Matthew into masturbating to anything. Connie fuels Jessi’s rage towards her peers and parents while plumping Nick’s ego as a “big dick boi.”

The third season arc contains two must-watch episodes: Girls are Angry Too (Episode 2) and How to Have an Orgasm (Episode 6). Episode 2 tracks the Bridgeton Middle School’s implementation of a dress code to prevent adolescent boys from becoming distracted. Jessi, the lead female character who strongly identifies as a feminist, organizes a slut walk, encouraging her peers to wear their most promiscuous outfits to school as a means of protest against the administration. Met with ambivalence from the Principal and outrage from the boys of Bridgeton, the girls confidently reclaim their agency. Instead of being categorized as objects of desire, they make themselves visible.

This episode was reminiscent of an experience I once encountered during my time in high school. I attended a small private all girls high school in Southern California, which prided itself on its inclusivity, empowerment, and forward thinking. However, a discussion took place my sophomore year which challenged the heteronormative patriarchal structures which pervaded even in my progressive environment: uniform dress code. A male teacher had come forward to express discomfort at the length of some of the student’s skirts, noting that he had accidentally “seen more than he cared to.” Students were outraged. How dare a teacher, a male teacher at that, determine what we as young women could wear. We are autonomous beings who do not need to cater to a man’s comfort or discomfort. The Head of School sided with the teacher, causing outrage among campus. A forum for discussion was imposed so that students could voice their concerns and listen to administrator’s point of view. The outcome of the ordeal was not in the students’ favor, but Big Mouth’s retelling of a similar event further indicates the prevalence with which young girls are being censored, taught what is considered appropriate to wear, and molded in a way to fit a male conception of what an “ideal woman” looks like.

The second impactful episode concerns itself with the importance of female pleasure. Titled “How to Have an Orgasm”, the episode focuses on Jessie, who learns how to masturbate from her hormone monster, Connie. Dispelling the myth that women don’t masturbate has been a focus in previous episodes of the series, specifically in the first season when Jessi discovers what it means to be horny. However, Episode 5 humorously portrays the difficulty and awkwardness of learning how to make oneself orgasm. Jessi’s clitoris introduces a game titled Do the Thing to which Connie gleefully exclaims “Let’s touch our genitals!” Debunking the fiction around pleasure and orgasming is such an important lesson for women to learn because it increases the importance of female pleasure, instead of making it secondary to men’s pleasure. Jessi’s ownership of her body enables young adults watching the show to recognize there is no shame in creating a space for satisfaction, privately, or when intimate with a partner. Whether viewers are young, old, or in between this poignant scene makes an uncomfortable topic fun and lighthearted.

While Big Mouth’s target audience is older, I find immense value in showing it to younger generations (maybe with some censoring involved) because the messages conveyed are incredibly important: advocating for women’s health, outlining women’s value to society, and finding pride in sexual identification. It also has the potential to educate men and young boys on the significance of being an advocate for their peers. Nick’s admission to not knowing the best way to support the girls in their slut walk shows vulnerability. Jessi and the other girls of Bridgeton Middle School appreciate Nick’s openness; contrarily, they show disdain towards Andrew’s defensive proclamation that men are too censored and can never know what is appropriate to say. Big Mouth’s progressive platform provides inclusive characters, funny plot lines, and makes light of the unpleasantries of being a young teenager.

And remember ladies, there is no shame in playing Do The Thing.

Until next time witches xx,

Anna

By Anna Billy

Music snob, over-protective mom-friend, and avocado toast connoisseur.