Love, Death and Robots season four review: 'Little bit of love, a whole lot of death and a healthy amount of robots'

Love, Death and Robots returns for its fourth season, and does everything it says on the tin.

Since its inception in 2019, Love, Death and Robots has quickly become one of the most creative TV shows currently airing. It doesn’t always hit the mark, but when it does, it is TV at its best.

For a while, it seemed like it wouldn’t be back. It had gotten renewed, but the three-year-long wait, and a whole new, but similar show (Secret Level, which is Love, Death and Robots but for video game characters) being created, made fans wary that they had seen the last of it.

But season four finally arrived, with ten new episodes for fans to sink their teeth into.

Even at its worst, the show is always going to give you some beautiful animation to look at. That was until this season's Golgotha, a majority live-action episode which is by far the worst of the whole show and so wide of the mark it hurts.

Other than that dross, this same sentiment remains true. The animation is as innovative as ever, and they have the stories to match. Mostly.

It has some high highs. How Zeke Got Religion’s striking animation and nail-biting drama help create one of the creepiest and intense episodes the series has produced, which is no easy feat. Spider Rose also stands out as one of the better episodes, with its life-like animation and a gripping study of grief.

The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur is a reminder that, despite Jurassic World’s best efforts, dinosaurs can still be the coolest things ever. However, its inclusion of Mr Beast, who acts as a host for a game where people are put to the death while rich people watch, seems a little on the nose considering his borderline dystopian videos he makes.

Funnily enough, the simplest episode, Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners, which is only eight minutes long, is a personal favourite. An adult version of OOglies, if you will.

The standout by far is Robert Valley’s 400 Boys. He combines what he has made previously (Zima Blue, season one and Ice, season 2) and produces a provoking story with some immense action sequences. It is a reminder of why this show became so beloved in the first place.

The rest of the episodes are charming enough. David Fincher returns to remake the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' performance at Ireland’s Slane Castle back in 2003, but as puppets. Because why not? I guess.

For He Can Creep has some truly jaw-dropping animation, but the story lets it down from being a great episode. It is also one of two episodes to include cats,  the other being The Other Large Thing. Spare a thought for the dogs out there.

It feels like their safest season yet. They build off what they know works, as seen in the sequel to season three’s Night of the Mini Dead, Close Encounters of the Mini Kind, and they never really deviate too much from that.

It is a serviceable season. There is a little bit of love, a whole lot of death and a healthy amount of robots sprinkled here and there. It never reaches the heights of its predecessors, but it gives you enough of what you like to still be eager for a new season.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️