Human Resources (TV series) explained

Composer:	Mark Rivers
Opentheme:	"Make Me Feel" by Janelle Monáe
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Num Seasons:	2
Num Episodes:	20
Editor:	Felipe Salazar
Runtime:	25–28 minutes
Network:	Netflix
Related:	Big Mouth

Human Resources is an American adult animated sitcom that served as a spin-off and subseries to Big Mouth, centering around the workplace of the Hormone Monsters depicted in the series. Created by Kelly Galuska, Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett for Netflix, the spin-off series was announced in October 2019. It premiered on March 18, 2022, and stars Aidy Bryant, Randall Park, and Keke Palmer. The series has received positive reviews, and was renewed for a second and final season in April 2022. The final season was released on June 9, 2023.

Premise

A workplace comedy set in the world of the monsters from Big Mouth, in which the monsters are assigned to a group of human adults as their representation of feelings.

Cast and characters

Main

• Aidy Bryant as Emmy Fairfax, an amateur female Lovebug that gets assigned to Becca after Sonya was fired from her position.
• Randall Park as Peter "Pete" Doheny, a Logic Rock that represents logic within humans.
• Keke Palmer as Rochelle Hillhurst, a female Lovebug romantically involved with Dante and Emmy's best friend, who is assigned to Doug. Her client in Big Mouth was Missy Foreman-Greenwald.
• David Thewlis as Lionel St. Swithens, a Shame Wizard who haunts children through puberty, stoking and representing their deepest shame.
• Brandon Kyle Goodman as Walter Las Palmas, a male Lovebug that formed a close bond with Yara throughout her life. He later becomes her granddaughter's (Natalie) Lovebug, after Yara passes away. His client in Big Mouth was Nick Birch.
• Maya Rudolph as:
  • Constance "Connie" LaCienega, a Hormone Monstress who helps adolescent females go through puberty. Her clients in Big Mouth were Jessi Glaser and briefly, despite being male, Nick Birch.
  • Grace, an uptight anthropomorphic blue hippopotamus who serves as the manager of Human Resources. She was voiced by Jessica Chaffin in Big Mouth and has a new design.
• Nick Kroll as:
  • Maurice "Maury" Beverley, a raspy-voiced Hormone Monster that helps adolescent males go through puberty. His clients in Big Mouth were Duke Ellington, Andrew Glouberman, and Matthew Macdell.
  • Rick, an elderly disfigured, but experienced Hormone Monster that helps people through words of enthusiasm. His clients in Big Mouth were Coach Steve and Nick Birch.
  • Todd, a zombie who works as an electrician at Human Resources.
  • Kroll also voices the priest who marries Doug and his fiancée, and Cocky Balls-Boa, one of Maury's dicks modeled after Rocky Balboa.

Recurring

• Pamela Adlon as Sonya Poinsettia, a former Lovebug turned bartender who was fired for having come into contact with Claudia, outside of her assigned human, Becca. Her client in Big Mouth was Jessi Glaser.
• Maria Bamford as:
  • Tito Taylor Thomas the Anxiety Mosquito, a female Mosquito that represents anxiety in humans.
  • Kitty Dukakis the Depression Kitty, an anthropomorphic purple cat employed in the Department of Puberty's Depression Ward. She was voiced by Jean Smart in Big Mouth.
• Ali Wong as Becca Lee, an Asian-American lawyer who becomes a first-time mother, to which the monsters are assigned.
• Mike Birbiglia as Barry, Becca's goofy Jewish husband.
• Bobby Cannavale as Gavin Reeves, an impulsive, intense Hormone Monster who takes his job seriously to Maury's annoyance. He is later killed off in the season finale, "Shitstorm". His client in Big Mouth was briefly Natalie prior to her transition.
  • Cannavale also voices Guyvin, Gavin's identical, but suspiciously nice, twin brother.
• John Gemberling as Tyler Pico, an immature teenage Hormone Monster that was fired from his position for working with Lionel in the second season of Big Mouth. He previously worked as Gavin's assistant, who he gets constantly harassed and abused for his amusement, and serves as Barry's own Hormone Monster.
• Hugh Jackman as Dante the Addiction Angel, who starts the series involved with Emmy but later dates Rochelle.
• Rosie Perez as Petra the Ambition Gremlin, a Gremlin that represents human ambitions.
• Thandiwe Newton as Mona, a British-accented Hormone Monstress that is a chaotic influence on adolescent females. She is often seen holding a lighter in her hand. Her client in Big Mouth was Missy Foreman-Greenwald.
• Harvey Guillén as José, a hapless anthropomorphic Spider who is the Receptionist of Human Resources.
• Tim Robinson as Doug Fredrick, an arrogant newlywed man who is a massive fan of the Phoenix Suns.
• Ashley London as Donna Fredrick, Doug's loving newlywed wife.
• Chris O'Dowd as Flanny O'Lympic, Barry's Lovebug who speaks in an Irish accent.
• Sabrina Jalees as Nadja El-Khoury, a Lebanese-American high school student and Natalie's older sister who gets accepted to the University of California, Berkeley while in a personal conflict with her girlfriend after she got accepted to Rutgers University.
• Josie Totah as Natalie El-Khoury, a transgender teenager who debuted in the fourth season of Big Mouth. In Human Resources, she is revealed to be Nadja's younger sister.
• Nidah Barber-Raymond as Yara El-Khoury, Natalie's and Nadja's ailing paternal grandmother, Amir's mother, Nabilah's mother-in-law, and Walter's client that was close to him.
• Ahmed Mawas as Amir El-Khoury, Natalie's and Nadja's father, Nabilah's husband, and Yara's son.
• Ulka Simone Mohanty as Nabilah El-Khoury, Natalie's and Nadja's mother and Amir's wife.
• Gil Ozeri as Gil, a Hormone Monster and Joe's best friend.
• Joe Wengert as Joe, a Hormone Monster and Gil's best friend.
• Henry Winkler as Keith from Grief, an anthropomorphic sweater from the Grief department.
• Cole Escola as Montel, Maury's and Connie's biological non-binary child who was born during the events of Big Mouth.^[1]
• Miley Cyrus as Van, Sarah's nihilistic female Logic Rock who discourages her from opening herself up to others.^[2]
• Florence Pugh as Sarah Krumhorn, Van and Emmy's client and Paul's daughter who has become socially withdrawn due to her mom's death and skipping out on her last chance to see her alive.^[3]
• Jason Mantzoukas as Ben, Sarah's love interest.^[1]
• Eugene Levy^[1] as Paul Krumhorn, Sarah's estranged father who is also suffering from the death of his wife.
• Niecy Nash-Betts^[1] as Hope, an excitable incarnation of hope who encourages others to feel hopeful.
• Isabella Rossellini^[1] as General Malice, the head of the Hate Department who tries to recruit Rochelle.
• Jemaine Clement as Simon Sex, a sensitive, shroom-taking Hormone Monster and a friend of Maury.
• Alice Wong as a fictionalized version of herself who consults with a lesbian couple, who are parents with a child struggling to speak.
• Eugene Cordero as Shawn, a mutual friend of Alice's.
• Helen Mirren (season 1) and Juliet Mills (season 2) as Rita St. Swithens, a renowned Shame Wizard and Lionel's mother.

Guest stars

• Lupita Nyong'o as Asha, a Kenyan Shame Wizard and Arsalan's wife with whom Lionel has a one-night stand.
• Janelle Monáe as Claudia, Becca's doula who once fell in love with Sonya.
• John Mulaney as Andrew Glouberman, a Jewish-American teenage boy and Maury's client who spends much of his time furtively masturbating. A main character from Big Mouth.
• Ariana DeBose as Danielle, Nadja's girlfriend who got accepted to Rutgers University which leads her into a personal conflict.
• James III as Cat Stevens, Barry's male Depression Kitty who is seen wearing headphones on his neck.
• Kayvan Novak as Arsalan, a Shame Wizard and Asha's husband.
• James Adomian as the Need Demon, a demon that manifests Becca's baby.
• Casey Wilson as Empathy Mulholland, an anthropomorphic Owl who represents empathy and the Hormone Monsters sex counselor.
• Jon Lovitz^[1] as Schmitty from Pity, a condescending anthropomorphic onion who patronizes individuals who are feeling down.
• Sam Richardson^[1] as Tony, a common cold germ
• Jackée Harry as Deb, a woman that Paul goes on a date with for one night.

Episodes

Season 2 (2023)

Production

On October 3, 2019, Netflix announced a straight-to-series order for a spin-off series titled Human Resources, set within the show's universe. Kroll, Goldberg, Levin, Flackett, Nate Funaro, and Kelly Galuska were set to executive produce.^[4] On June 14, 2021, more details of the series were announced, including casting. Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph, and David Thewlis reprised their roles for the spin-off as Maurice the Hormone Monster, Connie the Hormone Monstress, and the Shame Wizard, with additional cast members Brandon Kyle Goodman, Keke Palmer, Aidy Bryant, and Randall Park joining the series.^[5] On October 15, 2021, it was announced that Pamela Adlon has joined the spin-off, reprising her role as Sonya the Lovebug, and Goodman's and Palmer's roles were revealed.^[6] On January 12, 2022, it was reported that Rosie Perez, Jemaine Clement, Thandiwe Newton, Bobby Cannavale, Henry Winkler, and Maria Bamford were cast in the series, with Cannavale, Bamford, Newton and Clement reprising their roles from Big Mouth. The series was released on March 18, 2022.^[7]

On March 1, 2022, an official trailer was released with Helen Mirren, Lupita Nyong'o, Chris O'Dowd, Harvey Guillén, Janelle Monáe, Mike Birbiglia, Tim Robinson, Hugh Jackman and Ali Wong joining the spin-off. Jackman previously guest-starred in Big Mouth voicing a fictional version of himself, being depicted as one of Maury's dicks and Wong has voiced recurring character Ali since the third season.^{[8] [9]} Later that same month, Kroll revealed the remainder of the cast for the series through social media.^[10] On April 18, 2022, Netflix renewed the series for a second season.^[11] On April 24, 2023, it was announced that the second season is going to be the final season.^[12] In May 2023, an official trailer was released with Florence Pugh, Miley Cyrus, Eugene Levy, Isabella Rossellini, Sam Richardson, Niecy Nash-Betts, and Jason Mantzoukas joining the series.^[13] Like Jackman and Wong, Mantzoukas previously voiced acted in Big Mouth as Jay Bilzerian.^[14] The final season premiered on June 9, 2023.

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, season one holds a 90% approval rating based on 20 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Hormone Monsters are pushing paper and phalluses in Human Resources, a workplace spinoff of Big Mouth that's just as raunchy and sweet."^[15] On Metacritic, the series has a score of 72 out of 100, based on 6 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[16]

Elly Belle of The A.V. Club gave the series a B and said, "Familiarity with Big Mouth may bring in viewers, but Human Resources distinctive humor and commentary on humanity will keep them watching."^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 'Human Resources' Gets Premiere Date for 2nd & Final Season; Florence Pugh, Miley Cyrus, Eugene Levy Among Guest Stars; Watch Teaser . May 2023 .
2. 1656395252234633217 . hrnetflix . She never hit so hard in love @MileyCyrus plays Van the Logic Rock on season 2 of Human Resources, premiering June 9th. . Human Resources.
3. Web site: Exclusive: 'Human Resources' Season 2's trailer reveals Miley Cyrus and Florence Pugh's characters . . May 11, 2023 .
4. Web site: 'Big Mouth' Spinoff 'Human Resources' Ordered to Series at Netflix . . Reid . Nakamura . October 3, 2019 . October 3, 2019 . October 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191004134423/https://www.thewrap.com/big-mouth-spinoff-human-resources-ordered-to-series-at-netflix/ . live .
5. Web site: 'Big Mouth' Spinoff 'Human Resources' Adds Randall Park, Keke Palmer, Aidy Bryant (EXCLUSIVE). Jamie. Lang. Variety. June 14, 2021. June 15, 2021. June 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614230621/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/human-resources-big-mouth-unvehuman-resources-big-mouth-nick-kroll-maya-rudolph-1234995639/. live.
6. Web site: 'Big Mouth' Season 5 Trailer Reveals Lovebugs, Hate Worms, and Kumail Nanjiani as Himself. Collider. Ashley. Bubp. October 15, 2021. February 25, 2022. October 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211015231138/https://collider.com/big-mouth-season-5-trailer-kumail-nanjiani/. live.
7. Web site: 'Human Resources': Netflix Reveals Premiere Date & Six New Cast Members. Deadline Hollywood. Rosy. Cordero. January 12, 2022. January 12, 2022. January 12, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220112180155/https://deadline.com/2022/01/human-resources-netflix-premiere-date-new-cast-1234908765/. live.
8. Web site: Watch the First Trailer for Netflix's 'Big Mouth' Spin-Off, 'Human Resources'. Vanity Fair. Chris. Murphy. March 1, 2022. March 1, 2022. March 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220301162913/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/02/watch-the-first-trailer-for-netflixs-big-mouth-spin-off-human-resources. live.
9. Web site: Human Resources: Big Mouth Spinoff Trailer Released by Netflix. comicbook.com. Charlie. Ridgely. March 1, 2022. March 1, 2022. March 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220301183805/https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/human-resources-trailer-big-mouth-spinoff-netflix-released/. live.
10. nickkroll. Nick. Kroll. 1502483026231664641. holy shit look at this cast. ONE WEEK until @hrnetflix.. March 11, 2022. March 16, 2022. March 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220314061246/https://twitter.com/nickkroll/status/1502483026231664641. live.
11. Web site: Chapman. Wilson. 'Big Mouth' and 'Human Resources' Renewed at Netflix. Variety. April 18, 2022. April 18, 2022. April 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220419030126/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/big-mouth-human-resources-renewed-netflix-1235235082/. live.
12. Web site: 'Big Mouth' Renewed For 8th & Final Season By Netflix; Spinoff 'Human Resources' To End With Season 2. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. April 24, 2023. April 24, 2023. April 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230424194126/https://deadline.com/2023/04/big-mouth-renewed-season-8-final-season-human-resources-end-season-2-netflix-1235333560/. live.
13. Web site: 'Human Resources' Gets Premiere Date For 2nd & Final Season; Florence Pugh, Miley Cyrus, Eugene Levy Among Guest Stars; Watch Teaser. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. May 1, 2023. May 1, 2023.
14. Web site: The Season 2 Cast of 'Human Resources' is Full of Emmy and Oscar Nominees (And Winners!) . June 9, 2023 .
15. human_resources. Human Resources. tv. 1. March 29, 2022.
16. human-resources. Human Resources. tv. 1. March 17, 2022.
17. Web site: Human Resources giddily reveals the vulnerabilities of all of Big Mouth's creatures. The A.V. Club. Elly. Belle. March 11, 2022. March 16, 2022. March 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220316222527/https://www.avclub.com/human-resources-review-big-mouth-spin-off-1848604853. live.