A must-see for Pride Month (and beyond), Dead End: Paranormal Park is Netflix's newest animated release. Following in the footsteps of shows like Steven Universe, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Owl House, it's a kinetic and heartwarming adventure cartoon that also happens to be proudly LGBTQ.
But what's it all about?
Imagine if Gravity Falls were set in a spooky Dollywood.
In its 10-episode first season, directed by Liz Whitaker, Dead End: Paranormal Park follows a lovable group of friends as they navigate the mysteries and monsters found within a theme park dedicated to fictional diva Pauline Phoenix. With big blonde hair, drag queen-style curves, and a glitzy-while-gaudy fashion sense, Phoenix feels like a respectful nod to the icon, the legend, the one-and-only Dolly Parton. But Dead End's multi-hyphenate mega-star has also done fantasy movies and a black-and-white TV show that's basically Dark Shadows. Another crucial distinction: Pauline is not so much as a philanthropic angel among us as much as a…well, Phoenix's park is overrun by demons.
Following in the Gravity Falls groove, Dead End: Paranormal Park centers on young heroes who are more enchanted by than scared of the supernatural chaos around them. Sure, it's a place where the sweat-caked mascot costumes come to zombie-like life and where your next shift might leave you on a Missing Person poster. But for this batch of misfits, the park also offers a caring and inclusive community.
Dead End: Paranormal Park delivers meaningful LGBTQ representation.
From the same network that brought us transphobic stand-up comes a kids' show that centers on a trans boy named Barney, who runs away from home because of a frightfully unsupportive family member. Scoring a job as a security guard, Barney gains a safe space to find himself, make friends, and spark romance with a hot dude called Logs. Barney's troubles with his family are threaded through the first season, but the show never gets overwrought with its dramas. Instead, Barney's time at the park is treated with an air of adventure, which makes sense for a young man discovering the world and who he wants to be in it.
Giving voice to Barney is trans actor Zach Barack, while the supporting cast boasts LGBTQ stars like Alan Cumming, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Sam Jay, Tom Lenk, and Miss Coco Peru (aka Clinton Leupp).
How does Dead End: Paranormal Park compare to DeadEndia?
Fans of Hamish Steele's graphic novel DeadEndia will be glad to know that Dead End is very true to its source material. Sure, the character designs have gotten a bit cuddlier, and some of the darkest elements have been toned down, presumably to make Dead End: Paranormal Park a more family-friendly watch. But as he did in the YA comic, Barney still counts among his Scooby squad his best friend, Pugsley the pug (Alex Brightman); neurodiverse Pauline Phoenix fangirl Norma (Kody Kavitha); and a trash-talking, trash-eating, trouble-making demon called Courtney (Emily Osment). Together, they form a chosen family that confronts everything from social anxiety to learning how to flirt to a demon army uprising.
The most notable changes are little tweaks in the plotline. For instance, Pugsley becoming possessed by a tyrannical demon prince has been altered to make it more an act of self-sacrifice than panic. The fear-eating demon has gotten a clever contemporary makeover, and the birthday party misadventure gets some reworking that folds in Jurassic Park references and witchy fun.
Did I mention there's a full-blown musical episode?
Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer, not Scrubs.
When faced with a Big Bad they don't know how to handle, a magical spell spurs everyone at the park to start singing. The show goes all out, packing in visual spectacle, heart-tugging lyrics, and a slamming Phantom of the Opera-like ode that absolutely rocks. While all 10 of the show's episodes deliver an enchanting blend of action, heartwarming character moments, oddball humor, and cheeky horror stories, this penultimate one is absolutely spellbinding.
By its curtain call, Dead End: Paranormal Park proves to be a thrilling new adventure series, alive with love, horror, and characters to cherish.
How to watch: Dead End: Paranormal Park is now streaming on Netflix.
