Explosive Revelations and Unadulterated Chaos: Inside Teenage Euthanasia Season 2's Mind-blowing Adventures

Summary

Teenage Euthanasia is a unique animated show that focuses on the stories of women, challenging the dominance of men's stories in the industry.

The second season delves into the themes of unexpected parenthood, the bond between mothers and daughters, mortality, and the complexities of family dynamics. The creators eagerly delve into the characters and their connections, including examining Annie's adolescent sexuality and the differing generational perspectives on femininity.

In a mildly apocalyptic near-future, Teenage Euthanasia follows the Fantasy family and their Florida funeral home, Tender Endings. Trophy, a teenage mom who ran away from home, leaves her daughter Annie to be raised by her Baba and Uncle Pete. Fifteen years later, Trophy herself passes away and is brought back to life when a bolt of lightning reacts with Baba's embalming fluid and one of Annie's tears. Now resurrected, Trophy has a second chance at parenthood and is equipped with various powers.

Creators Alissa Nutting and Alyson Levy embarked on creating an animated show that focuses on distinct women's stories, which is a challenge in an industry dominated by men and their narratives. Teenage Euthanasia delves into themes of unplanned parenthood, the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship across generations, death, and family dynamics. Both Alissa and Alyson are mothers to teenage and tween daughters, and they draw from their personal experiences in crafting these stories. The second season of Teenage Euthanasia, consisting of ten episodes, releases new episodes every Thursday on MAX and Adult Swim until September 28th.

Alissa Nutting & Alyson Levy Talk Teenage Euthanasia Season 2

Screen Rant: Did you have plans for what was to come in season 2 while you were working on season 1? Or not until it was green-lit?

Alissa Nutting: We continuously exchange ideas and maintain a dynamic master list. What's great about episodic animation is that once the characters establish a harmonious connection, the possibilities become endless. There are numerous scenes that showcase the delightful dysfunctionality of these characters.

Alyson Levy: Indeed, we had an extensive list of thrilling concepts. In the first installment, we only managed to cover seven of them, but this time we had the opportunity to explore ten. We had a few objectives in mind, some of which we successfully accomplished in the second season. However, new ideas come to us swiftly and effortlessly for this project.

Screen Rant: How did you feel when you learned about getting a second season?

Alyson Levy: My ultimate life goal was to create a half-hour animated show and produce two seasons of it. Now, my aspirations have grown to wanting to make ten seasons. I often compare the journey to dragging a lifeless donkey to the mountain peak, and it feels like we have finally reached that summit. The journey was incredibly challenging, and it's especially disheartening since I have a fondness for donkeys.

Alissa Nutting: The more we worked on the show and got to know the characters, especially with the addition of talented actors, such as Bebe Neuwirth as Baba, Tim Robinson as Pete, Maria Bamford as Trophy, and Jo Firestone as Annie or Euthanasia, they truly provided us with deeper insights into these characters throughout Season 1. It brought me great joy to have the opportunity to explore new territory and expand the world of Fort Gator. We were able to push boundaries and uncover hidden depths. There were countless possibilities that we wanted to explore.

Alyson Levy: One significant development was Annie reaching second base.

Screen Rant: Which aspects of these characters did you find most intriguing to explore further?

Alyson Levy: There were many aspects that fascinated us. One of them was delving into Annie's journey of discovering her teenage sexuality, both her empowerment in owning it and society's constant attempts to control it. This dynamic of push and pull resonated with us as we are mothers to daughters ourselves, and we have also experienced it as daughters. Another area we were thrilled to dive deeper into was Annie's group of friends. In the first season, we introduced a group of hag friends for Baba, and we were extremely excited to further develop these characters and form the hag group.

Alissa Nutting expressed her desire to delve into the backstory of both Baba and Trophy, in order to gain a deeper understanding of these peculiar characters.

Screen Rant: I find it intriguing how in the first episode of season 2, Florida seems to encourage a party atmosphere among students. Could you share the inspiration behind this episode?

Alyson Levy: Thank you for bringing that up. This idea was actually influenced by my own experiences as a parent. Ever since my daughters entered high school, which started around the time they were 10 years old, I found myself constantly asking them about parties and whether they were attending them. I felt this unnecessary pressure for them to engage in these social gatherings, even going as far as questioning if there would be alcohol present. My intentions, although questionable, stemmed from a desire to relive my own high school days and reconnect with my own group of close friends. So it was a combination of time travel and the pressure I placed on my daughter.

I have participated in many unusual television experiences, but that particular episode is the most personally significant project I have ever worked on. It feels like an intimate reflection of my own life. I'm grateful that you enjoyed it. Moving on to the part about Florida, both of us have children and we are constantly trying to teach them resilience. Then the pandemic happened, and suddenly everyone had to adapt and become resilient. However, there was a specific focus on a certain curriculum of resilience. We discuss a lot about public education, and it's interesting to observe that in Florida, they allocated a significant amount of funds to this particular curriculum.

Alissa Nutting: During my time in college at the University of Florida, I found myself leaning towards the opposing side. It often felt like I was not succeeding academically, despite achieving top grades, due to the university's reputation as a party school. Florida certainly knows how to have a good time.

Screen Rant: Can you discuss the significance of the various female-centric relationships portrayed in the film?

Alissa Nutting: We aimed to shed light on the unexplored relationships. Too often, the mother-daughter relationships depicted are either overly idealistic or completely estranged. We wanted to portray a dynamic that embraces the imperfect yet livable dysfunction that our characters thrive in. The film delves into the intergenerational messages that Baba, Trophy, and Annie have received regarding womanhood, navigating the world, coping mechanisms, and aspirations.

Each of them has had a unique experience growing up in different generations, which adds an exciting dynamic to our show. For instance, when Baba was in school, she created a chastity belt for sex education, highlighting the contrasting beliefs at the time. Annie, on the other hand, attends a school that promotes a positive view of sex. Trophy's schooling, however, was focused on shame. These diverse generational perspectives contribute to the broader narrative of social messaging and women.

Alyson Levy: Our show stands out as a truly immersive animation experience. It's not just about a specific part or character, but about the entirety of the show. We have a multitude of female characters, each uniquely designed to represent different perspectives of being a girl or woman. We don't rely on existing references or influences when creating them. Our animation team is thrilled to be a part of the show because it still feels like we are at the forefront of women finally gaining control in the animation industry.

Did the cast become more immersed in their characters during season 2, providing additional insights into their roles?

Alissa Nutting: Bebe Neuwirth actively contributes to rewriting our lines, and I appreciate her input. She always knows the perfect way for Baba to express herself, and we gladly make the adjustments. It's truly a collaborative effort among all of them. Often, it's the improv moments, the added ad libs, or the creative sounds that they incorporate that bring so much to the scenes. And we have some exceptional screamers in Tim and Maria. I would venture to say they are among the most comedic screamers of all time. It's amazing to witness and capture that comedic power.

Alyson Levy: Making sure our scripts are top-notch is crucial because all of the cast members are incredibly hilarious. When they laugh during our rehearsals or even while reading the lines beforehand, it reassures us that the material is of high quality. I have immense respect for all of them, especially Firestone, who has been with us since the show's inception. She feels like an integral part of our creative process.

Screen Rant: I understand it can be challenging, but do you have a preferred episode from season 2?

Alyson Levy: I find it extremely difficult to choose a favorite. I tend to lean towards the ones that presented the biggest challenges. The ones that had some hurdles along the way. For example, in the episode titled "Radio Frankenstein," Scott Adsit portrays the reanimated delivery driver named Frank, brought back to life by Trophy. From the very beginning, putting that episode together was incredibly tough. However, the end result turned out remarkably well. A significant part of its success can be attributed to Scott Adsit's outstanding performance as Frank. He truly embodies the most lovable character. This particular episode holds a special place in my heart because of the immense effort it took to bring it to life.

Alissa Nutting: I genuinely adore all the episodes. This season, we were fortunate to have incredible guest stars joining us. Each episode feels like a treasure trove. For instance, in the upcoming episode, Cristin Millioti portrays a voluptuous serial killer named Jugsaw. And in the following week's episode, Sarunas Jackson plays a millionaire with a peculiar preference for marrying women just before they pass away. These episodes offer such distinct and unique experiences. They are like comparing apples to oranges. I consider myself lucky that I can enjoy each one and have it become my favorite as I watch it.

About Teenage Euthanasia

Teenage Euthanasia centers around the Fantasy Family, composed of Grandma Baba, Uncle Pete and Trophy (the adult children), and Trophy's teenage daughter, Euthanasia (nicknamed "Annie"). The name Euthanasia was accidentally given to her during a time when Trophy was experiencing unbearable suffering. The second season takes place in near-future inland Florida and follows the Fantasy family's latest adventures as undead beings. The characters are voiced by Maria Bamford, Bebe Neuwirth, Jo Firestone, and Tim Robinson, who are known for their respective roles in "Lady Dynamite," "Cheers," "Joe Pera Talks With You," and "I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson." Teenage Euthanasia season 2 is currently available for streaming on Max, with new episodes released every Thursday until September 28.

Source: Screen Rant Plus