“American Vandal” is one of those shows that never would have been green-lit if not for Netflix’s madcap dash to produce as much content as possible. As far as show ideas go, it’s not a particularly safe one. It’s not really a clever one. And, for that matter, probably not a good one. But it’s weird. And Netflix saw it’s weirdness and let them run wild. And thank God they did, because while the idea for this show might not be safe, clever, or good, that first season was damn entertaining. And now, one year later, it’s back baby!
A lot has changed for high-school documentarians Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck) since they put out their riveting documentary about the wrongfully accused dick-drawer Dylan Maxwell (Jimmy Tatro), and now, having closely examined many other proposed cases all across the country, they’re ready to take on something new. Set at St. Bernardine’s Catholic High School, the second season of this self-serious mockumentary sets out to uncover the identity of the Turd Burglar, a fecal-inspired prankster whose crimes include the loading of cat poop into T-shirt cannons, the placement of excrement inside a piñata, and the spiking of cafeteria lemonade with laxatives. The more grandiose scale of this season’s mystery fits right in with hubris of its new characters. This is not the grimy public-school Peter and Sam attempt. St. Bernardine’s Catholic High School is full of rich snobs who see themselves above such frivolities. But the further up they are, the further they have to fall.
But the setting isn’t the only thing that’s different this year, as show creators Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda have done a good job of distinguishing this season from the show’s prior installment. The characters are completely different. The attitude is completely different. The only things that have carried over from season one are the show’s two lead documentarians, and their hackneyed true-crime style. But even the style has evolved, as the show explains that the popularity of season one has given Maldonado and Ecklund access to a much greater budget than before. At first some of the production might feel overdone, but when you consider that this is meant to be a show made by high-school students who are in charge of a professional-grade production, it becomes another layer of humor. “American Vandal” season two, more so than season one, blends high-quality mockumentary work with a manufactured amateurishness that results in a rather unique kind of charm.
It might not be the best Netflix original comedy out there, but “American Vandal” is a really fun little show, and the second season is a great little extension of this. If you’re tired of the conventional sitcom, if you’re bored by classical humor, or if you just need something different, “American Vandal” is the show for you.