Love, Death & Robots: Volume 4 Review – A Wild Ride

Rating: 7/10 ⭐️

As a longtime fan of Love, Death & Robots, I dove into Volume 4 with high hopes, especially after rewatching Season 1’s bangers like “Zima Blue” and “The Witness” for the umpteenth time. This anthology series always delivers bold visuals and weird stories, and Volume 4 is no exception. It’s a mixed bag, though—some episodes had me grinning ear to ear, while others left me shrugging. For me, it’s a 7/10: a strong start, a few gems, but it doesn’t quite top the freshness of Season 1. Here’s my take on each episode, with a focus on what clicked and what didn’t

Episode 1: Can’t Stop (Directed by David Fincher)

Holy crap, what a way to kick things off! This episode is a marionette-style performance of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Can’t Stop,” and as a fan of the song, I was all in. Directed by David Fincher, it’s a visual and auditory banger—think funky puppets shredding it with RHCP’s energy. The creativity here is off the charts, and it’s one of those episodes I’ll probably rewatch just for the vibes. Fincher nails the chaotic, stylish tone the series is known for.

Episode 2: Close Encounters of the Mini Kind

This one’s my other favorite. The miniature, sped-up animation style is so damn cool, like watching a diorama come to life. The story follows aliens landing in peace, only for trigger-happy cops to shoot them up. Big mistake. The aliens go full havoc mode, and humans, in their classic ingenuity, cobble together a black hole weapon from alien ship parts. Spoiler: it backfires spectacularly, sucking up the aliens, Earth, and a chunk of the Milky Way. It’s absurd, thrilling, and the kind of sci-fi chaos I love.

Episode 3: Spider Rose

A cybernetically enhanced human takes center stage here, and I was intrigued by the setup—think gritty sci-fi with a touch of existential dread. But the ending? Kinda underwhelming. That said, it’s exactly the kind of ambiguous, artsy conclusion that fits Love, Death & Robots. It didn’t blow me away, but I respect the vibe.

Episodes 4–10: The Mixed Bag

• 400 Boys: Titan babies wrecking territories while gangs fight back? Sounds cool, but it didn’t grab me. I wasn’t invested in the stakes or characters, so it felt like a miss.

• The Other Large Thing: Written by John Scalzi, this one’s a treat for cat lovers. A helper robot gets recruited by a scheming feline with dreams of world domination. It reminded me of Scalzi’s Starter Villain, which I read earlier this year. Fun, but not a standout.

• Golgotha: Aliens visit a resurrected dolphin messiah named Blackfin, who convinces them to wipe out humanity. It’s weird as hell, and not in a way that hooked me.

• The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur: Directed by Tim Miller, this gladiator death race with a Triceratops stampede is pure action. The conclusion is satisfying, and the visuals are a blast.

• How Zeke Got Religion: A WWII B-17 bomber crew takes on a mission to destroy a German church. It’s intense, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

• Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners: A light, funny episode about appliances gossiping about their owners. Simple, amusing, but forgettable.

• For He Can Creep: A cat outsmarting Satan? Hell yeah. It’s quirky, clever, and a solid closer.

  
  

The Standouts and the Meh

Episodes 1 and 2 are the heart of Volume 4 for me. The RHCP marionette jam and the miniature alien apocalypse are peak Love, Death & Robots—bold, creative, and unforgettable. The rest? Hit or miss. Episodes like “The Other Large Thing” and “For He Can Creep” brought some laughs, and “The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur” delivered on action, but others, like “400 Boys” and “Golgotha,” didn’t spark joy. I found myself wishing for more episodes with the punch of the first two.

Season 1 is my gold standard. The concept felt so fresh back then, and episodes like “Beyond the Aquila Rift” and “Good Hunting” still hold up on rewatch. Volume 4, while fun, doesn’t have the same rewatchability. Other than Episodes 1 and 2, I don’t feel the urge to revisit the rest, which is a bummer.

Volume 4 of Love, Death & Robots is a wild, uneven ride that’s worth checking out if you love the series’ mix of sci-fi, humor, and jaw-dropping animation. The RHCP-fueled opener and the black hole chaos of Episode 2 are must-sees, and there’s enough quirky stuff (cats vs. Satan, anyone?) to keep you entertained. At 7/10, it’s a solid addition for fans, but if you’re new, start with Season 1 for the full wow factor. I’ll probably revisit those marionettes, but the rest? Maybe not.