‘Koala Man’ Recap: ‘Bin Day’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Koala Man’.
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Every single nerd and geek on the planet, absolutely wanted to be a superhero growing up. Simply because we all knew how awesome it would be to accomplish the same kind of wonders and feats as the hero on the page or silver or small screen. The kind that would give us the recognition we craved as a child, and the freedom we yearned for as well. But also, we wanted the powers. Because it was just intoxicating to imagine what it would be like to soar through the air like Superman or Iron Man, or have super strength like Captain America, or healing powers like Wolverine. Yes, truly, there was some kind of ability that every single superhero had that we wanted, and we spent hours wondering what it would be like to be in their shoes or to don their cape.
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But alas, there came a point where we realized that we would never soar through the skies or fight crime with our endless strength. Granted, that didn’t stop us from dressing up like those very heroes, but that is really as close as it gets for the nerds of the world. But what if… someone just decided that wasn’t good enough? That they needed to be a town’s protector and would stop at nothing to become the hero their city needed and deserved? What would that look like and how would someone pull that off? Well, those are questions that a brand-new animated series on Hulu takes the time to answer in a hilarious manner.

For Koala Man is a series that immerses us in the small yet proud Australian town of Dapto. A city that doesn’t suffer from a ton of crime but has a citizen who believes that it needs a proper protector. That is why, Kevin Williams decided to become… Koala Man. An everyday crime fighter that works hard to keep the streets of Dapto safe and clear and comfortable and well, that is where the answers come into play in ‘Bin Day’. In that, in the everyday world, seeing an everyday citizen dress up as a hero would be awkward for everyone involved. For the people of the city wouldn’t have a clue what on earth was happening when a dude dressed like say, a koala, swooped in to save them. Nor would they care that the protector is there, and likely wouldn’t show them much respect. Which is precisely what happens in this premiere, and that leads to some utter storytelling brilliance.

Because this is a comedy at heart, and that awkward nature of Kevin’s role as Koala Man in the city, leads to all kinds of jokes. The kind that more or less lampoon the superhero genre in a healthy and intelligent manner, helping all of us to remember that it is just fun entertainment designed to inspire over anything else, and that a great deal more goes into heroism. But what also makes this underlying satire/commentary worth our while, is that the show takes it to heart and explores what goes into making a hero, and it also makes sure to have fun with the whole concept. Courtesy of an actual villain for Koala Man to save the city from and the birth of a powerful avian nemesis. One that is eager to escalate a la Batman and the Joker. 

If anything, all of these elements, and the magnificent cast (complete with the vocal talents of Hugh Jackman, Jermaine Clement, Alexandra Daddario, Hugo Weaving, Justin Roiland, and Sarah Snook and series creator/writer Michael Cusack), make this a delightful premiere and an equally as delightful show. One that truly serves as both a send up and a love letter to the superhero genre of storytelling in the most enjoyable way possible, through its humor. Because the jokes simply work here and leave you in stitches and feeling warm about a brand-new hero that you simply want to see succeed. For Kevin really is an everyman trying to do better and make the world a better place, and the best news of all… is that you can see this magnificent series right now. For season one of Koala Man is streaming on Hulu, and we hope you check it out and join us back here as we break down every last episode of this delightful show. Until next time.

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