Watch Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return is a comedy television series that premiered on Netflix in 2017. It is a sequel to the original Mystery Science Theater 3000, which aired from 1988 to 1999. The show follows the same basic format as its predecessor, in which a human host and his robot companions are forced to watch and make fun of terrible B-movies sent to them by their evil captors.

The host of the show is Jonah Heston, played by Jonah Ray. Jonah is a hapless human astronaut who becomes trapped on a spacecraft by the mad scientist Dr. Forrester and his assistant, TV's Son of TV's Frank (played by Patton Oswalt and Max Barron, respectively). Along with Jonah, their experiments also include two robots named Crow T. Robot (voiced by Hampton Yount) and Tom Servo (voiced by Baron Vaughn).

The three main characters are joined by Felicia Day, who plays a new character named Kinga Forrester, the daughter of Dr. Forrester who is just as mad and villainous as her father. Rounding out the cast is Joel Hodgson, the creator and original host of Mystery Science Theater 3000, who makes occasional appearances throughout the series as a mysterious space wanderer named Joel Robinson.

Each episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return features the crew watching and riffing on a different cheesy movie, ranging from classic B-movie schlock like Reptilicus and The Land That Time Forgot, to modern cult favorites like Mac and Me and Sharknado.

The humor of the show comes primarily from the quips and one-liners of the characters as they watch the movie, which are often absurd, pop culture-laden, and self-referential. For example, when watching the 1980s movie Space Mutiny, the characters mock the film's low-budget special effects, its Enya-inspired soundtrack, and its star Reb Brown, who they compare to both Gene Simmons and a "Beef McLargehuge-type guy".

Throughout the series, the characters become more fleshed out as they develop distinct personalities and relationships with each other. Jonah, in particular, grows over time from a passive victim of his captors to a more assertive and proactive hero. Crow and Tom Servo, meanwhile, bicker and tease each other with increasing frequency and intensity.

While the premise and humor of the show may not be for everyone, fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and B-movie aficionados will find much to love in The Return. The show is a loving homage to the original series, with callbacks and references to past episodes and characters sprinkled throughout.

The production values of the show are also top-notch, with the movies themselves given a slight upgrade in visual and audio quality that makes them slightly more tolerable to watch. In addition, the puppetry and set design of the robots and spacecraft have been given a modern update that maintains the charm and quirkiness of the original show.

Overall, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return is a delightful and hilarious continuation of a beloved cult classic. With its sharp wit, endearing characters, and cheesy movies, it's sure to satisfy fans new and old alike.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (9 episodes). The series first aired on April 14, 2017.