RiffTrax Shorts Season 28 Episode 8 Frustrating Fours and Fascinating Fives

As the eighth episode of season 28 of RiffTrax Shorts, "Frustrating Fours and Fascinating Fives" takes us on a journey through the educational films of the 1950s and 60s, exploring the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the era's approach to teaching young children. Each of the featured shorts follows a set of children in a specific age group - namely, four and five-year-olds - as they learn about the world around them.

The first short, "What Makes a Four-Year-Old Tick?", is an amusing look at the inner workings of the four-year-old mind. Through a series of vignettes, we see a group of rambunctious children at play, learning about the concepts of sharing, cooperation, and communication. However, the dated attitudes and language of the film are ripe for comedic commentary, as the RiffTrax team lampoons the condescending tone and patronizing advice offered to both the children and the adults watching.

Next up is "A Day in the Life of a Five-Year-Old", which follows a group of kids as they go about their daily routines at home and at school. From playing with dolls and action figures to learning to tell time and count to ten, the children's activities are an endearing glimpse into their innocent and carefree world. However, as with the previous short, the RiffTrax team is quick to point out the absurdity of the instructional narration and the overly dramatic musical cues.

The final short, "The Five Senses", takes us on a sensory journey through sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. With its playful animation and catchy jingle, the short is a fun and engaging way to teach kids about how their bodies perceive the world. But again, the RiffTrax team can't resist poking fun at the dated presentation style and the simplistic explanations, offering up their own witty commentary throughout.

As always, the RiffTrax team's sarcastic wit and irreverent humor add a refreshing and hilarious twist to these outdated educational films. Their commentary serves as a reminder of how far we've come in our understanding of childhood development and education, and how far we still have to go. So sit back, relax, and get ready to laugh as RiffTrax takes us on a journey through the hilariously cringe-worthy world of educational shorts from decades past.