Robot Chicken Season 4 Episode 13 Unionizing Our Labor
- TVMA
- August 9, 2009
- 11 min
-
7.7 (140)
Robot Chicken is an American animated television series created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich. It features stop-motion animated sketches that parody popular culture, ranging from movies and TV shows to video games and toys. In season 4 episode 13, titled "Unionizing Our Labor," the show continues its tradition of irreverent humor by exploring what would happen if various groups tried to form unions.
The episode is divided into several short sketches, each with its unique take on the unionization theme. The opening sketch features homeowners banding together to form a neighborhood union, complete with bylaws, dues, and picket lines. However, they soon realize that their union's demands are too high, and they cannot afford to pay themselves.
In another sketch, an army of evil robots tries to unionize, causing their human boss to panic and go on the run. He seeks help from his old boss, a retired robot who ran his own company before he became obsolescent. Despite his initial reluctance, the retired robot agrees to help and ends up teaching the evil robots that unionizing is not just about better benefits and pay but also about responsible stewardship.
One of the most hilarious sketches of the episode features Disney princesses forming their union and going on strike to protest against their stereotyping. They demand equal pay for equal work, the right to choose their own love interests, and an end to being portrayed as pining damsels in distress. The sketch's highlight is the appearance of Tinkerbell, who leads the charge and speaks up for all the female fairies who are often relegated to minor roles in Disney movies.
Another sketch features a pack of wolves who decide to unionize under the leadership of their alpha wolf. They demand better hunting grounds, larger territory, and more respect from their human neighbors. However, their union soon falls apart when a rival pack accuses their leader of being a puppet of the humans and launches a ruthless campaign to take over their territory.
The episode also features several hilarious commercial parodies that lampoon the absurdity of corporate America's obsession with unions. One such ad features an imaginary toy called "UnionMan," complete with a cape, a pickup truck, and a big union card. The ad promises that UnionMan will fight for the little guy and won't stop until every worker gets their fair share of the pie.
Overall, "Unionizing Our Labor" is a hilarious and thought-provoking episode that explores the pros and cons of unionization from multiple perspectives. It highlights the power dynamics and conflicts that arise when different groups try to organize and assert their rights. It also pokes fun at the absurdity of corporate America's fear of unions and the ridiculous lengths that some companies will go to keep their workers from organizing. If you're a fan of Robot Chicken's irreverent humor and love to see pop culture icons skewered in hilarious and unexpected ways, then this episode is not to be missed.