Summary
- Big Mouth has tackled serious topics like menstruation and sexuality, providing important discussions for young viewers.
- The show's episodes on pornography and drug use tackle coming-of-age subjects without shame.
- Big Mouth's episodes on dress codes, coming out as trans, and Black identity challenge societal norms and promote acceptance and diversity.
Netflix's Big Mouth's voice cast is jam-packed with celebrity names, including Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph, and John Mulaney. Despite its dark humor, Big Mouth focuses on the big changes in life and how its preteen characters deal with them.
Big Mouth's final season is due to air in 2024, bringing the show to a close and making it Netflix's longest-running original series. Since the show's beginning in 2017, Big Mouth has covered discussions about sexuality, ethnicity, and puberty — and that's just for the kids. Certain Big Mouth episodes stand out from the rest for representing real experiences and normalizing the discussion of difficult topics.
10 Jessi Gets Her First Period
Season 1, Episode 2 - "Everybody Bleeds"
In the Big Mouth episode "Everybody Bleeds", Jessi gets her first period while the class attends a field trip to the Statue of Liberty. Gutted because she's wearing white shorts, Jessi panics about being seen covered in stains by her peers. This episode discusses the menstruation process and features a very sweet moment between Andrew and Jessi, as he tries to help his friend through her embarrassment. Her experience is a relatable one for young girls, and it's nice to see a TV show unabashedly tackling the topic of first periods.
9 Andrew Discovers Pornography
Season 1, Episode 10 - "The Pornscape"
Like many teenagers, Andrew’s discovery of pornography starts inquisitively. However, as he delves further into the world of adult content, he finds himself absorbed into the Pornscape, surrounded by all kinds of sexual acts. Consumed, Andrew begins to lose his grip on reality, which concerns Nick greatly. Despite Andrew’s eventual disgust with himself, the way Big Mouth writers address this topic teaches young people that they shouldn’t be ashamed or afraid of developing sexual urges.
8 Bridgeton Middle Learns What Planned Parenthood Does
Season 2, Episode 5 - "The Planned Parenthood Show"
“The Planned Parenthood Show” is considered one of Big Mouth’s best episodes, as it focuses on the various forms of offered by Planned Parenthood. This season 2 installment covers topics such as birth control, STDs, and vasectomies — and it explains what these things mean realistically. "The Planned Parenthood Show" isn't just hilarious; it's a great reflection of the misinformation sometimes spread about organizations like Planned Parenthood. This episode highlights that the nonprofit doesn't only offer abortions but other health-related services as well.
7 Jessi And Nick Try Drugs
Season 2, Episode 6 - "Drug Buddies"
As Jessi’s parents are in the depths of their divorce, she finds herself leaning toward rebellion. In Big Mouth season 2, episode 6, Jessi steals marijuana edibles from her father and decides to take them with Nick. This results in the duo losing their sense of reality. The two kids react in very different ways. Jessi embraces her high with joy, whereas Nick ends up panicking and running away. Not only does this episode approach drug use in a way that doesn't shame anyone, but it shines a light on how parental problems can impact kids.
10 Reasons Big Mouth's Nick & Jessi Shouldn't Be Together
With Big Mouth coming to an end, Jessi and Nick's relationship hangs in the balance, but there's many reasons why they shouldn't end up together.
6 The Bridgeton Middle Girls Fight Back Against Dress Codes
Season 3, Episode 1 - "Girls Are Angry Too"
Big Mouth season 3, episode 1 finds the students of Bridgeton Middle School dealing with the implementation of a dress code, something that is still very prominent in schools today. With plans to embark on a “slut walk,” the girls decide to dress provocatively in protest of the school's new rules. They are disappointed when they discover Missy has chosen not to them. Missy’s stand on wanting to wear her overalls not only reiterates the message of the episode but shows that freedom of choice is different for every person.
5 The Introduction Of Natalie
Season 4, Episode 1 - "The New Me"
Big Mouth season 4 sees the introduction of Natalie, a summer camp friend of Nick, Andrew, and Jessi. When the gang last saw Natalie, she hadn’t come out as trans, so the characters are taken by surprise when they see the change to her appearance. "The New Me" sees trans actor Josie Totah voicing Natalie, and it welcomes celebrity guest star Seth Rogen as Seth Goldberg, who develops a crush on Natalie. Through this storyline, Big Mouth raises a discussion about the acceptance of trans kids by their peer groups. It also provides a great example of trans representation in mainstream media.
Big Mouth's 10 Best Celebrity Guest Stars
While Big Mouth already has a star-studded cast of voice talent, it has also featured some amazing celebrity guest voices. These are the best.
4 Missy Discovers More About Being A Black Woman
Season 4, Episode 5 - "A Very Special 9/11 Episode"
While on a trip to the World Trade Center, Missy is invited to a Jay-Z party by her cousin, and she brings Devon along for the ride. As they make their way there, Devon teaches Missy about code-switching, a skill he uses to communicate with a range of different people. However, when Missy tells Lena about it, Lena is adamant that Missy learns that code-switching isn't something that should be a necessity for Black people. This episode sees Missy learning more about the realities of navigating the world as a Black girl, an important topic that more shows should address.
3 Matthew's Mother Struggles With His Sexuality
Season 4, Episode 8 - "The Funeral"
In Big Mouth season 4, Matthew starts a relationship with Aiden. Coming from a religious family, Matthew's mother is horrified to find explicit texts between her son and his boyfriend. Despite Matthew believing that his sexuality has always been obvious, his mother buries her head in the sand, struggling to accept that he's gay. Although the episode ends with tension between the mother and son, "The Funeral" shines a light on what it's like for LGBTQ+ teens living in households with homophobic families.
2 Bridgeton Middle Goes Swimming
Season 5, Episode 2 - "The Shane Lizard Rises"
Big Mouth season 5, episode 2, "The Shane Lizard Rises," sees the return of the Shame Wizard, who attends Bridgeton Middle School's swim lesson after a discussion with Coach Steve. Thriving off of the self-consciousness of the kids, the Shame Wizard sends the likes of Nick, Missy, and Jessi into a spiral over their appearances. By the end of the episode, Nick, Jessi, Missy, Andrew, and Lola all cross paths at the hospital, having gone home and injured themselves in an attempt to get rid of their imperfections. It's a sad revelation, but it underscores the pressure young kids are under when it comes to their appearances.
1 Caleb's Autism
Season 7, Episode 9 - "Panic! At The Mall"
Big Mouth season 7 sees Caleb's character develop further, especially when it comes to his friendship with Matthew. In "Panic! At The Mall", Caleb has to navigate shopping for a new bag after his breaks. This episode presents a beautiful representation of the inner thoughts of an autistic person. It also provides some very sweet moments between Caleb and Matthew. Not only do Big Mouth's writers present autism in an understandable and relatable way, but they also make great use of some of the Human Resources, including the Logic Rock and the Anxiety Mosquito.