The Midnight Gospel is a surreal and visually psychedelic animated series on Netflix created by Pendleton Ward (the creator of Adventure Time) and comedian Duncan Trussell.

The series centers on a "spacecaster" named Clancy Gilroy, who lives on a planet called the Chromatic Ribbon. He uses a malfunctioning multiverse simulator to travel to different dying worlds to interview their inhabitants for his "spacecast."

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The unique format of the show is that the dialogue is taken directly from real-life interviews from Trussell's podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour. While the characters on screen are engaged in bizarre and often violent animated adventures, they are calmly discussing serious, philosophical, and spiritual topics like life, death, forgiveness, and drug use. The chaotic and surreal visuals act as a metaphorical backdrop to the deep, introspective conversations.

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The show is known for its blend of low-fi fantasy and high-minded philosophical discussions, and for its ability to tackle complex themes in an accessible and engaging way.

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The Midnight Gospel is a truly unique and ambitious animated series that defies easy categorization. Here's a deeper look into the show:

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The Creators

The show is a collaboration between two creative forces:

• Duncan Trussell: A comedian, writer, and host of the popular podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour. He voices the protagonist, Clancy Gilroy, and the show's dialogue is based on interviews from his podcast.

• Pendleton Ward: The creator of the highly acclaimed and influential animated series Adventure Time. Ward's signature surreal and psychedelic animation style is a perfect visual match for the show's philosophical themes.

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The Themes

The series is built around the idea of a spacecaster interviewing beings in different realities, but the real core of the show is the exploration of profound and often difficult topics. Each episode delves into a specific theme, with the animated storyline acting as a metaphor for the conversation taking place. Some of the major themes include:

• Life and Death: The show frequently addresses mortality, grief, and the process of dying. The final, deeply personal episode, in particular, is a moving conversation about death between Duncan Trussell and his own mother, recorded a few weeks before she passed away.

• Forgiveness and Compassion: One episode follows Clancy with a warrior who, instead of killing her enemies with a sword, "kills" them with kindness, illustrating the power of letting go of grudges.

• Spirituality and Mysticism: Guests on the podcast are often spiritual teachers, magicians, and practitioners of meditation and mindfulness. The show explores concepts like ceremonial magic, Buddhism, and the path to enlightenment.

• The Human Condition: Across all the conversations, the show grapples with the anxieties, fears, and joys of being human. It's an introspective journey that encourages viewers to look inward and consider their own relationship with the world around them.

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Cast and Guests

The series "cast" is unique because it's not a group of actors reading a script. Instead, it features the real voices of Duncan Trussell's podcast guests, who include:

• Dr. Drew Pinsky: Discussing the war on drugs and the benefits of mindfulness.

• Damien Echols: A former death-row inmate and a ceremonial magician, discussing magic and spirituality.

• Trudy Goodman: A Buddhist teacher discussing the importance of forgiveness and community.

• Anne Lamott: An author and activist discussing addiction and finding purpose.

• Ram Dass: A spiritual teacher and psychologist (featured posthumously).

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Show Status

Unfortunately for fans, Netflix canceled The Midnight Gospel after its first season. Duncan Trussell confirmed the news in 2022, stating that while he had ideas for a second season, the show was not renewed. He explained that this was likely a business decision, as animation is expensive and the show, while critically acclaimed and with a strong cult following, did not have the massive viewership of a series like Stranger Things. The cancellation was a great disappointment to many who praised the show's unique vision and profound message.

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