The Smurfs (2021): Season 1, Volume 1 [DVD]

It's the best cartoon ever, but with a few differences.

THE SMURFS: SEASON 1, VOLUME 1 HAS 18 EPISODES: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1A: SMURF-FU, SEASON 1 EPISODE 1B: DIAPER DADDY, SEASON 1 EPISODE 2A: WHO NOSE? SEASON 1 EPISODE 2B: CLUMSY NOT CLUMSY, SEASON 1 EPISODE 3A: UNSMURFABLE SMILE, SEASON 1 EPISODE 3B: MIND THE CAT, SEASON 1 EPISODE 4A: WHERE'S PAPA SMURF?, SEASON 1 EPISODE 4B: WHO'S HEFTIER?, SEASON 1 EPISODE 5A: SMURFS IN DISGUISE, SEASON 1 EPISODE 5B: JOKES ON YOU, SEASON 1 EPISODE 6A: THE SCARIEST SMURF, SEASON 1 EPISODE 6B: DRIIINNGGGGG!, SEASON 1 EPISODE 7A: MY SMURF THE HERO, SEASON 1 EPISODE 7B: ALIEN SMURF, SEASON 1 EPISODE 8A: SMURF YOUR SEAT BELTS!, SEASON 1 EPISODE 8B: LEAF IT ALONE, SEASON 1 EPISODE 9A: BRINGING UP SMURFY AND SEASON 1 EPISODE 9B: THE MAKEOVER

The 2020s Smurfs series from Europe does a good job reviving the Smurfs, bringing them back into prominence after years of reruns of the 1980s Hanna-Barbera series, but the thing I don't like about the revival is Grouchy's speech patterns. "Me, I don't like ..." makes him sound too P.C. and less like a grouch. I get the feeling it was done to make his character "true" to the comic book version (as interpreted by Papercutz), but still I prefer the "I hate ..." version of Grouchy better.This volume of episodes from the new series has a good sampling of stories to entertain yourself with. Classic Smurf purists may prefer the 1980s series over this, though, and it's still disappointing that Warner Home Video still hasn't released all its seasons onto DVD in America yet. Hopefully this won't happen to the new series, as we have only two-thirds of the first season released in two volumes and we may yet see a third volume sometime in the future.

I enjoy this series, as well as the originals. They're both charming and thoroughly entertaining in their own ways. I like how the new show reflects the original one. There are scenes in the new episodes that are similar to the old ones, which simply adds to the fun. The animation and graphics are awesome and the humor can be enjoyed by children and adults. I've laughed so many times with the jokes and antics in each episode.The voices are especially done well. I'm impressed with how the actors/actresses have embodied their characters. Brainy--my personal favorite--is a lot funnier and more sensible in this reboot. Jokey, Clumsy, Reporter, Poet, Grouchy--they're all tons of fun in this new series. The adventures they all go on are riveting and even intense at times. The music is great and the storylines are awesome.It is a refreshing tv show and one I recommend for everyone.