It might be the academic in me, but “SOS Humanity: Earth’s Last Distress Call” is the perfect satire for just how much capitalist ideology has affected our way of thinking. Set in a far future in outer space, “SOS Humanity” asks the question of what’s in it for me to save someone? Host, Chip Reynold’s, adds a delightful humor reminiscent of Doug Eiffel from “Wolf 359.”

SOS: Humanity – Capitalism, Satire and Social Media

I don’t think the cast and crew behind the show—Peripheral Friends Production—went into making “SOS Humanity” with a college English class in mind. But the impact of social media on today’s collective state of mental health I’m sure played a role in this show’s inception. Or at the very least, it’s execution of its off-the-walls style of comedy.

Being a variety show, similarities between it and other podcasts like Hell Gate City are easy to compare and contrast. Hell Gate City was split between being a comedy and telling an overarching dramatic story in its first season. “SOS” by contrast leans into the comedy, treating what should be the obvious frame narrative of getting rescued as a joke.

Jokes and Set Pieces

Some standout jokes include a musical performance by an explicit christian rap group that had me ROFLing. It was just so outlandish. Once the musical bridge is over, It goes on a bit too long, but not by much. Another sequence involves turkeys and some sort of dystopia where they rule Australia. Not 100 percent certain how that works, but by episode 2, turkeys are wearing human clothes. Interpret that how you will.

Episode 2 is also forgettable if not a little dull listening to it. Perhaps because there’s not a lot of risk in the jokes told. Episode 3 is everything the anti-woke brigade bitch about online. It makes fun of conservatives, no holds barred, and goes so far as to have a musical number about killing elderly people so the young can fix our planet and society. The number is catchy, but the genocide of seniors, even as a joke, is a bit much.

8.5/10- Stars