Main cast: Melissa Villaseñor (Thermostat), Ronny Chieng (Electric Toothbrush), Amy Sedaris (Security Camera), Kevin Hart (Air Ionizer), Josh Brener (Shower Head, Litter Box), Nat Faxon (Waffle Maker), Niecy Nash-Betts (Massager), and Brett Goldstein (Toilet)
Director: Patrick Osborne

I said a while back that adaptations of John Scalzi’s stories for Love, Death & Robots are either horrid or awesome, never anything in between.

Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners ranks high on the putrid meter, because it is Mr Scalzi channeling his smug, condescending “I’m better than all of you!” persona full force in the guise of making some shallow social commentary that boils down to “I am so very smart!”. Fans of that version of the author can enjoy his patronizing prick glory 24/7 on his social media, but once a while, it trickles down to adaptations of his works so here it is.

This episode can’t be cheap to make as it assembles a bunch of comedians — or “comedians” depending on how much one cozies up to them — to play electrical appliances that complain about their owners to the audience. 

It’s not like there is some sharp satire or anything here. It’s just a barrage of juvenile toilet humor, shallow as puddle one-liners that would make Carrie Bradshaw look like a profound wit, and that’s basically it. 

Given that the script is also by Mr Scalzi, the whole thing can be laid at his doorstep like the cat poo that is this episode.

God knows why this episode is even greenlit, but maybe the people behind this show have a friends-forever agreement to John Scalzi to adapt at least two of his stories for every season of this show. However, picking this story is definitely a choice, a very stupid one.