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Unsupervised

2012Ended1 season13 episodes~22 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

15-year-old best friends Gary and Joel try to navigate teenage life while also trying to do the right thing without the help of any parental supervision.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Unsupervised?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Unsupervised to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Unsupervised?

Unsupervised earns 2 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Men.

Reception

Is Unsupervised worth watching?

Unsupervised's Midcredits score is the 60th percentile of all shows, from 2.8K ratings across 2 sources. 78% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

60th percentile

Better received than 60% of shows

67th percentile among Animation58th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)51st
Approval (how many liked it)67th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

71 /100

51st percentile of all shows

57th percentile among Animation49th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Big peaks at both ends — people either love this or bounce off it hard.

Approval

How many liked it

78% liked it

67th percentile of all shows

75th percentile among Animation65th percentile among 2010s
78% rated it 7–1022% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

68th percentile

2.8K ratings across platforms

61st percentile among Animation71st percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show is a buddy-comedy about two hapless teens, but fans see charm and wit where detractors see a shameless clone.

Fans praised

  • likable, naive lead duo with real character depth
  • sharp, quotable banter with layered social satire
  • distinctive, expressive animation style that suits the tone

Detractors panned

  • derivative, unfunny Beavis and Butt-Head rip-off
  • forced, immature humor that fails to land
  • cheap animation and drawn-out writing

What stands out

CharactersDivisive82

main duo praised for naive charm and complexity, but detractors call them one-note

ActingDivisive78

voice cast elevates material; detractors blame writing, not performances

DialogueDivisive75

quotable banter lauded, but detractors find it repetitive

Emotional impact72

heartwarming underdog tone resonates with fans

CinematographyDivisive70

stylized, graffiti-inspired animation praised by fans

HumorDivisive68

clever satire for fans, painfully unfunny for detractors

Plot and storyDivisive62

storylines sometimes underdeveloped but thematically rich

OriginalityDivisive55

fresh take on teen friendship vs. derivative Beavis clone

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 19 points higher than women.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2012 · 13 episodes

  • S1E1
    S1E1

    Pilot

    Jan 19, 201225 min
  • S1E2
    S1E2

    Rich Girl

    Jan 26, 201225 min
  • S1E3
    S1E3

    Field of Dreams ... and Dogs

    Feb 2, 201225 min
  • S1E4
    S1E4

    Fires & Liars

    Feb 9, 201225 min
  • S1E5
    S1E5

    Stupid Idiots

    Feb 16, 201225 min
  • S1E6
    S1E6

    Nits

    Feb 23, 201225 min

Watch experience

What is Unsupervised like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — an even-paced watch that leaves you entertained.

Themes

  • Coming of age
  • Friendship
  • Freedom

Style

  • Playful
  • Warm

Feelings

  • Joyful
  • Absurd

What it asks of you

  • Even-paced
  • Casual
  • Easy watch
  • Resolved

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Suburban
  • Domestic
  • Institutional

How it leaves you

  • Fun
  • Hopeful

Story

  • Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.
ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: middleAbsurdist humor: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Told as
Episodic · 11% of shows: Loosely connected incidents rather than one driving plot.SerializedSingle-season story
ToneThe show plays its absurd situations and naive characters with a knowing, affectionate wink, never undercutting the genuine warmth between them.
The rideThe series maintains a light, upbeat mood with occasional absurd episodes, settling into its groove in the middle of the season.
StructureEach episode presents a self-contained adventure in the characters' lives, with continuity of setting and cast but no overarching serial plot.
Episode formatThe series tells a continuous story of Gary and Joel's lives, though each episode presents self-contained comedic situations.
Season formatThe show was cancelled after one season, so it functions as a single season story.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayViewers leave grinning at the duo's antics and warmed by their unshakable friendship and optimistic outlook despite their rough circumstances.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% (this title) · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Buddy comedy: A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series follows Gary and Joel through teenage misadventures with no parental supervision; the typical episode is a comedy built around their naive, well-meaning exploits.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4% (this title)
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

Coming of age · 9% of showsFriendshipFreedom · 4% of shows
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe show follows Gary and Joel as they try to do the right thing without supervision, exploring teenage growth and the challenges of independence.
StanceThe show celebrates the bond of friendship and the joys of teenage freedom without strong judgment.

The world

Orchestral classicalExperimentalSupportive music · original score · Steven Burton
Settinga suburban high school and its surroundings

Content guide

Is Unsupervised okay for kids?

TV-MA

Unsupervised is rated TV-MA. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at intense (67/100), language at severe (81/100), drug and alcohol content at severe (87/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Profanity
Severe
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Severe
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (4 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (30 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Unsupervised have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Unsupervised?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Justin Long
as Gary
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
David Hornsby
as Joel
Kristen Bell
as Megan
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Romany Malco
as Darius
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Rob Rosell
as Russ
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Sally Kellerman
as Principal Stark
Kaitlin Olson
as Carol
Maria Bamford
as Megan's Mom
Fred Armisen
as Martin
Scott Marder
as Jojo
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

Crew

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