DISCLAIMER: This Central Park recap of “Episode One” is rife with spoilers. You’ve been warned. Proceed with caution.
What do you get when you add Bob’s Burgers creator Loren Bouchard‘s unique animation style and brand of humor with a slew of polished A-list singing voices? Central Park! Apple TV+ aired the first three episodes of your new favorite animated musical sitcom today. “Episode One” introduced us to the Tillerman family. Owen, the family patriarch, is the park manager of Central Park. He fights tooth and nail to keep the park in tip-top shape. Unfortunately, Bitsy Brandenham has other plans. Bitsy is an elderly hotel heiress with money oozing from every pore. Her objective? Sell Central Park to the highest bidder and forge the greatest real estate deal the world as ever seen. Will she succeed? Or will a certain park manager stand in her way?
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Now, the episode opens with Birdie (voiced by Josh Gad), Central Park’s wandering troubadour, singing about the park that stole his heart. It’s a fun little number that showcases Gad’s vocal chops. He introduces us to the Tillerman family – Owen (voiced by Leslie Odom, Jr.), Paige (voiced by Kathryn Hahn), Cole (voiced by Tituss Burgess), and Molly (voiced by Kristen Bell). Owen is excited for Turtlehead Day, which is actually about flowers in bloom and not, um, defecating. His daughter Molly wanders off to go spy on a boy. Owen’s wife Paige is a journalist in desperate need of a career break. Next, Owen learns that hotel heiress Bitsy Brandenham’s dog Shampagne has gone missing. The poor pooch was last seen meandering through the park. Paige decides that a rich old lady’s missing canine may make for a juicy story.
Meanwhile, Bitsy (voiced by Stanley Tucci) is lamenting over Shampagne while her weary assistant Helen (voiced by Daveed Diggs) listens in exasperation. Bitsy decides to announce to the media that she’ll generously reward whomever recovers the pooch. We see Paige among the bevy of reporters as they scramble to get more information out of Bitsy. Owen and Birdie take a stroll through the park as the former expresses his disappointment in Turtlehead Day’s turnout. Apparently, flowers aren’t en vogue anymore. Everyone bursts into song. The number is titled “Own It,” and we see each main character reveal their individual story. Helen’s objective is to be the sole heir to Bitsy’s fortune, which is why she purposefully ensured that Shampagne would go “missing.”
Then, we see Molly drawing herself as a superhero with magical hair pigtails. Her boy crush, Brandon, is her trusty sidekick. Now, she’s working up the courage to do more than just creepily draw him from a distance. We learn that Cole has Shampagne in his possession and he refuses to part with the dog.
Next, the park is swarming with people searching every nook and cranny for Shampagne. In her televised press conference, Bitsy vowed to reward Shampagne’s savior $55,000 for their benevolent deed. That’s a lot of Benjamins. Owen is dismayed to find his park in shambles as civilians tear it apart.
Later, Owen discovers that his son Cole is stowing Shampagne away in his backpack. Owen urges his son to return the dog to Bitsy. The pair sing a song, each one debating the merits of returning Shampagne vs. keeping him. Odom, Jr. and Burgess’s voices seamlessly melt together like butter in a frying pan. However, Owen wins out and the duo make a beeline for Bitsy’s opulent penthouse.
Meanwhile, Brandon catches Molly in the artistic act. He really digs her drawing style. In her comic book, the pair are joining forces to decimate a truly formidable villain. Molly’s pigtails have the ability to do, well, just about anything. He’s convinced he’ll see Molly the following day, because she was at that very spot the previous day. Oh, young teenage love.
Then, Owen and Cole return Shampagne to Bitsy. Bitsy offers to give them the reward but Owen declines. He reveals he’s the park manager, which puts a bug in Bitsy’s ear. Well, figuratively speaking.
Now, Cole cries in his father’s arms over having to part with Shampagne. It’s clear the pup was much happier with Cole. I would cry too. They return home to Paige and Molly. Molly was able to save one of the flowers from the disastrous Turtlehead Day, much to Owen’s delight. Paige wrote a story about Turtlehead Day and turned it in to her editor. He published it. Huzzah!
Meanwhile, Bitsy is spying on Central Park through her ornate telescope. She envisions a horde of buildings, restaurants, and other establishments taking place of the lavish greenery before her. Bitsy dreams of selling Central Park and solidifying herself as the richest woman ever. Well, not on Owen Tillerman’s watch! Birdie creepily watches the Tillerman family from outside their home. He turns to the audience and foreshadows a path of despair and hopelessness that lies ahead for the family. Not ominous at all. Also, there’s quite a lot of spying on this show.
Now, Central Park is a unique beast for a multitude of reasons. Not since Galavant have we had a true musical comedy series. Secondly, the main protagonists are an interracial couple with mixed children. It’s refreshing to see, albeit it’s in cartoon form. My only gripe: Bell is wonderful as always. In fact, her voice pairs well with Burgess. However, I can’t help but wonder if the role could have gone to an actress of mixed descent. There’s plenty of wonderful Black and/or mixed women with beautiful singing voices that would have knocked this part out of the park (pun intended). But I’m sure Bell’s name is a big draw for people. Gad is utterly charming as Birdie. Tucci is delightful as Bitsy, and his scenes with Diggs stole the show for me.
Overall, I’m intrigued. Central Park is charming, cheeky, and just plain fun. The music is catchy and diverse in genres. This show is great if you want to simply turn off your brain and enjoy. I think we could all use some brain-free time right now.
Central Park streams Fridays on Apple TV+.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
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