Do you need to watch Big Mouth to understand Human Resources?

With Human Resources arriving on Netflix soon, some potential viewers are curious if they need to watch Big Mouth first to understand its spinoff series. When it comes to spinoffs, most franchises try to make it so that these shows can stand on their own without being inaccessible to newcomers.

Those who haven’t seen Big Mouth yet might want a way into the series without having to set aside time to watch five full seasons. It’d be easier if they could jump into the new show without worrying about seeing every episode of the original.

The good news for fans is that Human Resources was created with a different audience in mind. While the spinoff still has the same raunchy humor that we’ve all come to know and love from Big Mouth, it’s not centered on young teens. The spinoff is a more adult-oriented workplace comedy that focuses on the creatures and monsters that make humans act the way they do.

Do you need to watch Big Mouth to understand Human Resources?

You’ll recognize lots of familiar faces from Big Mouth, but you don’t have to watch all of it first to get invested in Human Resources. So, the short answer is no, you don’t need to have seen Big Mouth to watch the 10-episode first season of the spinoff when it releases this Friday.

However, I recommend doing a quick Google of Big Mouth and maybe watching a few clips or trailers beforehand so you can get an idea of what the show is like and the type of oddball humor to expect.

Also, keep in mind that almost all of the main characters on Human Resources were introduced via the parent show. So you will miss out on their backstories in some cases, and some of the jokes and references might fly over your head.

Characters like Connie, Maury, Shame Wizard, Sonya, Rochelle and others were on Big Mouth first. Lovebugs like Sonya and Rochelle were introduced on Big Mouth specifically to set them up for the spinoff, so you won’t feel too out of the loop when you meet them. And there are brand-new characters as well you don’t need an introduction to.

It’s mostly Connie and Maury, Hormone Monsters who have been around since Big Mouth season 1, that will potentially cause mild confusion in newcomers, but even then, it’s minimal. Human Resources does a good job of setting up its unique premise in the opening moments of the series premiere. Whether you’re a fan of Big Mouth or you just think the show looks fun, I highly recommend it.

Human Resources season 1 releases Friday, March 18, on Netflix.