After years of making us laugh, cringe, and let’s be honest, reflect deeply on our own messy adolescence, Big Mouth returns for its eighth and final season with the aptly titled premiere, “Homecumming.” A signature blend of vulgarity, heart, and surprising wisdom, this episode sets the tone for the closing act of Netflix’s most fearless animated coming-of-age saga.
At the center of “Homecumming” is the high school ritual of homecoming, a word playfully twisted into “Homecumming” in typical Big Mouth fashion. While the characters are more grown-up than ever, the inner chaos of adolescence rages on. Hormones still scream, boundaries are still tested, and the most awkward version of puberty remains in full display.
Andrew is once again locked in a battle with himself, torn between trying to be cool and true to his neurotic core. His parents remain their overbearing, emotionally stunted selves, offering comedic friction as he tries to evolve. Missy, navigating her identity as a biracial teen, continues her journey toward self-definition. Season 8 picks up where her struggle left off, adding complexity to her voice rather than turning it into a caricature.
Matthew’s story stands out this episode. His conflict around bringing his boyfriend to the dance strikes a resonant chord. In typical Big Mouth fashion, it isn’t just about the surface-level decision. It’s about internalized fear, social expectation, and the challenge of queer joy in public spaces. His arc in “Homecumming” is a sincere moment of representation, sensitively handled despite the show’s reputation for raunch.
The episode also begins to lay down seeds for what’s likely to be an emotional farewell. Each scene feels tinged with the knowledge that we’re nearing the end of an era. There’s nostalgia baked into every gag, and a quiet maturity settling in underneath the outrageous antics. Jay’s chaotic energy, Nick’s slow-building self-awareness, and Jessi’s emotional tug-of-war, each storyline reminds us how far these characters have come, and how much growth still lies ahead.
“Homecumming” also subtly critiques how society romanticizes high school milestones. The dance becomes less about the party and more about performance. Who you’re with, how you show up, and what statement you’re making. The show’s self-awareness is sharp here, calling out the pressure teens feel to curate these moments as if they’re social media campaigns.
Animation-wise, the episode is lively as ever. Backgrounds are drenched in surrealism when emotions peak, especially during hormonal meltdowns and the expressionistic style is amplified by clever direction and editing. The music is still catchy, crude, and oddly tender when it counts. The Hormone Monsters remain hilarious spiritual guides, with Connie and Maury delivering some of the episode’s sharpest one-liners.
This premiere is also a love letter to what Big Mouth does best: packaging real-life adolescent turmoil into absurd, unforgettable episodes. Beneath the sex jokes and bodily functions is a show that genuinely understands emotional development and makes space for conversations that other teen-centered stories often sidestep.
As Big Mouth sets the stage for its final lap, “Homecumming” reassures long-time fans that the show hasn’t lost its touch. If anything, it’s matured just as its characters have. What began as a brash exploration of puberty is slowly becoming a thoughtful reflection on growth, identity, and letting go.
With more episodes to come and goodbyes to be made, Episode 1 is a clever, heartfelt, and fitting reentry into the lives of characters who have grown alongside a generation of viewers. If this premiere is any indication, Big Mouth intends to go out the same way it came in—loud, unapologetic, and deeply honest.
