[spoiler]The second book is decent, a reflection (pun semi-intended), on the nature of reality and what defines a person. But the first book shows a child being forced to go through a painful journey to grow, so she can leave her new friends and run back to the people who showed her neglect, happy to return like victims of abuse and neglect often are... And Tulip forgives her parents because they ultimately decide to fulfill the obligation they carelessly neglected to begin with.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Tulip's anger is deserved. It should be validated. Tulip has every right to be angry, yet she's the only one who has to go on a journey of change to become complacent in the life she had with parents who are mostly shown in her memories to put her in the middle of their petty squabbles and neglect her. All because of what? Parents 'inherently loving' their child. A lie so many children are forced to swallow and live with for most of their formative years...[/spoiler]

Ultimately, I like the premise, but this is one more washed out portrayal of a child of divorce that pushes the idea that the child is expected to learn to accept their own reality, rather than to seek a way to find a new and better life.

Me now just realizing that this entire show is just a ripoff of that one Adventure Time episode

Finally decided to check the out do to it being taken down by Warner Bros. Discovery and it now being the talk of the town again. Since this is an anthology show, I thought it would be justified if I made 4 individual reviews as I finish each book. Since almost everybody has already praised the show to death, it’s not like I can add much anyway. So here we go

8/23/22 Book 1

7/10

So this it where it all begins… cool! Frankly I didn’t like it as much as some other people, but I still think it’s really good. Tulip was a pretty nice lead for the series and I liked One-One and Atticus, but not enough for me to get emotionally invested when they’re in peril. Like when Atticus gets turned into a soul sucking cockroach, I was like “oh well”. Also we never see Atticus leaving someone in charge while he helps Tulip and it feels like he just abandons his kingdom and never worries of the possible threat that it being attacked again by the FNAF octopus lady. Also I don’t feel too much for Amelia, I mean it’s kind of sad that her husband died, but we never see how he died or why goes up to her old school rooftop, I mean it’s kind of sad but the origin happens so fast it’s hard for me to even get invested to much. Also I feel that Tulip’s passion for game design was really underutilized, Like would it be so hard if they had a gaming cart and she would really geek out and maybe she could use her skills on a puzzle or something? I honestly think Space Jam 2 does a better job at utilizing a character’s passion for game design in it’s story, But don’t worry, that’s the only thing Space Jam 2 succeeds at more than this. Also one more nitpick is that what kind of friend just blatantly ask “is it weird that you’re parents are divorced now”? I don’t think you should just blatantly ask that when they probably don’t wanna talk about it. Also why is One-One’s memory erased at the end of the turtle episode when that doesn’t effect anything. I think that’s enough negatives but let’s get to the positives. I thought the episode where Tulip revisit her old memories and how she tries to paint it in perfect pictures and in reality it was never too happy was great. I liked it’s concept, One-One, animation, creativity, and more stuff. All the good stuff about Book 1 has been said by other people, so I should probably watch Book 2 now

8/29/22 Book 2

10/10

I mean I knew this book was highly regarded and is considered the best by some people, but you really have to watch this to understand how absolutely incredible it is. “MT” was absolutely phenomenal and I loved her bond with Jesse and Alan Dracula. It really did look like she could never leave the train as much as she wanted to and they did amazing job communicating that to the audience by how Mace, even when missing half his body, still taunts her by saying that she’s just another cog in helping the passenger and that’s all she is. But Mace wasn’t wrong, One-One openly admits that her only purpose was to help the passenger. But she doesn’t care because she knows there’s more to life than being a cog. I’m also really shocked of what they were allowed to get away with because there are some brutal kills in this and it’s amazing. I also loved Jesse, he’s honestly not a bad kid and it really does look like he wants to make it up to his brother and I did care about his bond with “MT”. Alan Dracula was honestly really fun and a real joy to watch and the last scene with him was real satisfying if you know what I’m talking about. I mean I don’t know else to say, this is just a phenomenal work of television and all the best stuff has already been said about it a million times over. Also it’s a little sad that Tulip’s reflection is more of a compelling character than Tulip herself.

8/31/22 Book 3

8/10

Unfortunately when I was looking up Book 2 reviews on YouTube, I got spoiled for the fate of Simon which I didn’t even search for. But dude, I cannot tell you how satisfying it was finally seeing Simon die a horrible death because he truly deserves it. I haven’t hated a character that much sense Omni-Man and Simon has to be the best villain in the whole show so far. It was a pretty unique choice to focus on The Apex seeing how they were in antagonistic force in Book 2. Book 3 continues the trend of the show by having very good animal side characters, but this time there crucial to the emotional beats of the Book. Bro, I was not expecting Simon‘s betrayal and it’s not like he even tries to hide it, he just openly says it without a second thought and it’s just vicious. And Hazel’s lullaby absolutely got to me and made me hate Simon even more. Grace’s journey was also really something. Seeing her grow as a person starts to care for “nulls” instead outright hating them was great to see. I don’t think her back-story, though, was as good or as thought out as Book 2 or heck, even Book 1, but it was something I guess. Everybody else loves this Book and so do I. Now on to Book 4

9/2/22 Book 4

6/10

I know this is gonna be a hot take to some, but I don’t think Book 4 is all that… special. I mean the entire first episode’s plot just a retread of the Gravity Falls episode “A Tale of Two Stans” or heck, evening the Regular Show movie and it doesn’t do a lot of new interesting things with it. I mean I would question why there is a train within a train before irresponsibility throwing my friend’s keys in it. I’m sorry, but I have to say that Min-Gi and Ryan are probably the weakest pare in the whole show. I mean the first three books tackled divorce, self-worth, and discrimination. Now Infinity Train tackles kid not wanting to join a friend’s band because kid doesn’t want to upset parents, but we barely ever see Min-Gi’s parents and their view of Ryan. Maybe if there was like a scene or two where Min-Gi’s parents try to convince Min-Gi not to associate himself with Ryan, that would make more sense having hesitance joining a band then it happening offscreen. I think even Book 1 does this better where it dedicates an entire episode to it’s theme of divorce and really sets up that Tulip’s parents may not be the best pair. Speaking of being jarring, it’s tone. After two brilliantly brutal Books in a row, we get an episode where Min-Gi and Ryan have to feed a giant pig with a bib to get a cow creamer’s approval to get to the next car. The plot was so ridiculous that i though it would lead up to real plot, but no. Also did we really need an entire episode just decided into trying to get into the party. I don’t think this would be such a big deal if it wasn’t so jarring in tone compared to the rest of the series and the Book not having very strong characters or themes to be emotional anchors in all the weirdness. This Book also the weakest side character in the entire show and her name is Kez. I mean she’s just so annoying and she’s the root of all the mishaps that happen in the show. Also she’s too stuck up to just say sorry and just tries to manipulate the guys into living in the house. The ending was also really anticlimactic. We get all this stellar ending sequences from the last three Books and then Kez just says sorry and everything is good again? Idk, this Book stands out like a shore thumb compared to all the other Books and while that’s not always a bad thing, it really lacks a strong story and interesting characters to really hold it as it own thing. Sorry I didn’t like it guys


So that’s Infinity Train… cool! This was honestly a great show with mature and well thought out themes and enduring characters. And while I didn’t love Book 1 and Book 4, I’m able to appreciate the elements that worked in those books. Also Book 2 and 3 are just so good that it’s pretty easily forget most of the things I didn’t like in 1 and 4. If i had to rate the entire show, it would be an 8/10. But that’s kinda of a disservice to all of the Books individually. So yeah **** Discovery for taking this banger of a show down off of my, previously, favorite streaming service.