I got to start out by saying that I love the loser comments tossed in repeatedly by Eddie. Oh, but I am getting ahead of myself...
Based solely on the name of the show, I bought season 1 and 2 from Amazon, without having any clue what this was about. And once I received the DVDs, I went straight into a "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil" marathon. One episode just spurs on the next, and so on and so on. It is a bit difficult to just sit down and watch a single episode without craving more.
Why? Well, because each episode is unique in its own right. A new story, that fits nicely into an overall plot. And throughout each episode, you will see a familiar familiar from previous episodes here and there, if you pay close attention. But also, there are so many hidden references to other things to be found. This is really all about paying attention to the details, and as such, then each episode easily supports more than a single viewing.
Now, the story is about stoner-metalhead Todd Smith (played by Alex House), his friends Curtis Weaver (played by Bill Turnbull), Hannah B. Williams (played by Melanie Leishman) and Jenny Kolinsky (played by Maggie Castle) who all attend Crowley High where a book most vile and wicked, nay, a book of pure evil, lurks to wreck havoc and destruction by luring its appeal to the needy, the social misfits, the outcasts and those who strive for more than they have. The school councilor Atticus Murphy Jr. (played by Chris Leavins) oversees the mysterious happenings and wants to grasp the book of pure evil for his own Satanic needs. Stoner janitor Jimmy (played by Jason Mewes) is always around to lend a hand to the students of Crowley High.
It would be a too long and tedious task (and read) to go into detailing every single episode. But to put it shortly, then the episodes are fun, exciting and full of mayhem. There is something for just about everyone to be found here in this series.
So, why am I only rating this a 7 out of 10? Well, because the book manages to elude the gang in each single episode, and it started to become tedious towards the end. Sure, it was held afloat by variation and diversion, not to mention the comedy, acting and great effects. But essentially it started to become a play-and-repeat mockery of itself.
The characters in the series are really nice. They are well thought through and have a lot of personalities and depths, which really helps the show along nicely. My personal favorites are Atticus - Chris Leavins just nails it so well, and Hannah. And I should say that amongst my favorites were also Eddie (played by Norman Yeung) with his 'loser' comment in every sentence.
"Todd and the Book of Pure Evil" is fun and exciting. Well worth a watch if you enjoy a bizarre mix of comedy and horror. And, oh wait did I forget to mention it? Musical! Yeah, each season had a single episode done as a musical.
