The unexpected and quiet ending of the series “Smiling Friends”

This popular Adult Swim series came to an end very quietly right when it seemed to be at the peak of its attention

According to the CinemaDrame news agency, last year Smiling Friends appeared to have become Adult Swim’s flagship success. The animated series, which first aired in 2022, was initially a strange and unconventional work—a sitcom about employees at a company whose goal is to spread happiness, but mixed with experimental animation and dark, meta humor. However, as Season 3 aired, its popularity grew even more and reached a point where it could have become a mainstream hit.

Even The Simpsons referenced it. Viewership kept rising, and with each new episode, its presence on social media became stronger. Before the season began, Adult Swim had already renewed the series for two more seasons, effectively securing its run until around 2027. At a time when the network’s previous big hit Rick and Morty was no longer as fresh as it once was, all signs suggested that this strange internet-born creation by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack would become the new face of the major animation network.

But suddenly, everything ended. In February, Hadel and Cusack announced that Smiling Friends was over, and they had decided to cancel the production of the next two seasons and end the show immediately. In a video announcing the decision, they cited both exhaustion and a desire to end the series on a high note.

Hadel said that from the beginning, their goal had been to make the show with full effort and end it at its best possible point.

The decision was both surprising and somewhat predictable. During Season 3’s airing, they had clearly stated that they had no interest in continuing the show for as long as long-running series like The Simpsons or South Park. At the same time, it is respectable when creators choose to end a successful work on their own terms—and it is also notable that Adult Swim allowed it.

However, there is still a sense that something unfinished remains. Despite its success, Smiling Friends had not yet reached its full potential and still had room to grow.

All the subtle weaknesses that had existed throughout the series become fully visible in the final two episodes released on February 12. These episodes were presented as a gift to fans, but the creators themselves emphasized that they were not meant to be a real conclusion—and this is clear while watching them.

For a series with such a chaotic and playful tone, perhaps a big emotional farewell would not have been appropriate. Still, the episodes feel like something that had already been made and later slightly adjusted for release. Notably, they were produced by Titmouse studio rather than the Korean studio Saerom Animation, which handled most of Season 3.

These two episodes ultimately rank among the weakest in the entire series and fail to provide a strong ending. The episode “Friend-Bot” repeats the familiar idea of AI in the workplace, following employees who use a service robot. Compared to the show’s standards, it feels uncreative and lacks a clear point of view; its ending—revealing that the robot was actually a man in a costume—feels more strange and ineffective than meaningful.

The true final episode, “Charlie’s Uncle Dies and Doesn’t Come Back,” is even weaker. It tries to use dark comedy but without effective jokes. The main characters, Charlie and Pim, spend a day with Charlie’s grumpy, reclusive uncle, who puts them in various uncomfortable situations. The humor does not land, and attempts at emotional depth mostly fail; some elements are more unpleasant than funny or shocking.

These two episodes, especially the second, highlight the weakest aspects of Smiling Friends rather than its strengths. The series was known for its use of mixed animation techniques—stop-motion, CGI, and more—but sometimes these elements became a substitute for substance rather than an enhancement.

At times, the show was not as truly strange as it appeared. Like many Adult Swim shows, its humor relied heavily on internet culture and a certain cynicism toward humanity, which could become tiring. It even made direct references to controversial internet figures such as Chris Chan.

At its best, the series worked when it became a surreal and creative mix of animation references—such as the episode “A Allan Adventure,” still considered one of its strongest. But whenever it tried to be political or sharply “edgy,” its weaknesses became more obvious. In these final episodes, with fewer visual innovations, those flaws stand out even more.

That does not mean Smiling Friends was a bad show. A work with this level of boldness and creativity always has a place in animation. Its best episodes managed to balance sharp humor with decent character writing. However, even among recent Adult Swim shows, it was not the strongest, as others offered more complete and satisfying visions.

In the end, time will determine its legacy, but it will likely remain a cult favorite among niche audiences. Still, it is a shame that a series with such potential ended not with a powerful finale, but with a rather muted farewell.

The final episodes of the series are currently available on HBO Max.