The absurd comedy show Smiling Friends has grown popular since coming out with the first season in 2022: Characters Pim and Charlie both have unique humor that shows their personalities.

The duo runs a business dedicated to spreading happiness around the world,  utilizing their unique skills together. Pim is very optimistic and gives genuine enthusiasm, while Charlie tends to reality-check and is pessimistic. Together, they make a perfect balance to help their clients.

With the release of the third season on Oct. 3, viewers have noticed a few differences within the show. Fans have observed that the animations of the characters and settings have improved, adding good detail to understand the emotions within each episode. “There have been some improvements in other areas besides the story. For example, the animation quality has seen a massive increase. Silly Samuel is literally always moving when he is on screen,” said Eli Rainey of the FLOR-ALA podcast.

Smiling Friends is known for its chaos and dark humor, but some have said the humor that is carried into season three has a different vibe. “Season three continues to be hilariously fantastic with its signature humor and storytelling, but also reveals being more self-referential,” according to Chris Gallardo of Tell-Tale TV. The new season gives more insight into the characters while still maintaining that comedic tone fans love. 

The show keeps its humor throughout seasons one and two but seems to change it up in season three.“I feel like it’s more sad and mildly a lot more unsettling”, said Addison Rose Biddon, junior. Although fans don’t necessarily see this as a negative change, they view it as an evolution of the show. Season three shows character development and explores deeper themes, giving fans more background, and the characters’ journeys also provide genuine feelings that viewers can relate to. 

Smiling Friends remains a beloved show. Even though Pim and Charlie may scream their heads off, they are still the duo that puts smiles on faces.