Universal Basic Guys Christian Review

In today’s media landscape, we’re bombarded with a dizzying array of shows that seek to entertain us, some with wit, some with depth, and others by sheer absurdity. Enter Universal Basic Guys, a series that falls into the latter category—but not necessarily for the better. The show tries to carve out a space within the established genre of animated comedy aimed at men. But while it may check off the usual boxes—crude humor, exaggerated male stereotypes, and attempts at self-aware irony—it leaves much to be desired, especially from a Christian perspective.

Humor has its place, even in the Christian life. After all, Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there’s “a time to laugh.” Laughter helps us through tough times, reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously, and can be a balm to the soul. However, when humor becomes rooted in the demeaning or glorification of foolishness, it loses its value and can veer into dangerous territory. Unfortunately, Universal Basic Guys doesn’t quite understand where that line lies.

The Problem With “Dumb Dudes Doing Dumb Things”

The premise of the show, at its core, revolves around a group of guys who consistently make foolish decisions. Now, I get it—there’s a lot of comedy to be found in mistakes, and we’ve all done dumb things. But there’s a difference between laughing at ourselves when we mess up and creating entire characters whose identities are built around irresponsibility, stupidity, and immaturity.

From a Christian viewpoint, wisdom is something we’re meant to pursue, as emphasized repeatedly in Scripture. Proverbs 4:7 says, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Universal Basic Guys seems to celebrate the opposite. It’s one thing to watch characters make mistakes and learn from them, but in this show, the characters often double down on their stupidity, with little to no growth or reflection. This creates a type of humor that becomes more frustrating than funny, particularly when you’re looking for something with a bit more depth or even a lesson wrapped in the laughs.

Crude Humor and the Loss of Value

The humor in Universal Basic Guys relies heavily on crudeness. The kind of jokes that make you cringe, not because they’re edgy, but because they’re tired. Humor has its place, and even jokes that push boundaries can serve a purpose if they force us to think or reflect. But when jokes are simply there to elicit a laugh through shock value or bodily functions, the value gets lost.

Philippians 4:8 gives Christians a guiding principle: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” There’s a lot of entertainment out there that doesn’t meet this standard, but that doesn’t mean we have to shut ourselves off from all non-Christian media. However, when a show’s humor consistently degrades into something base, it makes it harder to justify watching. At a certain point, it stops being entertaining and starts being exhausting.

Where’s the Moral Ground?

One of the biggest challenges Universal Basic Guys faces is its lack of moral grounding. Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying every show needs to be a moral parable. But even in the most irreverent comedies, there’s often a sense of right and wrong, of characters learning from their mistakes or at least realizing the consequences of their actions. That’s just not the case here.

The show winks at you with a knowing smirk, aware of its own absurdity, but never really engages with any deeper questions. It’s like it’s saying, “Yeah, we know this is dumb,” but offers no commentary on why the dumbness matters. Without any real reflection or introspection, it feels like a missed opportunity to explore what it means to be responsible, to grow, or even to grapple with the consequences of bad decisions.

For Christians, who are called to be discerning about the media we consume, this lack of moral depth can be a dealbreaker. There’s nothing inherently wrong with shows that are just meant to be fun, but when the fun is built on hollow ground, it can leave us feeling unsatisfied. Entertainment should, at the very least, make us think or feel something more than just momentary distraction. In Universal Basic Guys, that depth is missing.

The “Bro” Culture Dilemma

If there’s one thing Universal Basic Guys has in spades, it’s a strong “bro” culture vibe. The show’s humor and tone are distinctly masculine, leaning heavily on exaggerated male stereotypes. It’s not the first show to do this, of course. Shows like Family Guy and American Dad have paved the way for this type of humor, but Universal Basic Guys lacks the cleverness or satirical edge that often made those shows work (even if they pushed the envelope too far at times).

The problem with this aggressive “bro” tone is that it feels both outdated and, frankly, a little obnoxious. It’s the kind of humor that doesn’t challenge stereotypes but simply reinforces them. Instead of asking, “Why do we laugh at this?” the show seems content to lean into the lowest common denominator of what masculinity means.

For Christian men, who are called to a higher standard of leadership, responsibility, and wisdom (1 Corinthians 16:13-14), this portrayal of men as bumbling, irresponsible, and foolish is disheartening. It perpetuates a narrow and damaging view of masculinity that runs counter to the biblical model of what it means to be a man.

Can It Redeem Itself?

It’s not all bad, though. There are moments in the show where you can see the glimmer of something more—something creative, something quirky, something that steps outside the tired formula. Occasionally, Universal Basic Guys veers into the strange and fantastical, and those moments are a welcome break from the monotony. But they’re too few and far between.

If the show leaned more into these outlandish detours and less into the tired “dumb dudes” routine, it could potentially find its footing. There’s a space in the animated comedy world for shows that blend absurdity with meaningful commentary, but Universal Basic Guys hasn’t quite figured out how to walk that line.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, Universal Basic Guys just isn’t worth the time from a Christian perspective. It’s a show that revels in irresponsibility lacks moral reflection, and leans too heavily on crude, uninspired humor. While there are flashes of potential, they’re too scattered to make up for the show’s overall shortcomings.

For Christians looking for entertainment that aligns with their values—or even just offers something meaningful to chew on—this show falls flat. There’s so much content out there that offers both fun and depth, but Universal Basic Guys is not one of them.

Rating: 3/10

It’s a miss, but hopefully, we’ll see better content coming our way.