, creator =

John Harvatine IV John Harvatine IV is an American producer and director best known for his work on the television show '' Robot Chicken''. In 2010, Harvatine, Eric Towner, Matt Senreich, and Seth Green launched Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, as part of Stoopid Monke ...

and

Tom Root Tom Root (born September 20, 1973) is an American writer, producer, director and voice actor for ''Robot Chicken''. Early life Root was born in Iowa City, Iowa. He attended Central Michigan University, graduating with a degree in journalism. Wh ...

, voices = {{Plainlist, *

Nicholas Hoult Nicholas Caradoc Hoult (born 7 December 1989) is an English actor. His body of work includes supporting work in big-budget mainstream productions and starring roles in independent projects in both the American and the British film industries ...

Luke Evans Luke George Evans (born 15 April 1979) is a Welsh actor and singer. He began his career on the stage, performing in many of London's West End productions such as ''Rent'', ''Miss Saigon'', and '' Piaf'' before making his film breakthrough in ...

Alanna Ubach Alanna Ubach (born October 3, 1975) is an American actress, known for her roles as Serena McGuire in ''Legally Blonde'' (2001) & ''Legally Blonde 2'' (2003), Isabel Villalobos in ''Meet the Fockers'' (2004), Maria in '' Sister Act 2: Back in the ...

Adam Pally Adam Saul Pally (born March 18, 1982) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for starring as Max Blum in the ABC comedy series '' Happy Endings'' and as Dr. Peter Prentice in '' The Mindy Project''. He also starr ...

Tara Strong Tara Lyn Strong (née Charendoff; born February 12, 1973) is a Canadian-American actress. She is known for her voice work in animation, websites, and video games. Strong's voice roles include animated series such as '' The New Batman Adventure ...

Tony Hale Anthony Russell Hale (born September 30, 1970) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his role in the Fox comedy series '' Arrested Development'' as Buster Bluth. Hale played Gary Walsh on the HBO comedy ''Veep'' from 2012 until ...

* Adam Ray * Seth Green *

Breckin Meyer Breckin Erin Meyer (born May 7, 1974) is an American actor, musician, writer and producer, known for his roles in films such as ''Clueless'' (1995), ''Road Trip'' (2000), ''Rat Race'' (2001), and '' Garfield: The Movie'' (2004), he's also known f ...

Wendi McLendon-Covey Wendi McLendon-Covey (née McLendon; born October 10, 1969) is an American actress and comedian. She is known primarily for her work in comedic and improvisational roles. Since 2013, McLendon-Covey has played the role of Beverly Goldberg, a fam ...

, composer = Randall Crissman , country = United States , language = English , num_seasons = 2 , num_episodes = 20 , list_episodes = #Episodes , executive_producer = {{Plainlist, * John Harvatine IV * Tom Root * Seth Green *

Matthew Senreich Matthew Ian Senreich (; born June 17, 1974) is an American screenwriter, television producer, director, and voice actor best known for his work with animated television series '' Robot Chicken'', which he co-created with business partner and clos ...

Eric Towner Eric Towner is an American producer, writer, director and animator best known for his work on Adult Swim's '' Robot Chicken'' and Netflix's '' Buddy Thunderstruck''. Career In 2005, Towner founded a studio named Stoopid Monkey with Seth Green ...

, director = John Harvatine IV , producer = Mario De Jesus , cinematography = Helder K. Sun , editor = Clayton Baker , runtime = 22 minutes , company = {{Plainlist, * Buddy System Studios * Tom Is Awesome *

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (formerly known as Stoopid Monkey and stylized as Stoop!d Monkey) is an American production company and animation studio, formed by Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, John Harvatine IV, and Eric Towner. It was established in 201 ...

Sony Pictures Television Sony Pictures Television Inc. (abbreviated as SPT) is an American television production and distribution studio. Based at the Sony Pictures Studios complex in Culver City, it is a division of Sony Entertainment's unit Sony Pictures Entertainme ...

, distributor = Sony Pictures Television , network = Hulu , first_aired = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , last_aired = {{End date, 2021, 12, 10 ''Crossing Swords'' is an American

adult animated An adult is a human or other animal that has reached full growth. In human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social and legal concepts. In contrast to a " minor", a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of major ...

stop-motion sitcom created by

and

for Hulu. The series premiered on June 12, 2020. Six days after its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season,{{cite web, url=https://press.hulu.com/shows/crossing-swords/, title=Crossing Swords on Hulu Press Website, website=Hulu, date=May 25, 2020, access-date=May 25, 2020 which premiered on December 10, 2021. In June 2022, Harvatine IV announced that Hulu cancelled the series after two seasons.

Premise

''Crossing Swords'' follows "Patrick, a goodhearted peasant who lands a coveted squire position at the royal castle. His dream job quickly turns into a nightmare when he learns his beloved kingdom is run by a hornet's nest of horny monarchs, crooks and charlatans. Even worse, Patrick's valor made him the black sheep in his family, and now his criminal siblings have returned to make his life hell. War, murder, full frontal nudity—who knew brightly colored peg people led such exciting lives?"{{cite web , last1=Andreeva , first1=Nellie , title=Hulu Orders 'Crossing Swords' Animated Series Starring Nicholas Hoult From 'Robot Chicken' Team , url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/crossing-swords-hulu-animated-series-nicholas-hoult-star-robot-chicken-team-1202471906/ , website=

Deadline Hollywood ''Deadline Hollywood'', commonly known as ''Deadline'' and also referred to as ''Deadline.com'', is an online news site founded as the news blog ''Deadline Hollywood Daily'' by Nikki Finke in 2006. The site is updated several times a day, wit ...

, access-date=September 27, 2018 , date=September 27, 2018

Cast and characters

Main

as the squire Patrick, the main protagonist *

as King Merriman *

as Queen Tulip, Merriman's wife *

as Broth, Patrick's best friend and fellow knight *

as Coral, Patrick's pirate sister ** Strong also voices Trina Franklin, a plucky peasant girl *

as Blarney, Patrick's clown brother * Adam Ray as Ruben, Patrick's bandit brother * Seth Green as Blinkerquartz, the Castle's Wizard *

as Glenn, Patrick’s father *

as Doreen, Patrick’s mother

Recurring

Yvette Nicole Brown Yvette Nicole Brown (born August 12, 1971) is an American actress, comedian, writer and host. She starred as Shirley Bennett on the NBC sitcom ''Community'', as Dani in the 2015 version of '' The Odd Couple'' on CBS and as Dina Rose on the AB ...

as Sgt. Meghan, trainer of the knights * Maya Erskine as Princess Blossom, Merriman and Tulip's spoiled daughter * Ben Schwartz as Keefer, Blossom's (dead) boyfriend *

Rob Corddry Robert William Corddry (born February 4, 1971) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his work as a correspondent on ''The Daily Show with Jon Stewart'' (2002–2006) and for his starring role in the film ''Hot Tub Time Machine''. He ...

as The Old King, Merriman's insane father whom he dethroned * Jameela Jamil as Sloane, who is a maid in the castle and Patrick's love interest.

Guest

Alfred Molina Alfred Molina (born Alfredo Molina; 24 May 1953) is a British-American actor known for his work on the stage and screen. He first rose to prominence in the West End, earning a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Pla ...

Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is dep ...

, Ruben's rival (Episode: "Hot Tub Death Machine") *

Natasha Lyonne Natasha Bianca Lyonne Braunstein ( ; born April 4, 1979) is an American actress, director, writer, and producer. She is known for playing Nicky Nichols on the Netflix comedy-drama series ''Orange Is the New Black'' (2013–2019), for which she ...

as Norah, a

Yeti The Yeti ()"Yeti"
''

Jane Lynch Jane Marie Lynch (born July 14, 1960) is an American actress, comedian and author. She is known for starring as Sue Sylvester in the musical comedy series '' Glee'' (2009–2015), which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award. Lynch also gained recog ...

as Donna

Episodes

{{Series overview , allreleased = y , released = y , color1 = #334123 , link1 = #Season 1 (2020) , episodes1 = 10 , start1 = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , color2 = #AC918B , link2 = #Season 2 (2021) , episodes2 = 10 , start2 = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10

Season 1 (2020)

{{Episode table , background=#334123 , overall= , season= , title= , titleR= , director=John Harvatine IV , writer=Tom Root , airdate= , airdateR= , released=y , episodes= {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 1 , EpisodeNumber2 = 1 , Title = Pilot , DirectedBy =

, WrittenBy = John Harvatine IV

, OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = Patrick is a peasant lad who is bullied by his older siblings: Coral, a notorious pirate queen; Blarney, a successful clown; and Ruben, a dashing rogue. Patrick yearns to be a knight, though his parents belittle his dreams, and enters a jousting tournament held by the raucous King Merriman. He befriends the optimistic Broth who has failed eight years in a row and quickly forms a rivalry with a knight named Holden. In each round of competition, Patrick uses his experiences to help him succeed: tucking back his genitals to withstand low blows, exposing a trick from the magician Blinkerquartz, and lying to dissuade the sexually voracious Queen Tulip (though she is turned on by everything but simple refusal). But when Patrick realizes that he cannot win fairly in an unfair system, he gets fed up, calls everyone out on their morals, then uses a firework rocket in the joust to defeat Holden. Despite the rebuke and the blatant cheating, King Merriman accepts him as his squire nonetheless. Patrick returns home where his siblings mockingly tell him that they are in his life forever. , LineColor = 000000 {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 2 , EpisodeNumber2 = 2 , Title = Hot Tub Death Machine , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV , WrittenBy = Tom Root , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = On the squires' first training with Sgt. Meghan, Patrick refuses to kill and eat fairies and is hazed. King Merriman asks Patrick for advice on how to bring his polls up and Patrick inadvertently gives him the idea of holding a public execution using a complicated machine. The squires, minus Patrick, are taken to Naked Lady Island by Meghan, only to find out that it is a training exercise to fight a Medusa. Ruben and Coral learn of the execution and try to have their names be offered up as a way of getting recognition. Patrick is forced to pick a criminal to be executed all while being mocked by Sprinkles, the fairy he spared. Patrick eventually settles on executing a prisoner named Charles Reinhold, only for him to be revealed to be Robin Hood who has given money to all the peasants. The execution machine is activated and Robin Hood is graphically killed. Sprinkles is killed as well, but not before revealing that he sold out his kind. Merriman's polls rise out of fear and the squires return traumatized, except Broth who was turned on by the Medusa. , LineColor = 000000 {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 3 , EpisodeNumber2 = 3 , Title = What's Kraken? , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV , WrittenBy = Sean Lavery , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = , LineColor = 000000 {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 4 , EpisodeNumber2 = 4 , Title = In the Line of Squire , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV , WrittenBy = Amy Reed , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = Patrick, Broth, King Merriman, and Blinkerquartz uncover an assassin who is targeting high profile lords and ladies in the kingdom. Princess Blossom has returned from boarding school. She wants to attend the Beast Feast music festival. King Merriman and Queen Tulip, fearing for her safety forbid her from going and put Patrick in charge of her safety. Princess Blossom escapes from her room to go to the music festival. Patrick and Broth follow her to protect her. Princess Blossom falls in love with Keefer, the lead musician of Testa-Kyll. Blossom gets ready to attend Keefer's headlining performance in the evening. The assassin attempts to kill her while she is getting ready. Fortunately, Patrick is there to foil the attempt without Blossom even being aware. Unfortunately her tent is ruined in the turmoil and she blames Patrick. Angrily, Blossom heads off to the concert and Patrick follows, wary of the assassin still. At the concert, Blossom is invited onto the stage to perform with Keefer. While on stage the assassin fires a crossbow bolt at her. Luckily, Patrick is there to jump in the way and foil the attempt once more. Blossom is thankful. Unfortunately, while all this was going on, Keefer stumbles into the haunted iron maiden prop on stage and is killed. , LineColor = 000000 {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 5 , EpisodeNumber2 = 5 , Title = Let Them Eat Clown , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV , WrittenBy = Sean Lavery
Maggie Monahan
Amy Reed , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = , LineColor = 000000 {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 6 , EpisodeNumber2 = 6 , Title = My Super Sweet Period Party , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV , WrittenBy = Maggie Monahan , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = Princess Blossom causes some trouble at a bonfire with some of her friends. Blossom returns to the castle, and it is discovered that she is having her first period. Her parents want to throw her a period party. She meets up with the ghost of Keefer to make out. At their makeout spot she meets an imprisonned Aunt Donna who tells her that at the period party she will be given a chastity belt or be locked up in a tower for refusing. Blossom wants to lose her virginity to Keefer before this happens. Aunt Donna reveals that there is a way to bring Keefer back to life for an hour. The information can be obtained in the restricted section of the library. Meanwhile Holden has returned to join the other squires. It is revealed that there will be circumcision inspection for the squired to pass. Patrick is not circumcised so he sets about finding a way to remedy that. Patrick and Blossom end up meeting each other in the library and Patrick decides to help Blossom. They obtain the ingredients for the ritual and return to Aunt Donna. They perform the ritual but Aunt Donna betrays them and uses it to revive her doll instead. They decide to gather the ingredients again and try again. Patrick fails to find snakeskin for the ritual. He decides to circumcise himself and use that in place of the snakeskin. It works. Keefer comes back to life and Blossom and Keefer have sex. Queen Tulip then reveals that she has always had a spare key for the chastity belt and it never really mattered anyway. Holden reveals to Patrick that the circumcision inspection was a prank done out of revenge. , LineColor = 000000 {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 7 , EpisodeNumber2 = 7 , Title = Look Who’s Stalking , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV , WrittenBy = Sean Lavery , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = , LineColor = 000000 {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 8 , EpisodeNumber2 = 8 , Title = The Snow Job , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV , WrittenBy = Maggie Monahan , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = , LineColor = 000000 {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 9 , EpisodeNumber2 = 9 , Title = The A-Moooo-Zing Race , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV , WrittenBy = Amy Reed , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = , LineColor = 000000 {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 10 , EpisodeNumber2 = 10 , Title = Unchained Monarchy , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV , WrittenBy = Tom Root , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2020, 6, 12 , ShortSummary = , LineColor = 000000

Season 2 (2021)

{{Episode table , background=#AC918B , overall= , season= , title= , titleR={{cite press release, url=https://press.hulu.com/shows/crossing-swords/ , title=Crossing Swords, website= Hulu Press, access-date=November 20, 2021 , director=, writer= , airdate= , airdateR= , released=y , episodes= {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 11 , EpisodeNumber2 = 1 , Title = Shamrock Shakedown , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Shawn Kenji Pearlman , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = Patrick finds himself on trial for betraying the kingdom, and only avoids punishment with a hopeful promise to the king: that he will find the legendary leprechaun gold. , LineColor = #AC918B {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 12 , EpisodeNumber2 = 2 , Title = Toxic Femininity , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Marina Shifrin , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = A drug epidemic at Blossom's all-girls academy threatens to derail the king and queen's scheme to draw attention to their newfound wealth. , LineColor = #AC918B {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 13 , EpisodeNumber2 = 3 , Title = Destination: Wedding , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Michael Poisson , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = The wedding of the year brings Merriman a chance to mend fences with King Rami IV. , LineColor = #AC918B {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 14 , EpisodeNumber2 = 4 , Title = Good Vibrations , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Brandy Finmark , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = When Queen Tulip slips into a sex-toy-induced coma, King Merriman throws a beauty pageant with hopes of replacing her; Patrick attempts to wake the queen before the kingdom is torn apart. , LineColor = #AC918B {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 15 , EpisodeNumber2 = 5 , Title = Get Your Minchachas Out , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Tom Root , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = On an island training retreat, Patrick and the squires meet the most famous knight in the kingdom, but Patrick quickly decides the knight's lessons are superficial crap. , LineColor = #AC918B {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 16 , EpisodeNumber2 = 6 , Title = Tent Pitching , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Marina Shifrin , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = The circus returns to the kingdom; Blarney reunites with his uppity clown-college roommates. , LineColor = #AC918B {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 17 , EpisodeNumber2 = 7 , Title = Nothin, Usurp With U , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Amanda Barnes , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = The kingdom adjusts to life under the Old King, who is back on the throne thanks to Danielle's machinations; Patrick is torn between his loyalty to the kingdom and loyalty to his former king; Merriman finds a new career after a drug trip. , LineColor = #AC918B {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 18 , EpisodeNumber2 = 8 , Title = Sad-iator , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Shawn Kenji Pearlman , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = As punishment for his refusal to turn in King Merriman, Patrick is forced to fight in the arena as a gladiator. , LineColor = #AC918B {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 19 , EpisodeNumber2 = 9 , Title = Knight Of The F**king Dead , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Brandy Finmark , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = Patrick is tasked with chaperoning Princess Blossom, but he abandons his duties to hang out with knights at a party; Princess Blossom switches bodies with her deceased Aunt Donna, who runs amok at the party. , LineColor = #AC918B {{Episode list , EpisodeNumber = 20 , EpisodeNumber2 = 10 , Title = Hard Day’s Knight , DirectedBy = John Harvatine IV
Bradley Schaffer , WrittenBy = Maggie Monahan , OriginalAirDate = {{Start date, 2021, 12, 10 , ShortSummary = The Mole People finally lash out at the surface-dwellers who have ruined their home by depleting their jewel mines. , LineColor = #AC918B

Production

Development

On September 27, 2018, it was announced that Hulu had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was created by

and

who were also expected to serve as executive producers. The series was produced by

and distributed by

.{{cite web , last1=Otterson , first1=Joe , title=Hulu Orders Animated Comedy 'Crossing Swords' Starring Nicholas Hoult , url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/hulu-crossing-swords-nicholas-hoult-1202959080/ , website=

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

, access-date=September 27, 2018 , date=September 27, 2018 On June 18, 2020, Hulu renewed the series for a second season. On June 9, 2022, co-creator John Harvatine IV revealed the show was cancelled.{{cite web , last1=Schwarz , first1=John , title=Stoopid Buddy Stoodios News: Crossing Swords Canceled ; Seth Green Gets NFT Rights Returned For Bored Ape Yacht Club , url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/stoopid-buddy-stoodios-news-crossing-swords-canceled-seth-green-gets-nft-rights-returned-for-bored-ape-yacht-club/ , website=Bubbleblabber , access-date=June 13, 2022 , date=June 11, 2022{{cite web, url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cem79u7rgG1/, title=Big thanks to Hulu for giving Root n' I a platform for our lil' stop-motion tv show, and to Sony for helping make that dream a reality. Thank you voice talent and thank you crew, who under a tv schedule made a gosh darn good looking show…wood grain and all! New adventures won't be anytime soon, or ever…but #gooniesneversaydie! Thanks for your 💚 and support ⚔️ #fadetoblack #crossingswords, access-date=June 27, 2022, date=June 9, 2022

Casting

Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed that the series' voice cast would consist of

and

, among others.

Reception

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

, the first season holds a 27% approval rating based on reviews from 15 critics. The site's critics’ consensus reads, "Crass and cruel, ''Crossing Swords'' bleeds its thin premise dry".

Metacritic Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc ...

, which uses a weighted average, gives it a score of 47 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{Cite web , url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/crossing-swords , title=Crossing Swords , website=

References

{{Reflist

External links

* {{IMDb title, 8777690 {{Hulu {{Robot Chicken {{DEFAULTSORT:Crossing Swords 2020s American adult animated television series 2020s American animated comedy television series 2020s American black comedy television series 2020s American sitcoms 2020 American television series debuts 2021 American television series endings 2020s American LGBT-related animated television series American stop-motion adult animated television series American adult animated comedy television series American adult animated fantasy television series American animated sitcoms English-language television shows Hulu original programming Television series by Sony Pictures Television Television series by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios Television series set in fictional countries