Skip to content
MovieCove
Animal Control

Animal Control

2023–Ongoing5 seasons47 episodes~22 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

A group of local animal control workers' lives are complicated by the fact that animals are simple, but humans are not. Leading the crew is Frank, an opinionated, eccentric animal control officer who may not have gone to college but is still the most well-read person in the room. In his past life as a cop, Frank tried to expose corruption in his department, but his efforts got him fired, leaving him cynical and curmudgeonly. Despite his rough exterior, he is blessed with an almost superhuman ability to understand animals.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Animal Control?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Animal Control streaming on FOX One via Prime Video, Hulu and Netflix and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Animal Control?

Animal Control earns 2 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Fun.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Animal Control worth watching?

Animal Control's Midcredits score is the 47th percentile of all shows, from 9.4K ratings across 5 sources. 74% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

47th percentile

Better received than 47% of shows

45th percentile among Comedy52nd percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)37th
Approval (how many liked it)58th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

68 /100

37th percentile of all shows

37th percentile among Comedy42nd percentile among 2020s

Critics 68 · Audience 68

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.2 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

74% liked it

58th percentile of all shows

51st percentile among Comedy63rd percentile among 2020s
74% rated it 7–1026% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

88th percentile

9.4K ratings across platforms

81st percentile among Comedy90th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 11% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps see it as a simple, low-stakes workplace comedy built on a premise of animal control antics, with mixed feelings on execution.

Fans praised

  • Joel McHale's deadpan lead and the supporting cast's quirky charm
  • light, undemanding workplace comedy that grows on you over a few episodes
  • fun animal encounters and a sweet, low-stakes tone

Detractors panned

  • jokes rarely land and the humor falls flat
  • forced characterizations with shallow depth attempts
  • too much dramatic subplot undermines the comedy

What stands out

ActingDivisive70

cast is diverse and charming, with McHale and Lovell singled out, though some say actors carry unevenly

HumorDivisive60

laugh-out-loud moments for fans, but detractors find it unfunny

CharactersDivisive60

quirky ensemble grows on viewers but can feel cartoonish or forced to detractors

DialogueDivisive60

quick wit and smooth exchanges praised by fans; detractors find jokes meh

PacingDivisive50

takes a few episodes to find footing, then becomes engaging

Plot and storyDivisive45

simple, episodic structure with occasional dramatic subplots that divide opinion

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 7 points apart
  • US vs non-US 8 points apart

Episodes

5 seasons

Season 5 · 2026 · 13 episodes

  • S5E1

    Seahawks and Piglets

    Sep 27, 202621 min
  • S5E2

    Crows and Lizard Legs

    Oct 4, 202621 min
  • S5E3

    Bugs and Rabid Dogs

    Oct 18, 202621 min
  • S5E4

    Tortoises and Billy Goats

    Oct 25, 2026
  • S5E5
    S5E5

    Sled Dogs and Kitty Litter

    Airs Nov 1, 2026Upcoming
  • S5E6
    S5E6

    Baked Chickens and Rat Dogs

    Airs Nov 8, 2026Upcoming

Watch experience

What is Animal Control like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
AbsurdJoyful
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
PlayfulWry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Resets each episode · 10% of showsStatus quo each season
ToneThe show plays its absurd workplace situations and human foibles with a light, knowing wink, never taking itself seriously.
The rideThe show maintains a consistently light, absurdly comedic tone throughout its run, with occasional warmer character moments.
StructureThe series uses conventional sitcom storytelling without notable structural devices.
Episode formatEach episode presents a self-contained comedic conflict (usually involving an animal) that is resolved by the end, with the status quo largely unchanged.
Season formatWhile characters develop subtly, each season is largely interchangeable in format; the show is designed for episodic viewing without needing prior season knowledge.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayViewers are left grinning and in a light, cheerful mood after episodes.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).ComedyFarce
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% (this title) · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Farce: Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeEach episode follows a typical sitcom structure where the animal control team's plans go hilariously awry due to human misunderstandings and animal chaos, fitting a comedy of farce.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Society

CommunityPurpose
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show explores how a misfit team forms an unlikely found family, while Frank's arc involves rediscovering a sense of purpose after losing his career.
StanceThe show celebrates the found family and camaraderie of the control team, treating their bond as genuinely valuable despite the silliness.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanSuburbanWildernessStylized realism
Orchestral modernJazzSupportive music · original score
SettingSeattle animal control office and the surrounding city
MusicA light, jazzy score underscores the comedic beats.

Content guide

Is Animal Control okay for kids?

TV-14

Animal Control is rated TV-14. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (27/100), sexual content at moderate (37/100), language at mild (27/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (53/100) and frightening material at mild (19/100). Its frightening material has too few votes to rank. Overall it is heavier than 23% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 2 other countries
  • Canada14+
  • BelgiumAL
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 21% of all showsHeavier than 23% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Mild
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 20%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 47%
Profanity
Mild
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 16%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 80%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (9 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is drug and alcohol content, heavier than 80% of TV-14 shows.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Animal Control have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Animal Control?

Cast

Joel McHale
as Frank Shaw
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Vella Lovell
as Emily Price
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Michael Rowland
as Fred 'Shred' Taylor
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Ravi Patel
as Amit Patel
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Grace Palmer
as Victoria Sands
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Gerry Dee
as Templeton Dudge
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Amy Goodmurphy
as AM Dispatch
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Krystal Smith
as Bettany
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Kevin Bigley
as Rick Doyle
Kelli Ogmundson
as Dolores Stubb
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

More like this

What are shows like Animal Control?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Animal Control include Tacoma FD (2019), Human Resources (2022) and Paradise PD (2018).

Like this, but

Explore by

What other shows share a tag with Animal Control?

623 other shows share the rarest tag below, relationship: odd couple. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.