The new adult animated comedy Mating Season arrived on Netflix on May 22, 2026, and the numbers are finally in. The 10-episode series from the creators of Big Mouth has earned a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes from fewer than 50 reviews. Critics gave it a slightly higher 73% based on 11 reviews. Timothy Olyphant, known for Justified and Deadwood, voices a key character in the show, marking his latest collaboration with the streaming platform.
The show follows a group of forest animals including bears, raccoons, deer, and foxes as they try to find love and hook up during mating season. Viewers have praised the show’s humor, animation quality, and the long list of guest stars. Many reviews say that fans of Big Mouth will enjoy this new series.
The All-Star Voice Cast Behind the Animals
Mating Season has one of the biggest voice casts of the year. The main characters include Nick Kroll as Ray the raccoon, Zach Woods as Josh the bear, June Diane Raphael as Fawn the deer, and Sabrina Jalees as Penelope the fox.
The guest list is massive. Sarah Silverman, Aidy Bryant, David Duchovny, Jason Alexander, Abbi Jacobson, Vanessa Bayer, Lena Waithe, Jason Mantzoukas, Pam Adlon, Maria Bamford, Mark Duplass, Ana Gasteyer, Jack McBrayer, Lauren Lapkus, Clancy Brown, Andrew Rannells, and Nasim Pedrad all appear in the first season. Timothy Olyphant voices Dylan, a wild wolf who becomes a love interest for Fawn.
What the Show Is Actually About
Josh the bear wakes up from hibernation to find out he slept too long and his wife left him for a bigger bear. He has to move back in with his parents and start dating again. Ray the raccoon is a fast-talking player who only wants short-term fun. Fawn the deer is looking for real love. Penelope the fox is figuring out her feelings for an ex.
The show replaces dating apps with animal behaviors. The characters smell each other’s urine like real animals would. There is a service called Tinklr instead of Tinder. The group hangs out at a bar called the Watering Hole.
One critic from Roger Ebert described the show as “Big Mouth with animals instead of high school kids.” The review noted that the first season starts slow but gets better by the end. Another review praised Timothy Olyphant’s character arc, calling it a “riff on the trope of a woman who believes she can change a difficult man,” except the man in this case marks his territory by urinating and howls at the moon.
How ‘Mating Season’ Compares to ‘Big Mouth’
Big Mouth holds a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, so Mating Season is not reaching those same heights. However, the newer show shares the same creative DNA. Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett, and Mark Levin created both series.
The main difference is the subject matter. Big Mouth was about the awkwardness of going through puberty. Mating Season is about adults trying to find partners. One review from Yahoo News said the show is “less insight into an under-explored life experience” but has “about the same level of laughs.”
The opening credits play Elvin Bishop’s song “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” over real footage of animals mating. That gives viewers a clear warning about what they are about to watch.
Will There Be a Season 2 of ‘Mating Season’?
Netflix has not officially renewed Mating Season for a second season as of May 30, 2026. The show only came out eight days ago, so the streaming service is likely waiting to see how many people finish all 10 episodes.
Nick Kroll talked about the show’s future in an interview with ScreenRant. “We’ll see how long they let us suck on the teat of that corporation,” Kroll said. Zach Woods joked, “If my childhood is any predictor, it will be at least 12 years.”
The first season ends with some unfinished business. Penelope has a complicated love triangle that does not get resolved. This suggests the creators planned for more episodes. Netflix typically waits a few weeks or months before announcing renewals, so fans may need to be patient.
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Timothy Olyphant’s History With Netflix
Mating Season continues Timothy Olyphant’s working relationship with Netflix. He starred in Santa Clarita Diet for three seasons before the platform canceled it. He also voiced a character in Terminator Zero, an animated series that Netflix canceled after one season in 2024.
Olyphant has done voice work for many animated shows. His credits include Archer, American Dad, Rick and Morty, The Simpsons, The Great North, and Gremlins. He currently stars in Alien: Earth, a live-action sci-fi horror series for FX and Hulu.
The full first season of Mating Season is now streaming on Netflix in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India. Each of the 10 episodes runs about 25 to 30 minutes.
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