If the show's second season is any indication, it's that McGruder and company didn't allow the controversy to get in the way of expressing their societal views. Although it doesn't produce anything nearly as powerful as "Return of the King", it does manage to spit out two episodes that are banned from TV. The first, "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show", finds Uncle Ruckus (no relation), a man who would be an ideal Klan member if he wasn't African-American, as the star of his own reality show on BET.
From the very start, it's easy to see why this episode, as well as the collection's other banned episode, "The Hunger Strike", would rub certain people the wrong way. But, as McGruder points out on the accompanying commentary, that's sort of the point. The major sticking point with both episodes are the barbs thrown at BET and the shows the network produces, which had just as much to do with their being banned than any sort of racially-charged, offensive humor.
In addition to being topical, The Boondocks is also one of the funnier shows currently on TV. With the exception of a few episodes, the season is a strong one. One of the great things about the entire series is its sense of continuity. Things that happened in past episodes, including those from the first season, are sometimes referred to, giving the show a sense of history. For example, "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back" continues Grandad's conflict with the Stinkmeaner, the elderly man he killed in the first season. The episode is one of the funnier ones in the season, especially when it begins to move into Exorcist territory. The trials of rapper Gangstalicious are also continued with "The Story of Gangstalicious, Part 2".
Not every episode is a home run, but for various reasons. "The Story of Catcher Freeman", which follows several retellings of the story of one of the Freeman's ancestors, drags too much and feels out of place with the rest of the season. Then there's "Invasion of the Katrinians", which is funny but hit a little too close to home for me, though for reasons other than the ones featured in the episode.
One of the more noticeable changes in the second season is the shift in main characters. Granddad and Riley take even more of a central role than the first season while Huey is usually limited to playing the part of the groaning voice of reason. Granted, this has always been his role, though his role as a main character seems diminished in several episodes and is replaced by Uncle Ruckus, who is in nearly every episode.
A number of extras round out the season set. Fans will probably find themselves attracted to the commentaries from Aaron McGruder as well as producers Carl Jones and Rodney Barnes, especially during the two banned episodes. Their comments are interesting, but seem to be handcuffed for the same reasons the episodes will likely never hit the airwaves. Many of the "Behind the scenes..." featurettes focus on the show's voice cast. There are interviews with cast members, a short section of nothing but the cast saying the "N-word" in the studio and "Trouble in Woodcrest?", which chronicles the rivalry between voice actors Gary Anthony Williams and Cedric Yarbrough.
As was the case with the first season, The Boondocks: The Complete Second Season (Uncensored & Uncut) is not for the easily offended, but for anyone willing to approach the series with an open mind, it is something that will make you think as well as laugh.
