Rhett & Link's Buddy System
Rhett & Link's Buddy System is an American comedy web series created by and starring YouTube personalities Rhett McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln "Link" Neal III, in which the duo portrays fictionalized versions of themselves navigating absurd, adventure-filled scenarios to rescue their daily talk show Good Mythical Morning from takeover by their villainous mutual ex-girlfriend Aimee, played by Leslie Bibb.[1][2] While season 1 centers on the Aimee plotline, season 2 places the protagonists in an alternate universe more deeply exploring their friendship dynamics. The series incorporates original musical numbers in every episode and blends humor with elements of surrealism and satire on internet fame.[1] Produced by Mythical Entertainment in collaboration with YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red), the show premiered on October 19, 2016, with its first season consisting of eight 12- to 14-minute episodes released weekly.[1] Season 1 was directed by John Fortenberry and season 2 by Steve Pink; it features recurring guest stars including Page Kennedy as Maxwell (season 1), Chris Parnell, Molly Shannon as Ronda (season 1), and Tony Hale as Glen (season 2), alongside the leads' musical performances written by the creators with music by David Das.[1][3] The second season, announced in May 2017, also comprises eight episodes and debuted on November 29, 2017.[4][5][6] The series received positive reception for its clever writing, catchy songs, and faithful extension of Rhett & Link's comedic style from their unscripted content, earning a 7.7/10 rating on IMDb from 699 user reviews.[2] It won the 2017 Streamy Award for Best Comedy Series at the 7th Annual ceremony and was nominated for Best Direction that year, as well as Best Comedy Series in 2018.[7][8][9] Critics praised its innovative use of short-form episodic structure to explore themes of collaboration and creativity in the digital age.[10]Overview
Premise
Rhett & Link's Buddy System is a comedic web series featuring Rhett McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln "Link" Neal III portraying heightened, fictionalized versions of themselves as they navigate fantastical adventures that parody elements of their real-life YouTube personas.[11] The show blends humor, surrealism, and self-referential commentary on their daily web series Good Mythical Morning, emphasizing the duo's close friendship through absurd scenarios and musical interludes.[12] Produced as a YouTube Premium original, it combines adventure parody with buddy comedy tropes, highlighting themes of bromance and loyalty amid escalating chaos.[2] In the first season, the premise centers on Rhett and Link's desperate quest to reclaim control of Good Mythical Morning after their shared ex-girlfriend, Aimee Brells—now an infamous infomercial mogul—steals Link's phone, which contains irreplaceable content essential to the show's survival.[11] This inciting incident propels the pair into a series of outlandish escapades across a whimsical world, where they confront bizarre obstacles and eccentric characters to retrieve the device and thwart Aimee's takeover.[2] The narrative underscores the meta-absurdity of their online fame, poking fun at content creation pressures while reinforcing their unbreakable partnership.[10] Season 2 shifts to an alternate universe premise, where Rhett and Link encounter each other as strangers for the first time in Los Angeles, diverging from their real-life childhood friendship in North Carolina.[13] Here, Rhett appears as a self-indulgent hedonist, while Link is depicted as endearingly simplistic, forcing them to forge a new bond through a gauntlet of surreal challenges that test the origins and resilience of their potential friendship.[14] This setup allows for deeper exploration of bromantic dynamics and the absurdity of happenstance meetings, all while meta-referencing how their real-world collaboration might have evolved differently.[2] Throughout both seasons, recurring themes of bromance, whimsical absurdity, and satirical commentary on YouTube influencer life permeate the storyline, with musical numbers enhancing the parody of adventure genres like road trips and quest narratives.[12] The series maintains a lighthearted tone, using heightened reality to celebrate the duo's camaraderie without delving into specific episode resolutions.[10]Format and style
Rhett & Link's Buddy System is a scripted comedy web series formatted as short episodes designed for streaming platforms, with each installment running approximately 12-14 minutes to suit quick online viewing sessions.[1] This concise length allows for fast-paced narratives that blend humor and music without demanding extended attention, aligning with the creators' background in bite-sized YouTube content.[10] The visual style combines live-action sequences with practical effects and occasional low-budget visual tricks, often highlighting artificial elements through self-referential humor to emphasize its parody of high-production adventure tales.[2] Embedded music videos serve as key visual transitions, propelling characters into surreal, alternate worlds that enhance the theatrical absurdity.[1] This approach draws from the duo's early comedic roots, using economical production to amplify ridiculous scenarios rather than relying on polished CGI.[10] The comedic tone is absurdist and wacky, featuring self-aware humor, exaggerated buddy dynamics, and fourth-wall nods that poke fun at the characters' own tropes and the medium's limitations.[2] Inspired by buddy comedies, it employs theatrical surrealism akin to shows like The Mighty Boosh and Flight of the Conchords, focusing on ridiculous ideas and banter between the leads to create a family-friendly yet zany vibe.[1] As co-creator Rhett McLaughlin noted, the series consolidates "all our ridiculous ideas in one place."[1] Musical integration is a hallmark, with one original song or number per episode functioning as both plot advancement and comedic highlight, often in diverse styles like rap or boy-band pop.[1] These numbers, as described by co-creator Link Neal, act as "embedded music videos that catapult you into a different world for the song performance," adding whimsy and variety to the whimsical style.[1] Soundtracks from the seasons were released as albums, underscoring music's central role.[1] Episodes follow a serialized structure across seasons, building arcs with escalating absurdity and cliffhangers to propel the overarching story of the protagonists reclaiming their online presence.[10] Each season comprises eight weekly installments, fostering ongoing engagement through interconnected misadventures in a fictionalized extension of the creators' real-world show.[1]Cast and characters
Main cast
The main cast of Rhett & Link's Buddy System consists of Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, who portray fictionalized versions of themselves as the central duo navigating fantastical challenges to reclaim their YouTube show, Good Mythical Morning.[1][12] McLaughlin embodies the more ambitious and idea-driven half of the pair, often propelling the narrative with bold, creative impulses that reflect his real-life persona as a driving force in their content creation.[10] This portrayal draws on his longstanding role as the more proactive collaborator in their partnership, emphasizing themes of innovation and risk-taking within the series' comedic framework.[1] Neal, in turn, depicts the cautious and relatable counterpart, highlighting vulnerability and everyday humor to underscore the emotional depth of their friendship dynamics.[10] His character often provides grounding contrast to McLaughlin's enthusiasm, contributing to the show's exploration of trust and mutual support amid absurd scenarios.[12] Their on-screen interplay mirrors the natural camaraderie of their real-life friendship, which originated in first grade and evolved into a professional collaboration as co-hosts of Good Mythical Morning, a daily YouTube series they launched in 2009.[10][1] The characters' backstories tie directly into the premise, positioning them as lifelong best friends whose shared history as childhood acquaintances and adult content creators becomes the foundation for the series' meta-narrative.[1] In season 1, this origin fuels their quest after an ex-girlfriend hijacks their show, while season 2 reimagines their meeting as adults in an alternate universe, further emphasizing their complementary bond.[15] By playing meta-versions of themselves, McLaughlin and Neal blend autobiographical elements—such as their real shared dating history and creative tensions—with fictional absurdity, allowing the series to satirize their public personas while celebrating the authenticity of their partnership.[1][12] This dual-role approach enhances the show's humor, as the actors draw from personal anecdotes to inform the characters' vulnerabilities and triumphs.[10]Guest and recurring cast
The recurring cast of Rhett & Link's Buddy System features supporting characters who provide comic relief and advance the show's parody of internet fame and personal relationships. Leslie Bibb portrays Aimee Brells, the scheming ex-girlfriend of the protagonists who evolves into a central antagonist as a manipulative infomercial mogul threatening their online empire.[2] Bibb's character appears in nine episodes across both seasons, embodying the archetype of a villainous influencer whose polished yet ruthless persona satirizes celebrity culture and digital rivalries.[16] Tobias Jelinek recurs as Dylan, a quirky and loyal sidekick who serves as an absurd ally in the duo's misadventures, appearing in 11 episodes and highlighting the show's theme of unlikely friendships in a meta world of viral stunts.[16] Page Kennedy plays Maxwell, a high school friend turned eccentric supporter who injects humor through his over-the-top antics, also doubling as a security guard in select scenes across eight episodes.[16] These roles were cast with performers experienced in comedic timing, such as Kennedy's background in ensemble comedies, to enhance the series' self-aware, exaggerated vibe.[17] In Season 1, notable guests include Mario Revolori as Mandip, a resourceful companion who aids in navigating absurd obstacles, appearing in six episodes and representing the archetype of a clever, street-smart sidekick in the parody of buddy-cop dynamics.[16] Other supporting players, like Jenna Bryant as the Magician's Assistant—a silent, comically trapped figure in magical mishaps—underscore the show's penchant for bizarre, trope-twisting helpers.[3] These casting choices drew from actors with improv and sketch comedy roots to amplify the humorous, meta elements without overshadowing the leads. Season 2 expands the guest roster with performers portraying alternate-reality versions of friends or new rivals, such as Tony Hale as a bumbling authority figure who complicates the protagonists' quests, and Mayim Bialik in a role that parodies intellectual obstacles turned adversarial.[13] Additional guests like Mary Lynn Rajskub and Rob Corddry appear as quirky antagonists or foils, embodying parody elements like paranoid tech experts or competitive showbiz types that heighten the season's exploration of fractured partnerships.[18] The selections, including Hale's deadpan style from satirical series, were tailored to fit the show's blend of absurdity and cultural commentary, ensuring guests integrated seamlessly into its whimsical narrative.[13]Production
Development
Rhett and Link announced Buddy System on June 23, 2016, as an original scripted comedy series for YouTube Red, marking their expansion into premium narrative content.[19] The series stemmed from their long-standing desire to develop scripted storytelling beyond the unscripted format of Good Mythical Morning, drawing inspiration from an early screenplay they wrote at age 14 titled Gutless Wonders, which featured absurd, expansive adventures.[19] This project allowed them to explore ridiculous ideas accumulated over years, fulfilling a creative ambition to create a fantastical world tied to their on-screen personas.[1] The writing process was highly collaborative, with Rhett McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln Neal III—known as Rhett and Link—crafting the scripts alongside their production team at Mythical Entertainment.[1] They incorporated personal anecdotes, such as flashbacks to their 1996 prom experiences, to add authenticity to the characters' friendship dynamic.[20] Original songs were developed spontaneously through jamming sessions on keyboards, enabling quick iteration on musical elements central to each episode.[20] Following the success of Season 1, which amassed over 7.5 million views for its premiere episode and ranked as the top in-demand digital series in March 2017 according to Parrot Analytics, YouTube Red renewed Buddy System for a second season on May 8, 2017.[6] The renewal shifted the narrative focus to an alternate universe exploring the origins of Rhett and Link's friendship, depicting them as strangers who meet and form a bond amid comedic mishaps.[21] The YouTube Red investment provided a larger budget than their free YouTube content, enabling elaborate musical numbers, stunts, special effects like clones and talking objects, and guest stars—elements not feasible within the constraints of ad-supported videos.[1] This scope elevated the production to include professional sets, such as a stage filled with over 1,000 inner tubes for one sequence, enhancing the series' whimsical, high-production-value aesthetic.[20]Filming and crew
Filming for Rhett & Link's Buddy System primarily took place in studios in Los Angeles, California, including Stage 1 at YouTube Space LA, where elaborate sets such as a scene filled with 1,008 inner tubes were constructed. Some fantastical sequences incorporated on-location shoots to enhance the series' comedic and musical elements.[20][10] The production schedule for season 1 spanned thirty days of principal photography in the summer of 2016, culminating in the October premiere, with six musical sequences shot over five intensive days. Season 2 followed a similar timeline, with seven weeks of filming during the summer of 2017 to align with its November release, allowing the leads to balance commitments to their daily web series Good Mythical Morning.[20][10][22] Key crew members included executive producers John Cohen, Jason Berger, Stevie Wynne Levine, Rhett McLaughlin, and Link Neal, with additional oversight from Spencer Griffin, Sivert Glarum, Michael Jamin, Amy Laslett, and Michael Schaubach. Season 1 was directed by John Fortenberry, who handled the integration of scripted dialogue and musical numbers, while season 2 was helmed by Steve Pink. Writing credits were led by McLaughlin and Neal, supported by Jamin and Glarum for both seasons.[16][1][13][23] Technical challenges arose from the need to blend low-budget visual effects with the show's humor, particularly in season 2's alternate-universe storyline, which relied on green screen compositing for surreal elements like parallel realities. Actors faced physical demands, such as McLaughlin shaving a decade-old beard for a flashback scene and delivering extended emotional performances in musical segments.[20][24] Post-production emphasized tight editing to maintain the series' quick pacing, ensuring seamless transitions between comedic sketches, dialogue, and integrated musical numbers, with a focus on preserving the duo's improvisational energy within the scripted format.[20][1]Music and soundtrack
Original songs
Rhett & Link's Buddy System features over a dozen original songs across its two seasons, with each of the 16 episodes incorporating one musical number written primarily by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, alongside contributions from an in-house composing team including Ben Bram, David Das, and Graham Fink.[1][25][26] These songs serve as embedded music videos that advance the plot, often transporting characters into surreal, fantastical scenarios performed in-character during pivotal scenes.[1] In Season 1, the songs emphasize upbeat, comedic tracks that parody pop music tropes, such as friendship anthems and villainous numbers. For instance, "BFF" delivers a high-energy boy-band style celebration of bromance, while "So Dang Dark" adopts a brooding, theatrical villain song format to heighten dramatic tension. "Roller Unity" parodies motivational pop with its rollerblading-themed unity chorus, blending humor and harmony to underscore the protagonists' bond. These numbers draw from musical theater influences, featuring diverse genres like rap in "Power Nap" and rock in "Tough Decisions (A Whale Is Gonna Die)," all integrated to propel the narrative's absurdist adventures.[25][27][1] Season 2 shifts toward more introspective pieces that explore emotional depths and alternate universe twists, reflecting the characters' evolving relationships. Highlights include "Family Man," a heartfelt folk-pop ballad examining domestic life, and "Naked," which incorporates reggae elements to delve into vulnerability and self-discovery. Songs like "I Like What I Like" maintain the series' comedic flair with quirky, character-driven lyrics, while "Pour Some Coffee On Me" uses playful pop structures to navigate interpersonal conflicts. Overall, the musical style fuses folk-pop foundations with musical theater flair, echoing influences from Flight of the Conchords in its witty, genre-blending approach.[6][28][1]Album releases
The soundtrack for the first season of Rhett & Link's Buddy System was released as the album Rhett & Link's Buddy System (Music from Season 1) on October 12, 2016, through Mythical Entertainment.[25][27] The album features seven original tracks integral to the series' episodes, including "So Dang Dark," "My Exercise Bike," "Roller Unity," "Power Nap" (featuring Page Kennedy), "Tough Decisions (A Whale Is Gonna Die)," "If I Had Another Me," and "Bff."[29] These songs were produced with a focus on quick composition sessions using keyboard improvisation for melodies and lyrics, followed by separate recording and filming of music videos to achieve polished, comedic visuals distinct from the narrative scenes.[20] The album was distributed digitally via platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, targeting the duo's established online audience.[29] Following the second season, Rhett & Link's Buddy System (Music from Season 2) was issued on November 22, 2017, also under Mythical Entertainment, comprising eight tracks such as "I Like What I Like," "Pour Some Coffee on Me," "Tongue of the Cobra," "Naked," "Family Man," "Down With America," "Kings of Bellevue Estates," and "I Like What I Like (Reprise)."[28][30] Like its predecessor, the music was developed through rapid creative processes emphasizing humor and thematic ties to the alternate-universe storyline, with recordings handled professionally to support standalone music videos shot independently of the live-action filming.[20] Distribution mirrored the first album, making it available on major streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.[31][32]Episodes
Season 1 (2016)
Season 1 of Rhett & Link's Buddy System comprises eight episodes, released weekly on the Good Mythical Morning YouTube channel from October 19 to November 30, 2016, with the first two episodes premiering simultaneously.[33] Each episode runs approximately 12-15 minutes and advances an overarching arc centered on Rhett and Link's escalating quest to confront their former partner Aimee Brells—who has seized control of their show Good Mythical Morning through a hacked phone—and reclaim their creative autonomy, culminating in a high-stakes climax.[2] The narrative blends absurd humor with fantastical elements, as the duo navigates increasingly bizarre challenges in their pursuit.[11] Leslie Bibb recurs throughout the season as Aimee Brells, the antagonist driving the central conflict, while Page Kennedy appears as Maxwell in episode 5.[3] Production for the season featured initial experimentation with visual effects to realize its surreal sequences, such as magical transformations and dreamlike settings, as explored in the behind-the-scenes special released alongside the finale.[20]Episode List
| No. | Title | Air Date | Runtime | Brief Description | Key Guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tucked Up | October 19, 2016 | 13 min | Rhett and Link build confidence through a simple wardrobe change before a nighttime mishap introduces the phone theft crisis. | None |
| 2 | Super Special Secret Bike | October 19, 2016 | 14 min | The duo retraces their steps at home, uncovering personal secrets amid the search for the lost device. | None |
| 3 | You Ding, I Ding | October 26, 2016 | 15 min | Returning to the restaurant where Link believes he left his phone, they face an unexpected confrontation after Rhett dents the owner's car. | None |
| 4 | Rolling on Turds | November 2, 2016 | 16 min | Drawn into a rivalry involving roller skating gangs, the friends grapple with division in their partnership. | None |
| 5 | The Magic is Real | November 9, 2016 | 16 min | Seeking guidance at a magic performance, they explore illusions and hidden motives in the quest. | Page Kennedy as Maxwell |
| 6 | Soul Searchin' | November 16, 2016 | 13 min | Venturing into the wilderness for introspection, bizarre encounters test their resolve and friendship. | None |
| 7 | Another We | November 23, 2016 | 13 min | Confronting duplicates of themselves, they devise a disguise to infiltrate a key location. | None |
| 8 | Kill the Naughty Boy | November 30, 2016 | 15 min | The arc builds to a final showdown at an elaborate event, forcing ultimate choices to reclaim their show. | None |
Season 2 (2017)
Season 2 of Rhett & Link's Buddy System, subtitled Another Dimension, comprises eight episodes, each approximately 15-22 minutes in length, that were released simultaneously on November 29, 2017, through YouTube Premium.[14][41] Set in a surreal alternate universe where Rhett McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln Neal III never met as children and thus never formed their YouTube partnership, the season follows the duo as unlikely roommates navigating trials that test their emerging friendship and prompt personal growth.[42] The narrative emphasizes emotional origin stories and self-discovery, differing from the action-comedy focus of Season 1.[13] Filming for the season took place during the summer of 2017, with production highlighting distinctive visual effects to depict the alternate reality's quirky and otherworldly elements.[43] Notable guest appearances include Tony Hale as the enigmatic third roommate Glen, Mayim Bialik as Glenda, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Rob Corddry, whose roles introduce new interpersonal dynamics and surreal challenges throughout the episodes.[3][18] The episodes are as follows:| Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | To Kill a Robot | November 29, 2017 | In an alternate reality, jobless inventor Link becomes roommates with professional food taster Rhett after being evicted, setting the stage for their unlikely partnership.[42][5] |
| 2 | Sanctuary | November 29, 2017 | Rhett and Link probe the secrets of their odd roommate Glen and his ties to a mysterious organization known as The Sanctuary.[44][5] |
| 3 | Taste Test | November 29, 2017 | Rhett's career as a food taster is threatened when he burns his tongue, compelling Link to temporarily assume the role despite his reluctance to try unfamiliar foods.[45][5] |
| 4 | Spa Trip | November 29, 2017 | What begins as a relaxing spa outing for Rhett and Link spirals into unease as they discover the establishment's owner's hidden agenda.[5] |
| 5 | Virtual Rhettality | November 29, 2017 | Link pursues family life with Vanessa, while Rhett escapes into a virtual reality simulation, adopting an entirely new identity and lifestyle.[5] |
| 6 | A Frontier Story | November 29, 2017 | A young storyteller derails Rhett and Link's routine by recounting an adventurous tale of 19th-century explorers who bear striking resemblances to them.[5] |
| 7 | Silent Fight | November 29, 2017 | A petty argument over the TV remote escalates into a prolonged silent standoff between Rhett and Link, inadvertently propelling them toward unexpected success.[5] |
| 8 | Missing Link | November 29, 2017 | In the season finale, Rhett and Link embark on divergent paths to fulfill their individual destinies amid escalating surreal circumstances.[46][5] |