# Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)

> A failed aspiring supervillain sings his way through a rivalry with a square-jawed hero for the affection of the woman he loves.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/5427

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 3
- Episode runtime: 14 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy, science fiction
- Created by: Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon
- Network: Hulu
- Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day, Simon Helberg, Marti Noxon, Jed Whedon, Rob Reinis, Otto Michael Penzato
- TMDB rating: 8.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1227926/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: playful, sardonic, whimsical, wistful, theatrical

## What critics say

Acclaimed by audiences for its witty musical songs, sharp writing, and charming lead performances in a compact web-style miniseries.

## Synopsis

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008) is a short American musical comedy miniseries created by Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon and distributed on Hulu. Neil Patrick Harris plays Dr. Horrible, an aspiring supervillain who wants to join the Evil League of Evil and win the heart of Penny (Felicia Day), a laundromat regular he has long admired from afar. Nathan Fillion plays Captain Hammer, the preening, square-jawed hero who keeps thwarting his schemes and stealing his chances with her, while Simon Helberg rounds out the cast as Dr. Horrible's sidekick Moist. The engine of the story is simple and personal: a bungling would-be villain tries to prove his worth through petty crime and a giant freeze ray, and every obstacle sends him spiralling into self-pity and revenge. The series is told across three roughly fourteen-minute episodes, each built around original songs that carry the plot forward and expose the characters' inner lives. Set in a present-day American city with a comic-book sensibility, it blends the witty snap of superhero parody with the wistful ache of a lovesick outsider. Tone and atmosphere lean playful, sardonic and sincerely romantic, with theatrical staging and sharp lyrics. Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and The Tick will find resonance here.

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