The series has no plot really, which is actually the best thing about the show, because it is pretty much just misadventures, so normally in each episode, the things the characters do, are actually pretty interesting. Nothing is really holding them down so they can make absolutley no sense as much as they want, which I actually very much like. But, I keep hearing how funny this show is over and over again. Exactly what is so funny about this show? It might just be me who is in the dark here, but I honestly don't get it. Just because we see Ren slapping Stimpy senseless, which may give a few laughs, and we see tons of fluids in the dullest, nastiest shades of yellow, green, and orange, is that really humour? Of course, its gross out kind of stuff, but I wouldn't call it humour. But, I will say that there is a time where I am seriously rolling on the floor laughing in a few episodes(very few, though) And I am implying the episodes where Ren goes off in a psychotic rage trying to kill Stimpy. But that doesn't happen in every episode, so I won't give the series as a whole a lot of credit for it.

Don't get me wrong. I think its pretty entertaining, but nothing really grabs me. And I really don't find Ren and Stimpy to be good characters. Just two characters that are complete polar oppisites. And for me, I remember the song "Happy Happy, Joy Joy" more than the actual series. Just not my type of thing, even though I do enjoy some episodes very much, so I'll give it credit for that. Gets a average score of 2 1/2 stars.

Happy, Happy. Joy, Joy. Ren and Stimpy started off so strong. Each episode was divided into 2 stories, and a few shorts / SNL style commercials (including numerous versions of Log, from Blam-o, and Powdered Toast Man). I think I have seen the first few episodes 50 times each and Space Madness, Firedogs, and Rubber Nipple Salesmen are all awesome. See these at all costs!

Unfortunately, after the second season, while the show got even grosser (though Ren's Toothache still gives me shivers), it also got less funny mostly due to disagreements between Nick and John K. Season 1 and 2 deserve 4 stars and season 3-5 probably deserve 1.

My memories of Ren and Stimpy are rather limited, but what I can tell you is that it's definitely a cartoon with a somewhat grown up taste in humor. Don't let your five-year-old watch this one. Ren and Stimpy is all gross out humor, but it was one of the most revolutionary cartoons for its time. Where other gross out cartoons failed, Ren and Stimpy seemed inspired in the way it portrayed its otherwise "been there done that" material. It put a fresh spin on the gross out theme and contained some of the most bizarre, and just plain whacked-out situations and dialogue. I'm not sure if this would be a cartoon I would enjoy today, but it's still an important work, nonetheless.

John K. will probably go down in history as animation's most important cotributor, his gross out style combined with his Bob Clampett influence is truely something unique. Yes I admit Iam little bias,but Ren and Stimpy was something not just funny but something truely different.The thing thing love about "Ren and Stimpy",and John K.'s work in general,is that the characters are always nutty and always active,basically, the way cartoon characters should be.Also, some these cartoons can be quite disturbing and look at characters in alot of depth. However,"Ren and Stimpy" was not perfect. I agree with Lupercal with the whole gross-out factor being a bit over whelming, I think some episodes whould have been better with out all the toilet humor. This is fortunetly the only flaw in this great series,the gags are extremely well-timed and will always have you laughing.Though I don't think the series is as good as "Rocko's Modern Life",I highly suggest buying this show on DVD.

EDIT: I've decided to down grade it to a three becasue of later episodes "Games Animation" made, those episode were not nearly as funny as the "Spumco" ones.

After cutting his teeth working under Ralph Bakshi as co-director of 'Mighty Mouse, the New Adventures' in the late 80's, Canadian animator John Kricfalusi went on to create 'Ren and Stimpy' in the heady days of the early 90's. Bakshi's influence is considerable, and when the show was briefly revived in around 2003 as an adult show it featured a weekly segment featuring 'Uncle' Ralph.

This is one of those series that people raved to me about at the time, but I'm afraid I largely ignored. Partly because I found the character designs so repulsive, partly because I've never really enjoyed gross-out humour with no other obvious extra dimensions, and partly just because. And if you think that's insufficient, let me take you on a tour of "This was just so cool" reviews.

I caught up with R&S in the late 90's on video, and found myself stuck between the same repulsion at the character design and gross-out humour, and respect for some good writing and envelope-pushing (for its time).

I'm giving it 3, because it averages out my personal preferences and what I suspect I'm MISSING. One thing's for sure. Ren and Stimpy were part of the animation renaissance of the early 90's, even if they pushed the envelope in a rather disgusting direction. I'm more comfortable with political/social outrageousness than complex fart jokes, (even if I do love old Divine movies) but for its infamy and audaicty, I think R&S probably desrves a 3, and I should probably go back and watch some more of it.