Netflix's Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling will prominently feature a transgender character that's familiar to longtime fans of the Nickelodeon series.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Rocko's Modern Life creator Joe Murray said the new special will reintroduce the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bighead, Rachel. Known as Ralph in the original series, Rocko and friends will return from space to see Rachel in a much happier position than when viewers last saw her. For Murray, the storyline was a chance to do something he could only hint at 20 years ago.
"When I started writing [Static Cling], I really started latching onto the idea of change and how society has changed and what’s gone on in the last 20 years and the development of our characters and how they would react to change," he explained. "It felt natural, because it was not only about change, about somebody finding who they are and making that courageous choice to go through that change."
The original series featured Mr. Bighead struggling with secretly being a clown, which Murray said was an analogy for being gay — one that could fly under Nickelodeon's radar. Today, things are much different, and while the special will air on Netflix, Murray says Nickelodeon was thrilled about the storyline. However, Nickelodeon ultimately felt the nostalgic revival would do better elsewhere.
Murray and the team behind the show worked with GLAAD to ensure Rachel's story was handled sensitively, and it looks as if coming out will enrich Rachel's life. As Nick Adams, GLAAD’s Director of Transgender Representation told EW, "The younger characters accept Rachel immediately; recognizing she’s still their friend. And while Rachel’s father is slow to accept change within his own family, even he realizes that loving your child should be unconditional. This story of inclusion and acceptance is so needed in our current climate."
Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling arrives on Netflix on Aug. 9. The special stars Carlos Alazraqui, Tom Kenny, Mr. Lawrence, Charlie Adler, Linda Wallem, Joe Murray, Jill Talley and Steve Little.