Urusei Yatsura has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in the US on Crunchyroll, and in the UK on Crunchyroll Amazon Channel. The show says what it needs to say in a single season, no filler. 44 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Toshio Furukawa's performance alone is worth the time investment. Start it on Crunchyroll whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Urusei Yatsura is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Urusei Yatsura land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. The invasion of an alien race known as the Oni begins a new life for Ataru Moroboshi, a lecherous trouble-making tenth grader in the small town of Tomobiki. After unwittingly proposing to the Oni princess Lum Invader instead of his sweetheart Shinobu, Ataru becomes a conduit for aliens arriving on Earth, causing all sorts of havoc for him and his companions, not to mention his own reputation! Toshio Furukawa and Fumi Hirano lead a cast with the timing to make it work. Urusei Yatsura premiered in 1981–1986. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Urusei Yatsura holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Urusei Yatsura respects your intelligence. Horimiya: The Missing Pieces is the obvious comparison, but Urusei Yatsura earns its own place alongside it. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single week. Toshio Furukawa sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.

Urusei Yatsura wrapped up in 1986 — and 1 season is available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro's free voice app makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just say the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.