My problem with this show is that it doesn't contain the amount of comedy needed to offset how depressing it is. I love Bill Burr and I love animated comedies even more, but I find it a stretch to even refer to this as a comedy. I found it, overall, very dry, and perhaps a little too morose. It's the same old story we've heard again and again: ex-army father in the 70's, trying to raise his family with post-war era ideals but being met with new age resistance and coddling. He can't connect with his children as he views them as spoiled, undisciplined, ungrateful, and ultimately, the source of all of his despair. His wife feels trapped at home but isn't encouraged to spread her wings. And of course, throw in confused children with anger issues. There's nothing new and unexplored here.
Another issue is that nothing endears me to these characters. There's not a likable person in the bunch, save for MAYBE the aggressive older brother who's upbringing does bring back some painful recognition. Aside from him, there's no breakaway character, no one you're really rooting for, no hilarious side-characters to offset the main character's rage.
What you get is just a depressing, anger-filled half hour of poorly animated familial angst, making you thankful that you were raised in the much more hopeful and entertaining 80's and 90's, free of any of that post-war anger and disappointment.
I imagine that folks who came up in the 70's will appreciate the nostalgic factor of this show, and perhaps as a result, will connect more with these characters. I, however, just can't connect with these characters, their issues, and their place in time. Maybe because I didn't grow up with an angry, resentful father and was generally raised in a peaceful household, I stand just too far outside of this type of circle to really sympathize. It just makes me uncomfortable, and generally makes for unpleasant viewing.
I watched the whole thing, and didn't crack a smile throughout. It was just bleak and unfriendly until the very end. The moments when Bill Burr's character does finally say things like how he has a "great family" seem forced and insincere, when really you're supposed to be inspired by this miserable man's apparent "devotion" to his family. It makes him come off as inconsistent, which is a good way to describe this short series.
The best thing to compare it to is perhaps Bojack Horseman, which did a masterful job of portraying this type of realism in animation. But everything Bojack did right, I feel F is for Family did wrong. Bojack was rich with comedy, endearing characters, social commentary, and purposeful inconsistency in the tone. F is for Family, however, is all over the place with its tone, lacks any comedy at all, and as I've said, is woefully missing a single sympathetic character.
Not really worth the watch. I was honestly glad when it was over.