At only twenty four minutes I wouldn’t have minded more of Fred Flintstone adjusting to his new neighbors, but we get much more of the Frankenstone family down the road. One of the later additions to the Flintstones lore, the Frankenstones are an odd new family, but they’re at least funnier than The Great Gazoo. Surprised to learn that a new family is moving in to the neighborhood, Fred is horrified when the family is non-traditional monsters that are menacing, but very sweet, and neighborly. An obvious ode to “The Addams Family,” The Frankenstones seek to make friends with Fred and Wilma and Fred is flabbergasted at the way they live.
“The Flintstones’ New Neighbors” relies a lot on comedy, but it’s also a very subtle commentary about racism, prejudice, and acceptance. When Fred decides that the Frankenstones are bad news, he begins ostracizing them, and even puts up a sign lambasting them. This puts him at odds with Barney who sees through their appearance and decides to stay friends with them and not listen to Fred. The thirty minute special has no villains, but it really never leaves one, as Fred is basically the antagonist here who looks for news ways to get the Frankenstones kicked out the neighborhood.
Of course they bond when Pebbles is in mortal jeopardy, prompting the neighbors to work together and assure her safety. There’s a lot of good material here about racism and judging people based on their looks or lifestyle, and Barney is one of the few standing against Fred when he is appalled by what he’d done to harass the Frankenstones. It might be slim in the narrative sense, but “The Flintstones’ New Neighbors” is a solid TV special with a very important message to absorb after the credits have rolled.