Minecraft season 1

Minecraft
Season 1
Promotional poster
Starring	Jack Black Tom Holland Zendaya Jason Momoa Danielle Brooks James Earl Jones
No. of episodes	10
Release
Original network	Disney+ Netflix Max Paramount+
Original release	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
Season chronology

The first season of the American television series Minecraft, which is based on the video game of the same name, released on Netflix on June 10, 2022. The season follows Steve and his best friend Alex facing off against the former's evil doppelgänger Herobrine. It is set in the Craftinverse, sharing continuity with the other television series of the universe. The season is produced by Mob Productions, Mojang and Warner Bros. Pictures. Freddie Goodwin and Jackson Greene serves as showrunner for the season.

The season stars Jack Black as Steve Stonecutter, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, and James Earl Jones. The series was officially announced in June 2017 through a public announcement video from Mob Productions. Development of the first season began in March 2021 and concluded in June 2021. The series takes place in 2022 with the characters exploring the Overworld and Nether dimensions.

The first season premiered on Netflix, Disney+, Max, and Paramount+ on June 10, 2022. It recieved positive reviews, with praise for the cast's performances. The series was renewed for a second season in November 2022.

Zendaya departed the series shortly after, which Amy Poehler replaces Zendaya in the role of Alex Stonecutter for seasons in television show.

Episodes

Main article: List of Minecraft episodes

Minecraft season 1 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	1	"Part I"	Freddie Goodwin	Freddie Goodwin & Jackson Greene	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
Twelve years into their journey through a vast multiverse, siblings Steve Stonecutter and Alex Stonecutter confront unforeseen challenges. Steve is haunted by visions of a malevolent doppelgänger, a "glitch," that mirrors his every move. In this turbulent world, they encounter Derp, a committed ally, who pledges to protect them from relentless threats like Zombies, Skeletons, and Spiders. Derp, a secret member of the Good Justice Society (GJS), a formidable force combating dimensional hostiles, particularly from the Nether, unveils their ongoing battle against the ominous Angel of Death (AOD). A catastrophic assault by AOD forces Derp into the open, sparking a fierce confrontation. Steve, Alex, and Derp engage in a desperate struggle against AOD, eventually triumphing by banishing him to the Nether. However, in the shadowy recesses of the End dimension, a sinister twist emerges as Steve's evil twin, distinguished by chilling white eyes, materializes, signaling a new and darker chapter in their adventure.
2	2	"Part II"	Freddie Goodwin	Freddie Goodwin & Jackson Greene	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
In the throes of a mysterious conflict, the enigmatic Null is commanded by an unseen figure to eliminate the heroes. He vanishes abruptly, leaving Steve, haunted by persistent visions, grappling with an inner turmoil that hinders his progress. Amidst this chaos, Derp persuades Steve to embark on a mission to safeguard Diamond Hill Village from imminent threats. Upon their arrival, they confront a formidable Witch, intent on harnessing the village's honey to concoct potent potions and amplify her powers. In a decisive battle, Steve emerges victorious, but the Witch's cryptic final words hint at a greater force behind her attack. That night, the village endures another onslaught, this time from a horde of mobs, which Steve, Alex, and Derp valiantly repel. However, in the aftermath, Steve is enveloped in a mysterious light and vanishes, leaving Derp to disappear in similar fashion. Alex finds herself stranded in a Hypixel server lobby, alone and bewildered. Meanwhile, Steve awakens to find himself in an unfamiliar world, isolated and far from home.
3	3	"Part III"	Jackson Greene	Jackson Greene	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
Null summons an army of mobs and unleashes them to destroy Hypixel server, leading to Alex and Derp to devise a plan to stop him. Steve learns that he is at the start of time and must somehow return to the present. During their mission to save Hypixel, Alex and Derp manage to get into contact with the GJS and asks for backup. Null summons Warewolf and Reaper to hunt down the two remaining heroes and sends them away. The Hypixel lobby is destroyed. Steve manages to teleport to the Hypixel lobby, but is knocked unconscious by the villains. While dragging Steve to the boss entity, Alex scares them away and saves Steve. Derp comes up with a plan and has a dream of a guy next to a gate, but when it opens, fish fall out of it. In the end, the entity is revealed to be Herobrine.
4	4	"Part IV"	Freddie Goodwin	Freddie Goodwin	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
Herobrine, motivated by a desire for recognition, plots to eliminate Steve and seize his deserved fame. The origin of this conflict traces back to a glitch in the world's creation by Notch, who intended Steve and Alex to be the primary rulers. This glitch resulted in an undeletable duplicate of Steve, who, suppressed and banished by Notch, harbored a deep hatred towards his original counterpart. Villains Null, Entity 303, Warewolf, and Reaper, intent on destruction, are ultimately defeated by Steve, although Null escapes. The heroes' journey leads them to the End dimension, where they defeat a Wither and forge a beacon gun from a Nether Star. This weapon proves pivotal in defeating the End Dragon, but the victory is short-lived as an empowered Null confronts them, sending Steve back in time, destroying the weapon, and abducting Alex, leaving Derp stranded in the void.
5	5	"Part V"	Freddie Goodwin	Freddie Goodwin	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
Herobrine, driven by his determination to eliminate Steve, unveils a sinister plan. The plot unfolds with Derp returning to the GJS, while Null pursues Steve back through time. In this timeline, Steve befriends and names a wolf Jerry, only to witness Null's brutal attack that results in Jerry's death. This traumatic event forces Steve to flee. Meanwhile, Alex reunites with her friend Nova, disclosing the harrowing events involving Steve. Concurrently, Derp uncovers that AOD is neither in the Nether nor the Overworld. Steve, narrowly escaping Null, finds himself amidst the spirits of Hypixel's deceased, realizing he's in the present but separated from Alex and Derp. In a chilling turn, Herobrine terrorizes Alex, probing for Steve's whereabouts, but hastily departs upon sensing Steve's presence. A confrontation ensues between Herobrine and Steve, where Herobrine reveals his murderous intentions. Null, caught in this showdown, is frozen in time by Herobrine, who then abducts Steve. In a dramatic twist, Alex vanquishes Null using an ice sword. The narrative crescendos with Derp's solemn vow to thwart AOD and Herobrine.
6	6	"Part VI"	Jackson Greene	Jackson Greene	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
Herobrine unleashes a formidable assault on the Overworld with his fleet and a legion of hostile mobs. Amidst the chaos, Derp and Alex uncover that Steve is trapped in the past, realizing that the Nether holds the key to his rescue. In Steve's tumultuous journey back to the present, Herobrine cunningly induces him into a comatose state, presenting a grim future where Steve's demise seems inevitable regardless of their resistance. Herobrine manipulates the situation, offering to "stop and save" Steve, but Steve, defiant, chooses to escape. Meanwhile, Derp and Alex are shaken by the revelation that the AOD has fallen. Their path crosses with Nova and her associate Jackster, the mayor of Diamond Hill Village, who confront them with crucial information. They learn that their mission to halt Herobrine's malevolent plan to dominate Steve is urgent, but finding Herobrine is their first challenge. Steve, eluding Herobrine's clutches multiple times, eventually finds himself in the Nether, where he encounters a doppelgänger - an eerie version of himself who had once yielded to Herobrine's sinister offer.
7	7	"Part VII – Agent Derp"	Jackson Greene	Jackson Greene & Wilma Zimmerman	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
On a quest to retrieve a rare Emerald-styled Diamond, known as the "Demerald," Derp is enlisted by the Good Justice Society with a clear directive: locate and secure the missing jewel. Accompanied by his loyal pet fish, Derp ventures beyond his hometown, diligently tracking down the Demerald's whereabouts. His search leads him to a startling revelation – the Demerald has fallen into the hands of his arch-nemesis, Buddy. A fierce duel ensues, with Buddy initially outwitting and overpowering Derp. However, the tides turn when the adversaries strike an unexpected accord: Derp reclaims the Demerald, and in a surprising twist, Buddy joins the ranks of the GJS. This unusual alliance blossoms into friendship, and the duo begins to collaborate effectively in the field. Two years into this partnership, a mysterious, masked assailant disrupts their harmony, abducting Derp with a cryptic message that his presence is essential. This episode serves as a backdoor pilot for a series based on Derp titled "Agent Derp" that stars Tom Holland as the titluar role.
8	8	"Part VIII"	Freddie Goodwin	Freddie Goodwin	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
In the virtual world of Hypixel, Herobrine makes a dramatic entrance, wielding a command block to manipulate the server's database. Amidst this chaos, Steve, Derp, Alex, and Nova reunite, devising a strategy to counter the looming threat. Steve confides in Alex about the harrowing vision Herobrine imposed upon him, while Derp confronts his own "dark" past, choosing to move forward. In a heartwarming twist, Jerry the wolf resurfaces, joyfully reuniting with Steve, and is subsequently adopted by Alex. The confrontation with Herobrine escalates as he challenges the heroes, leading to an unexpected shutdown of Hypixel's server. This dire circumstance forces Steve to engage Herobrine in a solo battle. The clash takes a tragic turn when Herobrine injures Alex, compelling Steve to make a selfless sacrifice for his friends' safety. Steve finds himself in "The Gap," a mysterious realm between dimensions, where he uncovers the startling truth that Herobrine is a future entity, contradicting the belief of his origin with the birth of the multiverse. As Derp, Alex, and Nova pledge to avenge Steve, he reemerges in the Nether dimension, marked by a singular glowing white eye, signaling an unforeseen transformation.
9	9	"Part IX"	Freddie Goodwin	Freddie Goodwin & Jackson Greene	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
Derp, sensing Steve's imminent return in the Nether, leads the trio to Diamond Hill Village, where they intend to access the dimension through a portal. In the village, Jackster confides in Derp about the fate of his friend Buddy, hinting at a necessary path to redemption. Meanwhile, Steve, now adopting the moniker "Stevebrine," discovers an Ender Dragon egg on the verge of hatching. When Derp, Alex, and Nova encounter Stevebrine, they are confronted with the reality of his transformation. A dramatic duel unfolds between Stevebrine and Alex, who undergoes her own transformation into Alexbrine, ultimately sending Steve plummeting off a cliff. Miraculously, Steve survives the fall, only to be revealed as having transformed into Herobrine. In a poignant moment, Alex's embrace severs his malevolent connection. However, their brief respite is shattered as Herobrine demands their surrender, calling forth Angel of Death, Entity 303, and Reaper, along with an army, setting the stage for an epic confrontation with the heroes.
10	10	"Part X"	Freddie Goodwin	Freddie Goodwin	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
In the face of overwhelming odds, Steve, Alex, and Derp find refuge, rallying to amass their own formidable army. This strategic move sets the stage for a direct confrontation with Herobrine's forces. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Steve and Alex engage Herobrine in a fierce duel. The battle intensifies when the AOD blindsides Alex, rendering her unconscious. As the AOD turns its wrath towards Steve, Derp heroically intervenes, sparing Steve at great personal cost. Although Derp survives the encounter, he is plagued by excruciating visions. The climax of the battle sees Steve facing Herobrine in a final showdown, where, in a twist of fate, Steve turns Herobrine's own sword against him, erasing him from existence. In the aftermath, Derp returns to the decimated Good Justice Society headquarters, grappling with the devastation. Meanwhile, the long-awaited Ender Dragon egg hatches under Nova's guardianship. As Steve and Alex move forward, seeking solace and a peaceful life, a new threat emerges in the Nether dimension: a formidable lava monster, heralding the dawn of yet another adventure.

Cast and characters

• Jack Black as Steve
• Zendaya as Alex
• Tom Holland as Derp
• Jason Momoa as Jackster
• James Earl Jones as Herobrine
• Danielle Brooks as Nova

Josh Brolin as the Angel of Death (AOD). Other voices include Dylan Buccieri, Assaf Cohen, Jessica DiCicco, Terri Douglas, Karen Huie, Arif S. Kinchen, Austin Madison, Cole Massie, Alisha Mullally, Fred Tatasciore, Kari Wahlgren, and Secunda Wood in undisclosed roles.

Production

Development

In 2012, Mojang recieved offers from Hollywood producers who wanted to prod Minecraft-related TV shows; however, Mojang stated they would only engage in such projects when "the right idea comes along." Two years later, in February 2014, an attempt to crowdfund a fan film through Kickstarter was shut down after Markus 'Notch' Persson declined to let the filmmakers use the license, the given reason being that the Kickstarter was set up before any agreement with Mojang had been made. That same month, Persson revealed that Mojang was in talks with Warner Bros. Pictures to create adaptions on their game. In October 2014, Mojang COO Vu Bui stated that the movie was "in its early days of development", saying that it was a "large-budget" production, and also said that it might not be released until 2018. That same month, Warner Bros. hired Shawn Levy to direct the film, while in December, it was confirmed that Levy and writers Kieran and Michele Mulroney, who were developing the film together had left the project. By 2016, the film plans were cancelled and turned into a plan to make a television series adaption with Freddie Goodwin set to lead production.

In September 2017, after the huge growth in Black Plasma Studios (currently Squared Media) content, Goodwin worked with Warner Bros. Pictures and the leader of Black Plasma Studios to create a television series based on the content they made, like how multiple DC television series' adapted content from the comics, Goodwin planned to adapt storylines from the animations to the project. Warner Bros. had initially agreed with and for which they had provided Goodwin with a US$300 million budget. In 2019, early production started on the series, including in June assigning a release date of June 10, 2022. In October 2019, Goodwin announced the writer team being himself and Jackson Greene, with Wilma Zimmerman set to write the seventh episode alongside him.

By 2020, production on the series had been "slowed down greatly" but never was stopped, due to the work being done at home from the beginning. They began using Unreal Engine to create photorealistic scenery, which helped them not get too much affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Writing

A writer's room for the series had been formed in 2017 by the time development of the series was announced in 2020. In addition to Goodwin and Greene, writers for the series, announced as the Producers of the season. In November 2021, it was confirmed that the team would adapt storylines from Squared Media productions.

Goodwin expressed interest in doing more than one season and stated the first season would tell "one of many stories". According to both Goodwin and Greene, the season is like the MCU, the team looked at multiple storylines from Squared Media, and took some characters and focused on that. Goodwin confirmed the story would be part "Animation Life 1–3" and potentially other storylines from the Comics.

Production for the first episode was "tricky" according to Goodwin, because the first episode had no real purpose in the story except for opening up the start of the storyline for the first season and a potential second. Goodwin and Greene decided to focus entirely on the heroes and end the first episode on a cliffhanger hinting at Herobrine – who in episode four – would be revealed to be a duplicate of Steve. As the season progresses, so will the universe, with episode seven, Greene explored a series titled Agent Derp, that focuses on Derp. The episode isn't what you'd expect but will feel like a traditional episode, like the first six episodes, though he confirmed the other series [Agent Derp] would focus more and mainly on comedy aspects.

Casting

Jack Black was cast as Steve Stonecutter in March 2018.

Goodwin announced plans to cast well known actors for the lead roles. In March 2018, Jack Black was cast as Steve Stonecutter. A month following in April, Zendaya was cast as Alex Stonecutter and Tom Holland was cast as Derp. Herobrine was announced to be appearing within the series. In June 2018, James Earl Jones was cast as Herobrine. By December 2018, Jason Momoa joined the project as Jackster and Danielle Brooks as Nova.

Josh Brolin as the Angel of Death (AOD). Other voices include Dylan Buccieri, Assaf Cohen, Jessica DiCicco, Terri Douglas, Karen Huie, Arif S. Kinchen, Austin Madison, Cole Massie, Alisha Mullally, Fred Tatasciore, Kari Wahlgren, and Secunda Wood in undisclosed roles.

Photorealistic animation

The first season was developed entirely in Unreal Engine 4 using Photorealistic animation technology to create realistic scenery.

Unlike other animation, Goodwin wanted to use photorealistic animation for Minecraft. They kept the 3D dimension blocked shapes of the game to keep the feeling of the game theme. However, they weren't strict on what they can add and do within the universe.

Music

In order to keep the theme and music for the series as close to the video game, Goodwin approached C418, Lena Raine, Kumi Tanioka, and Aaron Cherof to make the score for the series.

Marketing

Minecraft was announced in 2020 alongside a possible second season with Squared Media sharing their plans for their YouTube channel animations.

The first trailer for the first season was released on March 15, 2022. Many commentators noted the heavy focus on Steve, Alex, and Derp to being a heavy focus on Steve and Alex. Linda Codega at Gizmodo said the trailer was "as adorable, fun, and exciting as the animations of absolutely excellent directorial decisions" and that the series looked like "a tone-perfect mashup of animations and storytelling".

Release

Minecraft was released simultaneously on June 10, 2022 on Netflix. The season released in its entirety on Apple+ and Paramount+ on September 10, 2022.

Reception

Audience viewership

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 98% approval rating, with an average score of 8.90/10, based on 1202 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Minecraft is a show that explores stories that have been made by fans for the fans." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 99 out of 100 based on 1002 critics, indicating "positive reviews".