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Post by James Fabiano on Aug 18, 2022 6:50:09 GMT -5
Yeah, indeed. I will come to that but one of the very few fails of the 2017 Ducktales show: in the episode that referenced the Gummi Bears and Black Heron and Webby drank the "Gummi Berry Juice", they didn't add the sound effect. It would have been the perfect cap to the references in that episode. Maybe Disney had a legal edict on the juice too, that it couldn't make any noise for them to get it on the show (speaking of the few fails, though the writers couldn't help it).
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Aug 19, 2022 2:53:35 GMT -5
That makes sense. To be fair, it has been a couple of years since I've seen that episode so I might be misremembering some stuff. We'll see when I get to that show again. Episode 14 (Episode 1 of Season 2): Up, Up And AwayA. Season 2 opens up with one banger of an episode giving us our first non-Gummi Glen Gummi in Chummi Gummi (who is a pretty likable character), an interesting vehicle with the Gummi air ship, a really good story focusing mostly on the friendship of Cubbi and Cavin and their dreams of becoming knights one day, an action-packed climax aboard the airship and setting up something interesting for Cubbi that will pay off a couple of episodes down the line. Overall, we are off to a good second season. -As hinted at in the previous posts, quite a bit of voice actor changes this season. Due to Bill Scott's untimely passing, his three characters had to be recast: *Corey Burton takes over voicing Gruffi Gummi and Toadie and would continue doing so until the end of the series. Corey is quite the prolific voice actor who is perhaps most famous for being (up to this day) the regular VA for Captain Hook, Ludwig Van Drake and Dale (with the latter two also being voiced by him in their Disney Afternoon show appearances). While his Toadie impression is pretty spot-on to Bill's portrayal, one can definitely tell that Gruffi's VA changed in this season. It is not bad, it is just noticiable that it is not the same actor voicing Gruffi. *Roger C. Carmel takes over voicing Sir Tuxford this season. While he is a famous Broadway actor, I bet he is known to most people for his guest appearances on Star Trek as Harcourt Fenton "Harry" Mudd. And I can definitely hear a twinge of Harry Mudd in his performance of Sir Tuxford which is again a difference to how Bill voiced him. Sadly, this would be his only season as he, too, passed away the same year. -In other changes, Brett Johnson takes over voicing Cavin from Christian Jacobs this season. No major differences I noticed in him voicing Cavin, sounding again pretty spot-on to Jacobs's performance. No further information I could find on Brett Johnson though. -Chummi Gummi is quite the likable fellow who I thought would have been a great fit for the show if he had stuck around. Kinda a sad backstory to hear that he is the last of his warren and is in search of finding other Gummis to live with. Still he has a positive outlook on life, has a great rapport with Cubbi and even gets over his mistrust of Cavin pretty fast after Cavin proves himself to him. Really wish he would have made another appearance down the line though perhaps the creative people behind this liked the idea of adding another Gummi to the main cast as we shall see at the end of the season. His appearance also marks the first appearance in a Disney Afternoon show for Jim Cummings, a famous voice actor whom we will encounter a lot in the upcoming Disney Afternoon shows. -The interactions between Cavin and Cubbi in this episode were among the best parts, especially considering the changes of which one's dream of being a knight might come to fruition one day. We also get for the first time a glimpse into the problems that arise when being friends with beings that you have to keep a secret from everyone else: in this case, getting Cavin into so much trouble that he loses his rank of squire and is demoted to kitchen help, a demotion which would forever keep him from being a knight, and which led to a brief argument with Cubbi. Still, it says a lot about Cavin that he still wanted to see them off personally and didn't care that he might get into further trouble for it. -You know, if this would have been a modern Disney show, I might have seen them changing the status quo and letting Cubbi leave with Chummi and later making him make a reappearance at the end. As it is though, he still gets his wish in a way of being "knighted" by Princess Calla, an action that will have ramifications later on. -This also makes the first time in a DA series that a song is sung with the "Rough, Tough, Burly Sailor Song". Perhaps it is the only song that is on Gummi Bears (cannot remember any other off the top of my head) but it is notable.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Aug 20, 2022 3:04:35 GMT -5
Episode 14: Bottomless Pit!B. An interesting concept for an episode: Normally you would have an "anthology" episode like this around a holiday or something else but to bed it in a frame story around four of our main characters falling down a bottomless pit is certainly an interesting choice. Of the three stories told, I would rank them: 1. Mabel story, 2. Soos story, 3. Dipper story. Yeah, I am biased on Mabel but I really liked the idea of those truth teeth and how Mabel had to learn that sometimes you have to lie for the greater good. Loved the pinball environment with Soos's story and the jokes with it (though that could also be that I currently am trying to get over 100,000 in NES Pinball so I am kinda in a Pinball-y mood lately). Dipper's story was alright but I kinda felt like it was a bit of a rehash to the Manliness episode to score much points with me. Overall though, a good anthology type episode. -Couldn't find any info on it, but I wonder whether those three stories were among ideas thrown around for full-length episodes, then after they didn't make the cut, they decided to use them for this anthology episode. Don't know about it, but it would be interesting to think whether any of the ideas here would have been feasible for a full 22 minute episode. -Dipper's "manly" voice is provided by A. Smith Harrison who has done a lot of TV commercial voiceover work. In that regard, he was a perfect fit for this (or maybe they just wrote those announcer jokers around him after they casted him). -This episode is also noteworthy because it features the first appearance of Grunkle Stan's changed fez symbol (old on the left and new on the right): Apparently, it caused controversy among the show's fans and staff due to the first version's resemblance to Islamic and Masonry imagery which is why it was changed to something that looks like Fish Pac-Man. -Wondering whether that pinball game was a reference to a real-life existing pinball game but I could not find anything on it. Though I wonder whether a pinball fan among the show's fanbase eventually recreated one of them -Have to say, Stan silently floating through the bottomless pit during the end credits is perhaps in my Top 5 of end credits jokes in this season.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Aug 22, 2022 7:03:34 GMT -5
Episode 15A (Episode 2A of Season 2): Faster Than A Speeding Tummi
B. An enjoyable segment. Liked the effect the speed spell had on Tummi and the trouble it caused and laughed at the interactions between "Dukie" Igthorn and his ogres who are not really the sharpest knives in the drawer. Slow Gruffi was also fun to watch. Again I am surprised rewatching these episodes how much more of a character Tummi was rather than just being a glutton which makes me enjoy him even more.
-For years as a child, I could not watch the start of the scene where the angry bears go into Tummi's room until Tummi started apologizing to them. I dunno, I guess in hindsight I had a pet peeve with scenes where good characters were angry with other good characters (I had that problem with other animated shows as well). Of course, nowadays, I have no problems with that scene.
-Speaking of that, the anger of the other bears is understandable since it is not only a mess, but it also brought the danger of being discovered due to the overflow of soap that we saw in the beginning.
-I think this marks also the first time that we saw the bears' individual night garments (the only other time we saw them in night clothes in "The Oracle", they were matching white gowns).
-Hopefully, Tummi was not too upset with his whole ship being destroyed like that when he only had to pull up the masts.
Episode 15B (Episode 2B of Season 2): For A Few Sovereigns More
A. An interesting episode mostly since it references some Clint Eastwood-related adult material (mostly the Dollars Trilogy but it also has a Dirty Harry reference in there). The main strength comes from its memorable secondary character in Flint Shrubwood but also because it is a good characterization episode for Cubbi who learns more of what kind of knight he wants to be through his interactions with Igthorn. Overall, one of the highlights of Season 2.
-Yeah, Flint Shrubwood, despite having a name, is very much Clint Eastwood's "Man With No Name" character using boomerang projectiles instead of guns. An interesting character who is a bounty hunter to the bone (I was only instructed to get one gummi bear? Then I am delivering only one gummi bear) and, despite getting screwed over, he appears to have no lingering feelings as long as he gets paid what was promised beforehand. And he appears to be quite the capable fighter being able to subdue and imprison several ogres without breaking a sweat. Another character that I would have liked to see make a reappearance during the show's run. Last, he is voiced by Corey Burton, who certainly does a much different voice compared to his Toadie or Gruffi voice.
-We kinda get a call-back to the season premiere as Cubbi refers to himself as Sir Cubbi due to being knighted by Calla in that episode. And it is well-warranted in this episode as due to his interactions with Duke Igthorn in this episode, Cubbi sees for himself what a knight can turn into (since we learned in the Season 1 finale that Igthorn had been a knight once) and makes him certain in his thoughts about what a knight he wants to be (despite planning to go back on his word to Igthorn in coming back to save him, he ultimately decides to do the honorable thing and save him). Too bad Igthorn didn't learn anything from his encounter with Cubbi.
-Interesting to note that the place where Igthorn, Cubbi and the rest of the ogres are imprisoned will make another appearance down the line.
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Post by James Fabiano on Aug 22, 2022 10:43:32 GMT -5
Shrubwood's thing was, he looked like something out of a totally different cartoon. Still he was cool and actually not a bumbler, and would make a great New villain. Only if course, we never see him again. (After being bested by "fairy tale" bears and a bumbling duke, he probably effing killed himself...)
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Aug 22, 2022 12:15:49 GMT -5
I wouldn't say bested. After all, a duke hired him to bring him a gummi bear, he did so and in the end, he got the money he was owed. Sure, he had to go through a lot more hassle to get that money but I would think at the end of the day "Well, I got my money, off to the next job...."
Thinking about it...back then, it would have been improbable but I wonder if they did this today, would they actually ask Clint Eastwood himself if he would be interested in voicing this character.
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Post by James Fabiano on Aug 22, 2022 12:26:55 GMT -5
I wouldn't say bested. After all, a duke hired him to bring him a gummi bear, he did so and in the end, he got the money he was owed. Sure, he had to go through a lot more hassle to get that money but I would think at the end of the day "Well, I got my money, off to the next job...." Thinking about it...back then, it would have been improbable but I wonder if they did this today, would they actually ask Clint Eastwood himself if he would be interested in voicing this character. Yeah, but couldn't resist the Funny or Die routine. Like I said he might have got in another show.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Sept 4, 2022 12:39:31 GMT -5
Maybe. Sadly, he never got the chance. Episode 15: The Deep EndB. A rather fitting episode to cover since we are now closing in towards the end of summer. As it is, it was a fun episode mainly due to Mermando being a really likable character and having adorable chemistry with Mabel, it was nice seeing a new location with the Gravity Falls pool, loved that the Dipper/Wendy subplot got a good ending for Dipper despite his sacrifice for Mabel's happiness and it was all around a good time for me. The only odd thing out in this one is the superfluous Stan/Lil' Gideon subplot; would have rather given the time for that for the main story. -Matt Chapman, Mermando's VA, was mostly known for his work on Homestar Runners before this. He certainly gives Mermando a really friendly disposition and he is actually someone we will encounter again in the future doing secondary character voice work. -Michael Riana, who voices Mr. Poolcheck, only has mostly Gravity Falls in his work vita for now. Be that as it may, I like the manic unhingedness he gives Mr. Poolcheck. -Apparently, in the original script when Stan did his light trick on Gideon, he originally said "Blind the child!" instead of "Burn the child!". It was probably changed because the former was deemed too graphic. -Well, no wonder, Robbie was nowhere to be seen around in this episode. Guess the sunny weather is nothing for his disposition. -And so Mabel gets her first kiss from a merman. Certainly a kiss that she will remember forever. -Hopefully, the kid in solitary confinement will one day be released from his prison. He just looked so sad during the credits.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Sept 5, 2022 6:06:05 GMT -5
Episode 16A (Episode 3A of Season 2): Over The River And Through The Trolls
B. The first of four appearances of the trolls in this show and it is a good segment. Loved the background story of Cavin's grandfather finding the medallion, the trolls are decent villains and the climax with the runaway carriage was really good. An entertaining first part of the episode.
-The trolls...yeah, they are decent but personally (as I may have said before), if given a choice I'd rather have had the carpies have more appearances than them. As it is the trolls are basically the Middle Ages-variant of your three-pin suit and fedora hat wearing 1930s gangsters (which is highlighted by the accent of the leader). In their first segment, they are more of a pack/band compared to later where it only focuses on a certain trio. The troll leader is voiced by Corey Burton who again manages to make this voice very distinctive from his Gruffi and Toadie voices so that you wouldn't know they are the same person.
-Also the first of two appearances for Cavin's grandfather, Sir Gawain, voiced by Michael Rye, the regular VA for Igthorn and Gregor. The voice he uses for him...I don't know I don't really like it. It reminds me more of a doddering, confused grandpa than who was once a valiant knight. Though I say that character-wise, he is quite a delightful fellow and the love he has for his grandson really comes through.
-Wow...apparently according to my information, the coach driver is voiced by Lorenzo Music. I guess I am so used to connect him with his Garfield/Peter Venkman/Tummi performances that it is hard for me to imagine that he could do other voices too.
-Huh, I don't remember whether it was said like that in the German dub, but Ursalia gets namedropped here (as a place in the northern mountains where Cavin's grandfather found the medallion). Never thought it was name-dropped this early in the show's run.
-Luckily for Zummi to have a spell for making a coach grow wings like that.
Episode 16B (Episode 3B of Season 2): You Snooze, You Lose
A. Well, we were due for a Calla-centered segment one of these days and this one was certainly very good, again highlighting as someone in the thread said how progressive she was as far as being Disney princesses go. It is also very much a growth episode for her as she finally has been put in a situation where she has to be in charge and has to come to terms with not only talking a big game, but playing it too. Otherwise, love the sleeping potion as well as the various ways of the Gummis to defend Dunwyn from Igthorn's advancing hordes.
-Hmm, that dress Calla wears looks familiar...did she borrow part of it from another Disney princess?
-Love how at the beginning, the events from last season's "The Secret Of The Juice" are mentioned when Igthorn and Toadie try to recreate the recipe. I wonder how many different combinations they could possibly go through if they had all the time in the world.
-OK, how can the effects of the potion end exactly with the last drop of the hour glass when the potion was active for a lot longer before that (I mean taking into account Calla's time to see the sleeping members of Dunwyn, lower the bridge, running to Gummi Glen and returning, there should have been at least some sort of time passing)? Only a small nitpick from my side.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Sept 10, 2022 1:13:35 GMT -5
Episode 16: Carpet DiemA. I think what I like most about this episode is that it takes a different angle at the usual "body swap" trope (where it usually is about two characters wanting the other to see how it is living in their shoes) by having Dipper and Mabel sabotage each other in hilarious ways to get the new mysterious room they found. Lots of fun moments happen with Mabel being given "the talk", Soos and Waddles switching bodies (with Waddles being kind of creepy-funny with the way he moves around...also what did he do to make that weird girl fall in love with him?) as well as the whole big switcheroo at the end. What further adds to this episode is that, just like "Little Dipper" before it, what seems like a superfluous argument actually had a deeper meaning to it (and I say it again, moments like that are why I think Dipper and Mabel are perhaps among the best animated sibling pairs that Disney ever put out) which I loved. Also, the body-swapping carpet was certainly unusual. Definitely one of the top episodes in Season 1. -After this one, I definitely look forward to see more appearances from Candy and Grenda. I bet if they were in episodes all the time, it would get old, but as it is they are always fun to watch (especially Candy after she gets swapped into Dipper's body). -Now, who does this mysterious room belong to? Grunkle Stan certainly seemed pretty annoyed with it at first when seeing it. Could there be a deeper meaning to it? -"Attic Stuff Mini-Golf"? Now that sounds like a nice game to play (and would probably make a pretty good game app). -Grey Griffin voiced the weird bandana lady who fell in love with Waddles in Soos's body? Huh, you never know when a famous VA might make an appearance.
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Post by Saiyanic Panic on Sept 10, 2022 1:31:51 GMT -5
-Grey Griffin voiced the weird bandana lady who fell in love with Waddles in Soos's body? Huh, you never know when a famous VA might make an appearance. She pops up a lot, actually! Nothing major but a good number of background & side characters, some you probably remember.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Sept 11, 2022 15:59:02 GMT -5
Hmm, interesting. Gonna have need to take notes of that more. Episode 17 (Episode 4 of Season 2): The Crimson AvengerA. Another highlight episode of Season 2 introduces us to Cubbi's secret persona as the Crimson Avenger. A wonderful character growth episode for Cubbi who learns that being the Hidden Defender of Dunwyn is more than just a fun game. Love the design of his Crimson Avenger outfit, the one-shot villain in this episode is entertaining, Tummi is great as the responsible support for Cubbi who becomes the only one who knows the secret and it is just an overall very good episode. -Again kudos for the creators keeping a strong adherance to continuity by having this episode reference the events of the season premiere where Cally "knighted" Cubbi as the Hidden Defender of Dunwyn, a role he now plans to enact. -Some points that made me ponder as to whether to give this one an A- or not (ultimately decided against it): Who made Cubbi that Crimson Avenger costume (and Tummi his Pronto costume, for that matter)? Did Cubbi think nobody would notice one of the quick cars suddenly having a mask on? Did nobody question how Cavin managed to steal the rubies when he was still standing several feet away from the king? Ultimately thought that these points didn't take much enjoyment out of the episode so my rating stays. -Hmm, the Crimson Avenger? Pronto? Some guy at one point in the episode asking "Who is that masked man"? Guess the writer had some fond Lone Ranger memories (although another hero gets referenced with the "truth, justice and the Dunwynian way" speech). -Erwillian is certainly one of the more notable one-shot villains with Will Ryan giving him a nice accent to make him sound more distinguished. Wouldn't have minded seeing him again. -OK, so many more interesting side characters didn't get another appearance but the poacher from Season 1's "Loopy Go Home" gets another one? *sigh* -Calla certainly makes a good figure in that Crimson Avenger outfit. Too bad she didn't enact it the day before, otherwise her plan might have worked: -Hmm, Erwillian's final scheme seems familiar...like I have seen it in another Disney property previously but where? Maybe in another medieval-based tale featuring anthropomorphic creatures like the Gummi bears (though more based on real animals)?
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Sept 14, 2022 9:51:43 GMT -5
Episode 17: Boyz Crazy
B+. Hmm, if one looks at several of the 1990s boy bands, they do seem to have come straight out of a clone factory come to think of. Anywho, this was another very good episode mostly due to the three girls' interactions with Sev'ral Timez but also because, when you look more deeply at it, Mabel's refusal to let them go probably has to do with every other boy she liked leaving her during this series, making her finally letting them go feel like a sort of catharsis. Also really liked the B-plot mostly for Dipper and Stan's chemistry as they bond over trying to find out whether Robbie has really hypnotized Wendy with his song. Definitely nice.
-While Alex Hirsch and Matt Chapman also do some voice work for them, a large part of the boy band is voiced by Lance Bass, mostly famous for being part of the 1990s boy band N'Sync. It actually ties into a sweet story as Alex's sister, Ariel, was a huge fan of N'Sync (and Lance in particular) back in the 90s. During the making of this episode, she jokingly suggested that he voice one of the characters. Alex told her, "We'll get Lance Bass to do a voice and you can meet him" and ultimately kept his word (which he was able to do since Ariel was scheduled in the recording studio for this episode to voice one of Pacifica's friends).
-The boys' manager, Ergman Bratsman, is voiced by Ken Campbell who is perhaps most well-known for his role as oil driller Max Lennart in Armageddon (at least that's something that rings a bell for me).
-Strange though that while we saw Pacifica from behind at some point, they didn't have her have a line or anything (although one of her friends had a line in this episode). Come to think of it, Pacifica appeared a lot less than I remembered in this season.
-OK, what's the deal with this effeminate trucker always saying "Get 'im! Get 'im!" He has appeared a lot in this season, so I guess we'll get some sort of payoff for him?
-Alex Hirsch originally intended to clarify in the story that Robbie did not purposefully put a backwards message into Wendy's song to control her. Instead, as Robbie stated at the end, he plagiarized the song from another band that had put the backwards message and it was included in his version as a result of his plagiarism. Dipper was meant to learn that he wasn't looking out for Wendy and was instead finding conspiracies where none existed and "sticking his nose where it didn't belong" simply because he was jealous of Robbie and couldn't come to terms with Wendy's attraction to him.
-Apparently, this is the lowest rated episode of the first season as well as the whole show in general. While not among the show's best, I didn't have any particular problem with it.
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BlackoutCreature
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Post by BlackoutCreature on Sept 15, 2022 19:48:09 GMT -5
-OK, what's the deal with this effeminate trucker always saying "Get 'im! Get 'im!" He has appeared a lot in this season, so I guess we'll get some sort of payoff for him? Tyler Cutebiker. I won't spoil anything, but he's mostly just a background character throughout the series with the exception of one second season episode where he has a fairly significant role. Though if you're expecting any kind of major reveal from him or deep connection to the shows larger mythology, then you're gonna be disappointed.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Sept 26, 2022 8:05:55 GMT -5
Episode 18A (Episode 5A of Season 2): A Hard Dazed Knight
A. Perhaps one of my favorite segments of the show (but at least one of my favorite segments this season). The chemistry between Calla and Gruffi is wonderful, the design of the Gummis' black knight armor is stupendous and the climax with how Calla and Gruffi escape from the castle is perhaps one of the best in the show. Overall, just a fantastic segment.
-While Gruffi does come off a tad misogynistic at the beginning of the episode, I like how Calla just brushes it off and stays non-chalant through their exchange. Also kudos to Gruffi for being accepting after Calla's advice proves correct. I cannot remember whether they had any more devoted scenes like this in the future episodes, but there should have been more of it.
-Love the idea of this magic egg that can imprison the "soul" (?) of the hapless person who holds it in its hand. To quote the Joker: "Just where does Igthorn get these wonderful toys?"
-"So, robots being piloted from the inside are the rage in Japan right now? Bah, we can do that too."
-The whole "Toadie doing an O-G-R-E cheer" and them not knowing what it spells is one of my favorite jokes in the whole show.
-Too bad, it got destroyed after one episode. Awesome to imagine what the Gummis could have done with an army of gummi-piloted armors.
-Have to say for as much as a bumbling villain he has been portrayed so far, I learned that you should never seriously piss off Igthorn:
-Really wished that the Disney/Capcom agreement would have come in time for a Gummi Bear NES game. I already know at least one thing I would have liked to see in that video game:
-Although this season is not yet over, this segment would be the last one to feature Roger C. Carmel as the voice of Sir Tuxford who, like his predecessor Bill Scott, died prematurely in the year the season aired.
Episode 18B (Episode 5B of Season 2): Do Unto Ogres
A. Another top-notch segment, this time mostly due to the chemistry between Sunni and Toadie. Too bad that despite the show being more continuity-driven than other Disney Afternoon shows, the idea of a possible friendship between a gummi and an ogre was never really explored again. Still, this episode comes across as a far better version of Season 1's "Toadie's Wild Ride", mostly because of the aforementioned Sunni-Toadie interactions but also because of Toadie's more active role and the whole giant potion thing being a nice MacGuffin. Overall, a successful two-point punch as far as episodes go.
-How the times have changed sadly...back when I saw this as a child, I found it "ewwww" but nothing else but today, I could a certain part of online culture thinking that Disney supports foot fetishes:
-Again, it is bad that Toadie never really got to live up to that characterization he received in this episode, remaining the faithful lackey to Igthorn for the remainder of the series.
-A really interesting concoction Sunni came up with. It might have been useful in other regards going down the line considering other threats that might have popped up.
-Love Igthorn's elevator set-up (though perhaps he should formulate his orders better).
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Oct 17, 2022 11:54:45 GMT -5
Episode 18: Land Before SwineB. As we are nearing the end of Season 1, we get an episode with a not so original premise but which more than makes up for it with its character interactions of Mabel/Grunkle Stan and Dipper/Soos. The pterodactyl was actually kind of an interesting choice compared to the gazillion of T-Rex uses this plot usually provides, the Stan/Waddles interactions are funny and Soos's method of getting away from the pterodactyl baby was genius (as was the rather dark joke of Old Man McGucket getting eaten...though thankfully his condition was upgraded to alive in the end ). Overall, a good episode to ease us in into the end of Season 1. -Originally, Grunkle Stan was going to intentionally get Waddles caught by the pterodactyl but this idea was scrapped for making Stan seem too "unsympathetic". Yeah, I can agree with that, he would have looked like a grade-A asshole if he intentionally did that and I doubt Mabel would have forgiven him in that regard. -Alonso Ramirez, a storyboard artist for the show, storyboarded the Pterodactyl scenes and they were regarded by Alex Hirsch as being some of the best he had ever seen. But when the episode was animated, it wasn't as good given it was "feature quality storyboarding with TV quality animation." Knowing the scene could look better, Alex got legendary animator James Baxter to come in and redo the animation for those scenes to reflect the quality of Alonso's storyboards. To give you an idea on who James Baxter is, he first worked for Disney as a character animator for such movies as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", "Beauty And The Beast", "The Lion King" and "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame" while later working for Dreamworks doing animation for other famous movies like "The Prince Of Egypt", "The Road To El Dorado", "Spirit" among others. So, quite the get for Alex to do this kind of work. Also, as a bonus, being a fan of the show, Baxter agreed to do it for a discounted amount. -I kinda wonder whether any precautions should be taken to ensure that no other prehistoric creatures escape from their amber prison.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Nov 5, 2022 6:27:45 GMT -5
Episode 19 (Episode 6 of Season 2): For Whom The Spell HoldsA. A really good character-driven episode on Zummi dealing with the ups and downs his newfound interest in magic brings him and the arguments it brings him into with Gruffi. Zorlock is another decent one-shot villain who might have warranted another appearance by him and the way towards his lair was filled with quite a lot of action and exciting moments. Love the twist at the end that apparently no magic spell can harm a gummi bear and how Gruffi and Zummi came to a newfound understanding with each. Another highlight in Season 2. -Zorlock is voiced by Lennie Weinrib who was quite the prolific voice actor with his best claims to fame being the voice for H.R. Pufnstuf, Grimace in the McDonalds commercials, Inch High Private Eye, the original voice of Scrappy Doo, Big Mouth in the Smurfs and Prince Lotor in Voltron. Zorlock is certainly quite the apt wizard with the only weakness being his short temper and overconfidence that ultimately led him into being tricked by Zummi. Again, I would have had no problems with him making further appearances. -A rare sight: what Gruffi looks like under his cap: -Like the continuity of the show remembering that Zummi has a fear of heights from Season 1. -Well, that's another one for the gallery "Horrors of In-Betweens": -While TMS does a great job in animating this show, they outdid themselves with that thunder tornado. Absolutely gorgeous how it looked.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Dec 28, 2022 1:52:45 GMT -5
Episode 19: DreamscaperersAnd so begins the first part of our 2-part Season 1 finale (As I have done in the past with another show I will give a rating after watching both parts)...and it starts very promising. We get introduced to an intriguing character in Bill Cipher (wondering how many viewers thought he would be just a one-shot character), the voyage through Stan's mind is interesting (kinda wonder if Alex Hirsch was inspired by Yu-Gi-Oh in the concept of the mind consisting of many doors...though then again, that concept might be more broader than I think), it has some nice and dramatic moments regarding the relationship of Dipper and Stan and the battle against Bill is marvelous (and kinda Adventure Time-esque in its wonderful weirdness...I mean, kitten heads for weapons? WTF?). It also ends on a rather depressing note with the Mystery Shack being taken over by Gideon with the conclusion to be seen in the next episode. Looking forward to that. -Bill Cipher certainly makes a strong impression with his reality-warping powers, equally chipper but also threatening demeanor and how he is not really defeated but decides to leave on his own. It is also interesting that Bill's voice is kinda the same voice Alex Hirsch would use for King in "The Owl House" (although with King, it comes off a lot more nicer). And already after this episode I found him to be a more interesting antagonist compared to Gideon (although at this point, we would not know what we were in store for with Bill). -I don't know...I found it kind of hilarious that after going through this many hoops to summon this demon to find out the code to the safe with the deed in it, Gideon's Plan B resorted to him using dynamite to blow up the safe. -Don't worry, Mabel, I have seen worse (like Princess Lana in that "Nightmare" episode of Captain N): -Love how Stan's treatment of Dipper throughout the season culminated in this episode where we finally learn why Stan is mostly tough on him: to prepare him for the challenges the world will throw at him in the future. While I am not a big fan of "Tough Love", Stan's behaviour is still within the realm of what I would find acceptable. -Also neat that the first two shows I cover had finales with a first part ending on a sad note (though in the older show, we will have to wait for the series finale for that). Now, it has been almost two months since I last wrote for this. I really want to do this though and while I have abandoned my hope to get to Amphibia in the rotation by May, I will continue on (hopefully, more frequently as I was doing at the beginning of this).
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Jan 8, 2023 16:08:04 GMT -5
Episode 20A (Episode 7A of Season 2): Little Bears LostB. Well, we are getting the "shrinking episode" out of the way this time. Still, this episode is pretty fun for the interactions of Grammi and Zummi and the final confrontation with the real thief (which turns out to be a rat). Though it is odd that everyone in Gummi Glen would accuse each other that quickly of being a thief considering that they have now lived together for so long. -I wonder if that rat eventually had an ancestor that would make trouble for a mouse detective in 19th century London. Episode 20B (Episode 7B of Season 2): Guess Who's Gumming To Dinner?B+. Yeesh, I wouldn't be surprised if several people in the years since that first airing made a certain typo with that title. Anywho, I liked this one a bit better than the previous segment mostly for how the Gummis trolled Sunni during that dinner party by behaving cuckoo. Also loved that sweet moment at the end with Calla and Sunni regarding their friendship as well as learning about this Gummi holiday. -Falls Farewell. The one day of the year where the Gummis don't have any work to do and just relax. Well, it makes sense for the Middle Ages that you would have to work hard every other day but still, it is kinda sad. At least, they do not have to run off any leaves. -I guess Calla does like some princess duties like going to balls and dancing. -One of the things I didn't like about this was the hypocritical behaviour of Grammi: "Everyone behave and do what Sunni says. ... What, the cooking will be done by the chefs in Dunwyn? That's it! Everybody conspire!"...though I wonder how Calla explained to the chefs where she got those recipes and stuff. -The only episode showing the bears in their formal attire: -Have to give kudos to Noelle North. She made Calla sound so heartbroken after Sunni could not bring herself to shower her with that goo, really accentuating how sad she was that Sunni might not consider her her best friend.
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Post by Mandarin Dessert Version 0 on Mar 13, 2023 9:08:58 GMT -5
Episode 20: Gideon Rises
A. After an already exciting first half, the second half does not disappoint with the reappearance of old characters (the gnomes), several characters having their despair event horizon, a climactic final battle featuring a giant robot and the best thing of all...GRAPPLING HOOK BEING USED! Overall, the first season finale of this new type of Disney show shows that no punches are pulled in raising the stakes and making the end of a season mean something. Not exactly something the Disney Afternoon shows of the past were known for. And I certainly appreciate this approach.
-Love how Dipper in the end proves that he didn't need the journal to be a hero and how far he's come. And that fight with Gideon inside the computer was just superb.
-Stupid turncoat gnomes! Then again, I cannot even imagine how painful a whistle sound like that would be.
-Love how they subtly built up Tyler Cutebiker during this whole season to make his final "Get 'im...get 'im" actually mean something when the police arrest Gideon. Really shows how the creator took care when he developed his show.
-Also really like how in the end, we finally get to see what's behind the vending machine we saw in the very first episode where Stan went into. He really does seem to know more than what he led on, considering that he does have Journal #1. Definitely an intriguing ending to the first season.
With the first season being over and the series being not as long as Gummi Bears, I will have a look at the shorts for Gravity Falls next time while going through Gummi Bears until I am caught up enough to finish both shows at the same time.
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