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Post by Trey_Vore on Jul 20, 2006 3:47:30 GMT -5
Here's my most current review:
Episode review: Swine Song / Watch for Falling Idols
Classification: Above average
Summary: I would have loved to give this a higher score...
Score: 7.5 (good, from 0 to 10)
...unforunately, the vastly uneven quality between 'Swine Song' and 'Watch for Falling Idols' meant I could only rate it in the 7s.
'Swine Song'--Lucky, Cadpig and Spot try to help Rolly woo Dumpling when he thinks he's in love with her.
I can start by saying this episode ranks among the best in my opinion; it is a strong vehicle for Rolly and Cadpig in particular and while Lucky mostly plays support in this episode, he had a greater impact than I originally thought.
Cadpig's sniffling over a syrupy episode of her soap opera was funny and cute at the same time; Cadpig is so cute when she's crying. She has a little lovergirl side to her, believing love is written in the stars and strongly believes that it will happen to Rolly, while he does not believe in it.
Rolly is obviously a love amuteur; he is unsure of how to express himself and his 'crush' on Dumpling is set up quite well. We learn that he is hard of hearing; the finale where he tries to serenade Dumpling but only flubs Cadpig's lines was very funny, as was the birthday cake trick candles bit.
Speaking of which, this is one of the few episodes in which Dumpling actually gets a decent part. I did not mind her at all here; maybe it is because she is not completely 'in your face' is why she was tolerable.
The moral here is 'Be yourself'.
Spot had little impact in the plot, but I am willing to excuse it mainly because the main point is to bring about Rolly and Dumpling.
'Watch for Falling Idols'--Lucky is disillusioned when he discovers Thunderbolt is in truth a cowardly fraud.
Now for the weak link in this pair of episodes. I will start by saying this episode is not entirely original; I remember once seeing an episode of 'Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers' titled 'Flash the Wonder Dog' that had a very similar setup (Dale is disappointed in Flash the Wonder Dog, who was conveniently a German Shepard, once he learns his hero is coward); the main difference being the CDRR episode was full-length and this is an eleven minute episode.
There was so much in this episode that I didn't like: Cruella is not necessary for this episode. The director is dressed like an Aussie for no reason. The character development was virtually nil. No real laughs here. Cadpig, Rolly and Spot were non-factors; they might as well have not been there.
What might be the message of this episode--there is a difference between real life and TV--is what saves it from being a complete dud.
The plot in this episode was later recycled for '101 Dalmatians 2: Patch's London Adventure'.
In short, I can strongly recommend 'Swine Song', it is a nice eleven minute episode that is entertaining to watch. However, I suggest changing the channel before you get to 'Watch for Falling Idols'; it's not worth your time. In my view, 'Swine Song' is among the series' best, but 'Watch for Falling Idols' ranks as some of the series' worst.
'No, no, you dufus!' --Cadpig on teaming a great episode with a poor one, 'Swine Song'
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Post by huntsman on Jul 20, 2006 3:55:27 GMT -5
Nice review, though it's unfortunate that I seem to be the only fan of the series who really liked every episode. I admit some episodes were weaker than others, but I never went so far as to say you should completely ignore one of the episodes, in regards to this series, at least. I suppose it's not my place to critique your critique, though I wish people wouldn't be so harsh when it comes to certain episodes of the series.
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Post by Belchic on Jul 20, 2006 20:57:04 GMT -5
Aww, I am a little dissapointed that you didn't mention the part where Rolly messed up Cadpig's poetry. Oh, and don't let The_Huntsman's criticisms discourage you from reviewing episodes. Just keep on doing what you normall do, which is the stuff I love to see.
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Post by Trey_Vore on Jul 20, 2006 23:19:13 GMT -5
Okay, now for some good episodes:
Episode review: The Dogs of DeVil / Dog's Best Friend
Classification: Exciting
Summary: All right, two more strong episodes!
Score: 9.0 (superb, from 0 to 10)
The latter cartoon is recognizable for a lot of Blaze/Cadpig fluff fanfiction, so I thought I'd give 'The Dogs of DeVil/Dog's Best Friend' a review.
'The Dogs of DeVil'--When Anita is called to work on her day off, an arguement between Roger and Anita and Pongo and Perdita leaves the Main Pups to think they are splitting up.
So, I see that Cadpig has gotten Spot into her soap. This would work, considering it aired after 'Swine Song'. I am not into soaps myself; I prefer game shows (who cares if John and Marsha don't get back together, I want to see prizes and money!), but it is fitting and appropriate that Cadpig and Spot would like them (Soap operas are meant to be for women, anyway...I am a guy, if you can't tell).
The Main Pups are in character in this episode, Cadpig liking the idea of therapy...I guess suits her character and Rolly gets a funny bit involving the sausage link rope (and still having room for more!). Perdita also gets some interesting development, particularly in the sequence were she growls at Scorch and kicks him out into a model (Cadpig must get her violent tendencies from her mom).
The writing was strong, many good lines and sight gags, especially the 'seasick' bit part and Lucky and Cadpig freaking out the model by appearing in her new clothes line.
And of course, the touching moment where Pongo and Perdy and Roger and Anita are reunited is met with a teary-eyed Cadpig (it's adorable!)
The message of this episode...well, there appeared to be two: 'Family comes first' and 'Don't judge until you have all the information'.
I will strongly recommend 'The Dogs of DeVil'.
'Dog's Best Friend'--Rolly gets jealous when Lucky starts spending all of his time with his new best friend Blaze, a very worldly German Shepard pup who seems to have been through everything.
Here's the new pup on the block: Blaze is an interesting character, he's a storyteller who bears a grudge against Thunderbolt (for not receiving a role as the Young Thunderbolt). I wouldn't have minded if he became a recurring character in the series. But I think I like him best as one of Lucky's best friends; I know that Blaze/Cadpig is popular in fanfiction but I don't see Blaze as being ready to bunker down anytime soon. I have an online friend who made a fanfic boyfriend for Cadpig, whom I like better.
It is primarily to let us know that Lucky and Rolly are best friends. But I think Lucky was being gentle with Rolly at the end (in my opinion); I honestly think that he knows Cadpig is his best friend. They have the best chemistry together and I thought it would have been nice if she got a slightly larger role here; regardless, this was still a very good episode and I would highly recommend it.
Both 'The Dogs of DeVil' and 'Dog's Best Friend' were nicely done, I thought, and I try to watch it every time Thanksgiving comes around (don't ask, it seems appropriate for that time of year). I found little to desire more of and I will strongly recommend both episodes.
'You can learn an awful lot from cartoons!' --Blaze, you little liar, 'Dog's Best Friend'
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Post by huntsman on Jul 22, 2006 19:59:23 GMT -5
That’s another well written review, keep up the good work. Oh, and despite what Belchic may say, I wasn’t trying to discourage you; I merely believe that there wasn’t really any truly horrible episodes of the series and I just felt that your request to have people skip that one episode was a bit extreme.
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Post by Belchic on Jul 23, 2006 0:58:47 GMT -5
Well, I tell people to skip episodes only until they have gotten well-initiated into the series. It all depends on how much the episode gives a fine example of what the series is like. Episodes that are a great way to get initiated into 101 Dalmatians: The Series are such classics like "Home is Where the Bark Is", "Chow About That?", "Leisure Lawsuit" and "Four Stories Up". Episodes that are not a good way to get initiated into the series are the weaker episodes like "Our Own Digs", "Goose Pimples", "The Good-bye Chick" and "Horace and Jasper's Big Career Move". See what I'm getting at?
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Post by Trey_Vore on Jul 23, 2006 10:24:39 GMT -5
What Belchic said. Edit: I probably should have posted this earlier, but here's a little guide for the what I mean by "Best", "Middle" and "Worst".
Best: If you're new to this series, the "Best" episodes are the ones to start with. Due to their smart writing and clever humor, the strengths of the series are clearly visible.
For a newbie: If you're new to 101D: Series, these eps are a great way to go.
Examples: Home is Where the Bark Is, Love 'Em and Flea 'Em, Leisure Lawsuit, The Making Of...
Middle: These episodes fall somewhere inbetween "Best" and "Worst". While they're not without their charms, their flaws are more notable; they won't leave a newbie begging for more, but they're harmless.
For a newbie: "Middle" episodes are up to you, but try to see a lot of the "Best" episodes first.
Examples: Howl Noon, Bad to the Bone, Rolly's Egg-celent Adventure, Poison Ivy
Worst: I would not suggest starting with these episodes; they have weak writing and poor humor. The flaws clearly stand out in these episodes.
For a newbie: Take my advice and skip these episodes for now; watch them after you are well-initated (when they will do the least harm).
Examples: Watch for Falling Idols, Mall Pups, The Life You Save, Horace and Jasper's Big Career Move
End Edit.
Also, here's a new review that I wrote:
Episode review: Rolly's Egg-Celent Adventure / Wild Chick Chase
Classification: They did this one already
Summary: Aren't these eps basically the same thing?
Score: 6.2 (fair, from 0 to 10)
Strange...why would Disney pair these two episodes--both are about the Main Pups babysitting chicks--together? They are identical in terms of plot. The only real differences are the number of chicks and character focus. They both even use the same 'Rock-a-Bye Baby' instrumental opening!
'Rolly's Egg-Celent Adventure'--Rolly agrees to help Spot watch Cornelia's eggs while Spot is out; he needs to protect them with Scorch on the prowl.
Okay, Spot is out for most of the ep. This is fine, in my view. While I think Rolly is the least interesting of the main four, it still stands as a halfway decent Rolly episode.
There is some good lines, especially some coming from Lucky and Cadpig, who start by heckling Rolly about his new responsibility. Which I felt was in character; Rolly seems like the type who would avoid responsibility at any chance he would get. I thought the bit part about Rolly trying to keep the chicks from hatching was funny. The repeated bit about Scorch getting flattened by the door was less amusing.
The chicks are cute, and they ultimately become the heroes after the main three are captured. The ending to this episode was good for a laugh as well.
Just a decent episode, in my view. It's very pedestrian, but a decent pedestrian episode.
'Wild Chick Chase'--Spot is stuck babysitting Peeps while Lucky, Rolly and Cadpig try to talk her into swimming at Hiccup Hole.
So Spot is left to babysit another chicken's chick--man, Cornelia is one demanding mother.
As I said before, Rolly is the least interesting of the Main Pups, but Spot is truthfully the least relevant (the show's called '101 Dalmatians' without mention of a chicken for a reason). Spot is somewhat interesting, what with having the most common sense and voice of reason, but she doesn't work so well as the main focus; Spot is not really a stand-alone character. She works best as a support character, playing off the others. That would leave Lucky and Cadpig as the strongest focuses of the four.
Peeps is cute, but I think she is best left as a one-shot character. A baby that doesn't speak doesn't give much room for character development (just ask Maggie Simpson).
This episode was setup to be like a standard old-school cartoon (think like the old 'Popeye babysitting Swee' Pea' cartoons), but it lead to a few problems, in terms of continuity. For one, there is a major metropolitian highway apparently not too far away from Hiccup Hole. Where did that come from? And the waterfall...who put that there? I always thought Hiccup Hole was something like a pond. Abandoning continuity in favor of just one eleven minute episode? Not a great idea.
The message in this episode was 'Be responsible'.
In conclusion, I can say that neither 'Rolly's Egg-Celent Adventure' nor 'Wild Chick Chase' is great in particular; they are just decent episodes, ranking somewhere 'in the middle'. To start, it was odd to have two episodes that are very similar to each other back-to-back. I liked 'Rolly's Egg-Celent Adventure' better than 'Wild Chick Chase', and they are enjoyable, but I would have seperated these two and have them play with other episodes, because...well, you get the idea.
'It just goes to show ya, an old dog can teach new chicks!' --Great, but what about this deja vu feeling?, 'Rolly's Egg-Celent Adventure'
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Post by Belchic on Jul 24, 2006 2:15:54 GMT -5
I couldn't agree with you more, but when I review this episode, I'll talk about something you failed to mention.
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Post by huntsman on Jul 24, 2006 23:39:43 GMT -5
I was never able to write good reviews like you wrote. My reviews at TV.com were soulless by-products of my ambition to have the most reviews on the site. Granted, my reviews did express my opinions, though they didn’t really have the same essence and livelihood that your reviews seemed to have. I’ve left TV.com and I haven’t wrote a review since April, but once TVRage.com implements a review system, I plan on re-writing every review I wrote to try to make them more appealing.
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Post by huntsman on Jul 26, 2006 2:12:45 GMT -5
Come on, Trey, you need to review Lucky All Star. That episode’s opening, with Lucky and Cadpig playing together, was one of the more memorable scenes in the series and it further proved that they’re really best friends.
Ignore my reviews at TV.com though. I’ve realized they suck and I’m going to write new, better reviews in the near future.
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Post by huntsman on Jul 26, 2006 13:32:02 GMT -5
Don't let The_Huntsman boss you around, Trey_Vore. Review episodes whenever you're ready. What the hell are you saying? I wasn’t bossing him around, I was merely making a request, saying that I’d really like to see him review that one episode. You can kiss your avatars and your recaps good-bye, because I’m not going to carry out your requests now, ‘cause all you seem to do is try to cause problems for me in this topic.
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Post by Belchic on Jul 26, 2006 14:59:57 GMT -5
Man, you're strict. I wasn't trying to be an a**hole, if that's what you're thinking. I was just standing up for Trey_Vore because he has been extremely busy lately. You need to stop jumping on me all the time because there is obviously something you have against me that is causing fights between us. I'm going through enough hard times as it is, so I don't want anybody to start blamming me with this kind of stuff.
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Post by huntsman on Jul 26, 2006 15:04:19 GMT -5
Man, you're strict. I wasn't trying to be an a**hole, if that's what you're thinking. I was just standing up for Trey_Vore because he has been extremely busy lately. You need to stop jumping on me all the time because there is obviously something you have against me that is causing fights between us. I'm going through enough hard times as it is, so I don't want anybody to start blamming me with this kind of stuff. I don’t have any problem with you, or at least I didn’t. In both of my comments towards Mr. Vore, you made a remark about how I’ve done something wrong, though I neither discouraged him nor told him what to do. I believe I’ve known Mr. Vore longer than you have, though I may be mistaken; though, none-the-less, I don’t believe he interpreted the comments in the same fashion you did. I just don't believe you needed to say what you did. I just wanted to see a review for Lucky All Star since I believe Trey would have really enjoyed that scene with Lucky and Cadpig at the beginning of the episode.
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Post by ripsta on Jul 26, 2006 15:07:46 GMT -5
Aww, Belchic. You done gone and made Huntsman upset...*shakes head*
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Post by Trey_Vore on Sept 5, 2006 12:50:40 GMT -5
Fanfic review: Alternate "Love 'Em and Flea 'Em" Classification: Revealing Summary: A worthy rewrite. Score: 9.0 (superb, from 0 to 10) It can be hard to do a remake. It's supposed to be a revision, but at the same time, try to form your own identity. It can be established (through people's eyes) that only something that was a good idea, but was poorly executed, should be remade. Some remakes can be equally good, or even better, than the original (like 1996's live-action 101 Dalmatians or 2004's The Punisher), or be good but feel unnecessary (like the 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and War of the Worlds), or be a poor revision altogether (I'm sure that no one liked 1994's remake of The Scarlett Letter or 1999's The Haunting). That said, I am aware that remaking one of what was undoubtably one of the best episodes of '101 Dalmatians: the Series', "Love 'Em and Flea 'Em" would be hard to do. However, the rewrite fanfiction by Belchic is a very pleasant read and I found it to be very enjoyable. It is nice to see Lucky come out unscathed, as it can be painful to see him get singled out. Rolly and Cadpig seemed to have more active roles and I didn't miss Spot here. The continued kinship between Lucky and Two-Tone, as well as their constant screentime together, was a nice addition (gotta love their chemistry). Another factor that I enjoyed was the further use of Nanny's old box of yard sale clothes; the disguise is likely to be an homage to the author's favorite fanart by yours truly. (For the uninitated: Ok, you can stop blushing. Wizzer and Dipstick continue to stay in the background, they got as much attention as they did in the original episode. The ending was true to the original, as expected, but with a twist; as soon as Mooch was going to attack Lucky, Noggin and Belchic appear and stupid Mooch got what he deserved. Ha ha. The only true fault that I can foresee is the fact it was a remake and I had an idea of how it would end, but the twist kept things fresh. This is a great alternate look at one of the series' best episodes (much to Jorb's chagrin. ;D) I will recommend reading the alternate "Love 'Em and Flea 'Em". "Wiggity Wheeze! Who cut the cheese?" --It's only funny until someone gets gassed, then it's hilarious, Alternate "Love 'Em and Flea 'Em"
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