Hello and welcome to TV Rewind, a series that will explore the shows of yesteryear and dissect them one episode at a time. My goal is to explore lesser known programs that you may not be aware existed. For my first series, I have chosen Freakazoid!, a beloved cartoon that ran on the WB from 1995-1997 and made for some weird, Animaniacs-style parodies of the superhero genre. I will attempt to give you the goods every weekend, just like the actual show. While I may not do it every week, make sure to look out for double headers in which I review episodes on Saturday and Sunday.
*Just a friendly reminder that today's episode is brought to you by Anubis Market, which is a division of Osiris Foods. Just look for the man with the jackal head where they sell food so good you can eat it. Now, onto today's recap.
Mission: Freakazoid
We are now three episodes into season 2 of Freakazoid, and it seems like the show is ready to just admit that each episode will be a full-on satire. No problem with that. After a delightful advertisement for Anubis Market, the episode begins with a Mission: Impossible-style opening credits, which features majority of the plot presented in a montage format with the traditional fuse crawling across the middle of the screen. The score even sounds slightly familiar (and is available to view at the top of this recap).
The episode begins with the Narrator (Joe Leahy) explaining everything we need to know about the back story. The Douglases have been kidnapped during a vacation and are now in a prison across from a mime (who Animaniacs fans should recognize immediately). They are being held at Chesky Beresch Prison. This scenario is oddly reeking of Communist Russia not only in foreign names, but also in the fact that there are tanks driving around and the control is under Janos (Jim Cummings) and Anton (Larry Cedar), who run the government with a sick pleasure of beating people up.
In the Freakalair, Freakazoid (Paul Rugg) is talking to Roddy MacStew (Craig Ferguson) about their plan to save the Douglases. He tries to figure out a way to get a crack team together, but comes across a few hurdles. Notably, MacStew is going into the internet to disarm the prison's security system. Also, Ingrid the Mute Butler is resigning and putting Professor Jones (Jonathan Harris) in charge. Jones seems oddly reminiscent of someone who was on a TV show with a robot. He never says it, but this is a character from a Lost in Space special, which is a nice inside joke.
Freakazoid pulls together Cosgrove (Ed Asner) and Steff (Tracey Rowe) to join the mission. Immediately, Cosgrove demands Jones to make him a can of hash with some coffee. This becomes a running joke through the episode and is the reason for the two's tension. It is in this time that it is revealed that the reason Dexter (David Kaufman) didn't join his family was because of a computer convention that he wanted to attend. His mother (Tress MacNeille) shrugged it off with the same happy tone she answers everything in.
After assembling, the team takes to a jet to head into the Chesky Beresch Prison. With the additional fact that no one is flying the plane, the group bickers in the passenger's area before Freakazoid notices that some planes are coming towards him.When the plane strikes down the jet, Freakazoid forces everyone out of the window with parachutes. Jones manages to survive free fall without a parachute thanks to Cosgrove catching him.
From there, the team quickly sneaks into the prison, where they are immediately stopped by tanks. Freakazoid manages to sneak around back and knock out the tank's operator. With this done, he uses the tank as a movable base for the team. During this time, Freakazoid puts on a mask and preps the team for a plan, which is to say he is improvising every step of it.
As they walk into the prison, he claims that he captured these American spies. This confuses them, but only leads to Freakazoid knocking out the guards. He takes joy in keeping score of how many people he has knocked out, which is up to three. Meanwhile, MacStew is in the computer world disarming the security systems. He manages to get everything except for the lasers, which are stuck under a big boulder-like substance.
Freakazoid gets cocky and calls up Janos to tell him that he snuck into the prison. He insults him, which causes Janos and Anton to head towards the prison. MacStew is released from the computer world and tells Freakazoid that he's disarmed the security. Jones takes this as a sign and immediately heads in to save the day. This doesn't go well when it is discovered that the lasers aren't yet disarmed. Jones gets rightfully injured and is knocked out. The problem is eventually solved by knocking down the front door and using it as a shield to free the Douglases and the mime.
Everyone is free and driving off in the tank. Everyone, that is, except Freakazoid. He is left behind to tackle Janos and Anton in the courtyard. After a few bouts of fighting in a battle cloud, he manages to wrangle them up and tie them to a tree. The group celebrates by eating food from Anubis Market. The Douglases are at home with Douglas (John P. McCann) trying to figure out how to count prison days on a chalkboard, not understanding the rule of four dashes and a slash.
Rating: 4 out of 5
While it isn't on par with "the Freakazoid" in terms of second to second laughter, the premise is far more competent and central to this week's story. Of course, it is just great to see Roddy MacStew coming back frequently, even if it is just to be a Scottish stereotype who watches Braveheart constantly. I feel like the first season was about throwing characters against a board and seeing what sticks. Season two quickly is figuring out what stuck and rolling with it (still, Lord Bravery would be much appreciated in a cameo). It is stronger as a result and while each episode may not be as manic, there is more of a sense of competence.
I notably felt like in the past two episodes, we have seen Cosgrove become the character that we love. He manages to throw around lines about bashing in heads and wanting a can of hash with some coffee. It wasn't long ago that he was just a bit character wanting ridiculous stuff. Now he is a full fledged member of the universe and sticking up for himself. I love that Cosgrove is such a strong character with ridiculous demands. Also, I love how he can solve any problem by telling someone to "Cut it out."
I also enjoy the additional character Professor Jones, who is voiced by the same actor who played him on Lost in Space. This is a nice crossover touch that is sure to go over everyone's head. I like that he is somewhat wimpy and has to fight for his place in the team. While I liked Ingrid, he was a slight character who barely was in the episode. Now we got a whipping boy, and luckily they know when to whip him. Hopefully he'll be around in future episodes to get into arguments with Cosgrove. In fact, I wish there was a whole episode of the two just getting angry at each other.
The episode does feel like it is reminiscent of a Cold War mentality. It isn't a full out assault on Communism, but the iconography present seems vaguely Russian and the names are less subtle. It may also be the first time that the show has broken from the team fighting a super villain like the Lobe or Cave Guy. This makes you wonder why they chose this subject matter of kidnapped tourist as the episode to branch out. While it serves to a really good Mission: Impossible parody, it still feels like it wants to address deeper issues. This is most prominent in the final scene when Freakazoid is giving a hearty speech about freedom.
Also, while Freakazoid has made a career out of being sporadic with nonsense, he does seem a little too aggressive in this episode. It makes sense why he is, but following cannon, there is a lot of inaccuracies with his character. He often turns into a buff roid monster and attacks people. He also zooms around in a lightning bolt fashion (possibly the closest we have gotten to a Flash reference). These are fine in theory, but it almost feels more done for convenience sake. However, his lack of inspiration in costume: a mask over his uniform, is an inspired gag.
It is also nice to see that Steff finally knows who Freakazoid's real identity is. Cosgrove deserves bonus points for finally addressing this issue. Hopefully it will develop into the story as we reach the end of the series. We managed to see the two date in "Dexter's Date," but it hasn't seemed long term since. Now, we got some sense that tension will build in some way.
With back-to-back really solid parodies, it is a shame to think that this show came to an end right as it figured itself out. Right when it got rid of the gnomes and reduced the Huntsman to a bit character. Still, season 2 is quickly coming to show why Freakazoid has maintained a legacy as a cult hit, even if it is just parodying random 80's TV shows that kids won't get and featuring guest stars like Ricardo Montalban and Jonathan Harris. Of course, we must thank Anubis Market for helping keep the show on for as long as they could. After all, they have food so good, you can eat it.
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