Stuck Up, Up and Away

The episode introduces the first new villain of the second season: Princess.  She's your basic stereotypical spoiled-rich-kid.  Princess wants to be a PowerPuff Girl, but the girls dismiss her request as ridiculous.  Princess uses her father's seeming unlimited assets to build herself a super suit.  She strikes out against the girls, but is eventually defeated.

Characters like Princess are usually one-dimensional and pretty boring.  However, her underlying insecurity in herself is shown somewhat.  Her inability to make friends as well as her claim to be the "newest and best loved PowerPuff Girl of all time" are examples of this trait.  Overall, the story is very good and the characterizations are well done.

Considering that the story has many similarities with a popular anime movie, Project A-ko, I was hoping for at least one inside reference.  Alas, there are none that I detected.  However, there were two A-Team references: the GMC customized van and the "I love it when a plan comes together" quote.

For some unexplained reason, Blossom was able to defeat Princess swiftly while her sisters were shot down with ease.  This disparity in skill between the PPGs never occurs again in any other episode.  Strange.  Just chalk it up to a continuity error.

School House Rocked

The Gangrene Gang are back and are as entertaining (and cruel) as ever.  The gang is caught playing hooky by a truant officer named Jack Wednesday (obvious reference to Joe Friday from the old television show Dragnet.)  Since the gang has never been to school in their lives, Jack sends them to kindergarten.  Take a guess what happens next.

We find out a number of things about the Gangrene Gang:

• Snakes real name is Sanford D. Engelbery?!  Hahahahaha!  How'd they slip that one past the censors?
• Big Billy's full name is William W. Williams.  Gee, I wonder what the 'W' stands for?
• Grubber can transform himself into a "normal" person.  
• Big Billy is a cyclops!
• Aturo Delagera's switchblade comb is called Maria Conchita Theresa Rosalita.

My biggest problem with this episode is how the PPGs handled the gang.  They essentially stooped to their level and became bullies themselves.  The teacher applies her wonderful "lesson" when she deals with the truant officer.  This is the first example of the apparent cruelness by the "good guys" this season.

Collect Her

The episode pokes fun at "collectors" and the merchandising phenomenon of the PPGs.  A fat-assed-balding-fanny-pack-wearing loser named Lenny Baxter has collected every piece of PPGs paraphernalia there is.  When he discovers there is nothing left to collect, he decides the only thing left to do is "collect" the girls themselves.  (Actually, I think he missed the PowerPuff Girls Waffle Iron.)

The idea for this episode was probably inspired from the ST:TNG episode "The Most Toys."  The problem with this incarnation of the story is that there is no real explanation of how the villain was able to trap the girls.  Where the heck did he obtain a substance strong enough to imprison them and why doesn't Mojo have it too?  Also, how the heck he was able to catch, subdue, and encase the girls without the use of any weapons or super powers of his own?

The Professor saves the girls by psychologically torturing the villain.  For the second time this season, we see a protagonist solve a situation through cruelty.

It's a little known fact, but I was originally in this episode!  Too bad the editors took my cameo out of the final cut.  Here were my lines: "Gennedy McCracken?  Oh, there you are.  Hey, that Lenny guy sure is a loser.  I mean really.  Dedicating so much of his time to the PPGs.  Ha!  Get a life!  Well, nice talking to you.  What?  No, sorry I can't.  I have to go home and update my RowdyRuff Boys website.  Maybe next time."

Supper Villain

We meet the Smiths.  An average family living in an average suburbs in an average family home.  We meet Mr. Smith.  He's extremely bored with his humdrum life.  Every day, the same thing.  Nothing exciting ever happens to poor Mr. Smith.  Next door to Mr. Smith lives the PowerPuff Girls.  Mr. Smith secretly despises their perfect, happy life.  One day while watching television, he sees a special report about Mojo Jojo kidnapping the Mayor.  He becomes captivated by the power Mojo has over the entire town.  He actually roots for Mojo to succeed.  Meanwhile, Mr. Smith secretly works on his plan to become a super-villain.  His plan is pathetic and he is easily foiled by the PPGs.

Mr. Smith feels like a "nobody."  He feels that society has turn its back on him.  By becoming the "bad guy," people will sit up and take notice of him.  A very interesting look into one aspect of the criminal mind.

Some of my favorite parts:

• Mary Ann Smith: You'll never guess what's for breakfast!  Pancakes!
• Reporter (referring to the PPGs): Bless your huge little heads.
• The dinner scene.
• The Professor eating his last pea.
• Pie fight!

BTW, this episode reminded me a bit of that movie with Michael Douglas, "Falling Down."  I haven't seen the movie in a while, so I don't know if there were any inside references thrown in.

Birthday Bash

It's the PPG's birthday and a few of Townsville's most evil villains are each sending them a very "special" birthday present.

Some of my favorite parts:

• Leader of the Amoeba Boys: We'll finally get some R-E-C-P-P...uh...ah..
• PPGs: Cake time!
• Getting rid of the target.
• Mojo: Ha ha! Nayh-nayh-nayh-nayh.
• Leader of the Amoeba Boys: So what's your point?
• HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Balloon covering Ms. Bellum's face.

This is a really fun episode that stars a number of the show's favorite villains.  The characters really shine in this episode.  BTW, how did the Amoeba Boys manage to get themselves arrested?!  Wow, I'm impressed.  Also, what's Craig's fascination with prison toilets?

Too Pooped to Puff

The citizens of Townsville have become way too dependent on the PPG's help.  The girls are reduced to performing mundane tasks for the entire town, including the Professor!  The girls decide to let the citizens solve their latest monster attack themselves.

We get to see just how stupid the citizens of Townsville are.  I say we put them all in a bathtub and toss in a toaster!

Beat Your Greens

It becomes clear early on in the story that this is going to be one of those try-to-trick-the-kids-into-doing-something-their-parents-want-them-to-do episodes.  I wanted so badly to hate this episode.  But I have to admit, the writers got the message across in a way that didn't completely insult the intelligence of the viewer.  In fact, they even point out the fact that this is just an elaborate trick to get kids to eat their broccoli.

The manner in which the villains were defeated is consistent with the plot.  So yes, while this was just a ploy to get kids to eat their veggies, the story did not suffer because of it.

Down N' Dirty

Instead of eating broccoli, now the writers try to get kids to take a bath.  Buttercup fits the profile perfectly.  Her disregard for personal hygiene isolates her from her family, friends, and the entire city of Townsville.  Even through it all, it's only when she loses what she holds most dear, fighting monsters, does she decide to change her ways.  Again, the writers are able to convey a "message" without sacrificing the plot.

Dream Scheme

The writers get experimental by setting this episode inside of a surreal dream sequence.  The script is written with all of the lines rhyming.  It's a clever idea, but the story just falls flat.

For the third time this season, we see the villain defeated through cruelty.  The girls torture the Sandman by entering his dream (ala Freddy Kruger) and terrorize him with nightmares until he wakes up and goes back to work.  Geez!  Even I was feeling sorry for this guy.  All he wanted was a little sleep!

You Snooze, You Lose

Mojo creates his "best plan to destroy the PowerPuff Girls ever!"  All he needs is a goodnight sleep and he can unleash his ultimate plan in the morning.  However, a gust of wind scoops up Mojo's plans and drops them into the hands of the Amoeba Boys.  The boys don't have the brain power to carry out Mojo's complex designs, but luckily for them they get some help...from the PowerPuff Girls!  The girls think the plans are for some kind of elaborate amusement park ride.  They help the Amoeba Boys construct the very device Mojo created to destroy them.

This episode cracked me up!   There were so many great scenes.  Here is a sample:

• The beginning sequence with Mojo's picture over his bed.
• Narrator: They [Amoeba Boys] couldn't commit a crime even if it smacked them in the face.
• Leader of Amoeba Boys (reading): "Mojo Jojo's Best Plan To Destroy The PowerPuff Girls Ever."  Little Amoeba Boy: What is it boss?  Leader: I have no idea.
• Voodoo Blossom doll.
• Anubis dog head.
• The part with that little guy from the Amoeba Boys regurgitating all those items.
• Fat woman in bathtub.
• Mojo: I know who took my plans!  It was you!
• Mojo: Okay, okay!  Just don't bother me again.  I'm trying to find my plans on how to destroy you!

The viewer's excitement increases as the "mystery" device is built piece by piece.  The writers don't let us down.  In the end, we actually get to see the finished product in action.  I won't give away the ending, but the part with Mojo talking himself into trouble was priceless!

Slave the Day

Here's another episode that been done many times on other sitcoms.  One character saves another character from certain doom.  The one who was saved feels indebted to the other character and tries constantly to show his/her thanks by "helping" the one who saved him/her.  Of course, all that person ends up really doing is making the other person's life miserable.  I gave credit for the entertaining ways Billy "helps" the girls, but the overall formula is just too darn predictable.

For a forth time this season, the girls exhibit a shocking lack of compassion.  Rather than "calling it even," the girls pound the heck out of Billy for saving their lives.  Huh?  What?

Los Dos Mojos

This is one of the best Mojo episodes ever.  The scenes with Bubbles acting like Mojo are hilarious.  The conflict Blossom and Buttercup have over hurting Bubbles is entertaining and adds realism to the plot.  Most of all, we get the funniest example of Mojo's repetitiveness during his seemingly never-ending speech on how he isn't repetitive.

A Very Special Blossom

This is hands down one of my all time favorite episodes.  One of the problems with many shows is the lack of shortcomings in the protagonists' characters.  The heroes are supposed to be perfect—without any faults that would detract from their status as the "good guys."  This makes for very boring characters!

In this episode, there's plenty of shortcomings to go around.  The Professor totally blows off Bubbles and Buttercup when he gets the Pro Excellence 2000 golf clubs.  The motivation of Bubbles and Buttercup to find out how Blossom got the golf clubs is borne out of their jealousy of Blossom's gift.  And of course, Blossom's lies keep snowballing until she is caught.  Even then, she tries to shift the blame away from herself.

There were so many memorable scenes.  The Professor acting like a total weenie on the phone after he was arrested.  Blossom trying to escape her sisters when she's caught.  And let's not forget the Mayor!  The part when the girls ask him for $2000 for their services has to be one of the funniest scenes he's ever been in.  "I'm no sugar daddy.  Those days are over."  Hahahahaha!

While Blossom's kidnapping of Mojo is a cruel act, I'll let it slide since it was portrayed as improper.  However, it would have been more consistent with the story to include it as one of the criminal charges against her.

Mmmmmm...liver and onions!

Daylight Savings

The girls aren't getting enough sleep due to their late night crime-fighting and it's hurting their school work.  Teachers always expect school work to take priority over a child's extracurricular activities no matter how important those activities may be.  Ms. Keene is no exception.  As usual, the Professor takes Ms. Keene's suggestion as "law" and imposes a strict (and I do mean strict) curfew.

There are so many funny lines and gags throughout the story:

• The Professor's reaction when he gets the note to the parent-teacher conference.
• The weeping parents that leave Ms. Keene's office.
• The scribbling of the pencil and the uneasy silence while the Professor waits.
• The city bursting into flames through the window after the Professor declares it "just fine."
• The Professor when he demands, "Hop aboard the dreamland express!"
• The newspaper declaring "Townsville Doomed."
• The Professor waking up the girls and tossing them out the window.
• And more...

Definitely one of the best episodes ever.

Mo Job

This has got to be the worst PPGs episode of them all.  The animation is sub par, the story is pure crap, and the ending is as predictable as they get.

Here's just a sample of the problems with this episode:

• A laser that gives you the same powers as the PPGs?  Why the heck didn't Mojo use it on himself?!
• Why is Princess more powerful than all the three girls combined?
• What the heck was with the fire, thunder, and lightning nonsense?
• Blossom can shoot lightning from her hand?!  Since when?
• Why didn't Bubbles just use her sonic scream instead of creating "thunder"?  Wait a minute...she can shoot thunder?  What?!!!
• If Princess was so darn powerful, why couldn't she outrun the laser too?

Okay, the "private" conversation between Mojo and Princess was funny and the title is...ahem...great.  But that's it.  One star...and I'm being generous.

Pet Feud

The plot of this story is a combination of the ST:TOS "Tribbles" episode and the "Gremlins" movie.  The Professor creates the "perfect" pet: the Biogenetically Engineered Experimental Bipedal Organism or B.E.E.B.O. for short.  The pet is maintenance free except for one glaring caveat: you must only feed him once.  Of course, the girls screw this up, the B.E.E.B.O. grows into a monster, yada, yada, yada.

A very entertaining and fun story.  Some of my favorite parts:

• The game of hide and seek with B.E.E.B.O.
• Bubbles: What hole?
• B.E.E.B.O. eating the Mayor, Ms. Bellum, Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles.  The scene when he devoured Bubbles was priceless!
• Narrator: I hope everything comes out good in the end.
• The Mayor's inability to understand a simple instruction.

Not really a complaint, but what the heck are "Ultra-super-negotiating powers" anyway?

I liked the fact that the Professor had an explanation why the B.E.E.B.O. went wild eating everything in sight.  He also chimes in on the end to explain why the B.E.E.B.O. exploded due to his "failsafe" mechanism.  Very nice writing!

Here's a cool little tidbit a diligent reader sent in: The name "Beebo" is the title of a song by the band "Optiganally Yours."  It's one of Craig McCracken's favorites.  In fact, another song by that band appears on the "Heroes and Villains" CD.  Now, where the band came up with that title is still a mystery.  There was a book written a long time ago with a character named Beebo in it.  But I seriously doubt this was a reference to that book.  Still, you never know.

Imaginary Fiend

The PowerPuff Girls show off another of their newfound "Freddy Kruger-like" abilities in this episode.  The school is terrorized by Patches, a child's "real" imaginary friend.  The girls counter by creating an imaginary friend of their own to do battle with the phantom villain.  Their creation is a butch female bunny named...well, "Bunny."  Okay, I guess the girls aren't very imaginative when it comes to picking names.  Now that I think about it, what about the main character?  "Mike Believe?"  You got to be kidding.

Some highlights:

• Blossom: You're getting a nose job?  Bubbles: You're getting married?  Buttercup: You're getting fired?
• Bubbles arguing with herself.
• Koos from Dexter's Lab.

Not a terrible episode, just not very good.  I won't comment on the Bunny character any more than what was alluded to in the RowdyRuff.net FAQ.  Poor misguided Bubbles; she'll never find a date for Bunny.  BTW, look for a South Park reference when Blossom crashes into the pile of coats.

Cootie Gras

It's springtime in Townsville and love is in the air.  We meet the resident "filthy kid" at Pokey Oaks: Harry Pitt.  This young fellow is just hankering for a kiss.  Alas, Harry's desire to smooch is unrequited due to his unkempt appearance and tendency to slobber profusely.

The word around school is that Harry has cooties.  The PPGs are terrified of poor Harry and try to avoid him at all costs.  Mojo discovers this and uses Harry as his ultimate defense against the girls.  With Harry by his side, Mojo becomes the most powerful crime figure in all of Townsville.

A great episode with tons of funny scenes:

	•	Cooties nightmare!
	•	References to the movie Scarface:

		—	Mojo: Have you said hello to my little friend?
		—	Mojo's Management.
		—	Giant painting of Mojo and Harry.

	•	References to the movie The Godfather:

		—	Mobster kissing Mojo's hand while the other closes the door.
		—	Mojo: I'm gonna make you an offer you canta refuse.

One minor complaint: when Mojo opened the trap door and the PPGs fell into the pit, did the girls forget they could fly?  BTW, why did the boys run away from Harry?  Did they think he was that desperate?

The PowerPuff Girls Best Rainy Day Adventure Ever

The writers hit a home run with this most unusual episode.  The PPGs pretending to be PPGs.  How clever!

No real plot or moral; just a sequence of events.  So many kids identified with this episode that it appears on most fan's top ten list.

Just Desserts

This is a sequel to "Supper Villain."  Harold Smith is released from jail and goes back to his, uh, adoring family.  During his absence, the rest of the Smith family has grown to hate the PPGs as well.  They all band together to destroy the girls for their own selfish and petty reasons.

The episode is a statement about the banality of suburban life.  This underlying message is integrated into the script extremely well by the writers.  The funniest line of the show had to be from Harold when he said, "We haven't kissed like that since 1980!"

This is a tough one for me to rate.  It's not quite a three star episode, but it seems unfair to give it only two and a half.  Maybe two and three-quarters?

Twisted Sister

The girls never get a break from saving the world.  They get the idea to create another PPG using the Professor's formula.  Alas, the girls deviate from the recipe and create a monstrosity!  They name her Bunny.  Bunny?!  Wasn't that the same name they gave to their imaginary friend?  Anyway, Bunny does more harm than help just like Billy in "Slave the Day."  The girls lightly criticize their new sister, which for some reason causes her to run away in tears.  Predictably, the girls get into trouble and Bunny saves them.  The girls feel sorry for being so mean to Bunny, but it's too late.  Bunny explodes due to her unstable makeup.

Some highlights:

• The girls "accidentally" adding the chemical x.
• We see a cameo of the three criminals from "PowerPuff Bluff."
• I would guess the title of the Professors book on how he made the PPGs, "How I did it," was inspired by the movie Young Frankenstein.

I liked the "dark" ending and the obvious parallels with the story of Frankenstein; but I found the plot too predictable.

Cover Up

The plot of this episode is nothing groundbreaking.  A character believes her lucky charm is responsible for her success.  The character eventually loses the charm and her confidence in herself soon follows.  After a dramatic event, the character proves to herself that her charm had nothing to do with her abilities.  Many other books and television shows have used this concept.  However, the writers of this incarnation of the plot succeed in keeping the story fresh and interesting.

This is one of the most definitive Buttercup episodes ever.  I used this episode as a basis for much of Buttercup's personality in my FanFic Writing Guide.  Buttercup's tough exterior is a shield for her internal insecurities and self doubts.

Speed Demon

Wow!  What a dark and foreboding episode!  This has got to be best episode with HIM in it ever!  The girls accidentally travel 50 years into the future and find that HIM has taken over in their absence.

The reason I gave The RowdyRuff Boys episode five stars was because of the impact it had on the viewers.  The episode by itself was certainly worthy of four stars.  However, the story was so much more than the sum of its parts.  The theme, plot, and characters of that episode have had a lasting effect on the entire fan community.  If there was another episode that deserved "extra credit," it's this one.  The work done by the writers and animators on this episode was groundbreaking.  The plot caught me completely off guard with its incredibly dark and serious tone.  The feelings of hopelessness and despair felt by the girls and surviving citizens of Townsville permeated every scene.  I was going to give this episode an extra half a star, but I held back.  I don't want to keep breaking the boundaries I set forth when I started the rating process.  Instead, I'll use my words to covey how special this episode is to me.

So many great scenes I can't list them all.  Here is but a taste:

• Ms. Keene's lesson on quantum physics.
• Bubbles (impression of the Mayor): Get over here right away.  I seem to have accidentally flushed myself down the toilet!
• The time travel CGI sequence!  WOW!
• Ms. Bellum: Keep away!  He's mine!  Don't come any closer!  He's mine!  Mine!  Mine!  Mine I tell you!

My only major complaint is that there is no clear explanation on how the girls get back to their own time.  I assume it was because they traveled back along the same exact path they used to travel into the future.  Also, there are a few continuity errors to note:

• The PPGs appear to be able to exist in outer space without the need of a space suit.
• The Professor doesn't remember the formula to make the PPGs and wishes he had written it down.  However, he did write it down as shown in "Twisted Sister."  Even still, he remembered everything perfectly when he gave the secret formula to Mojo in "The RowdyRuff Boys" episode.

I hate pointing out continuity errors.  It makes me look like one of those geeks in that infamous skit with William Shatner on Saturday Night Live.  "Get a life!"  (*sob*)

Mojo Jonesin'

Now this kills me.  The one time I would have openly welcomed the girls beating the villains to a pulp regardless of the acts of repentance by the "bad guys" is in this episode.  A bunch of loser kids get a dose of chemical x from Mojo in disguise.  They temporarily get all the same powers as the PPGs.  However, they become "hooked" on the stuff and set out to destroy the girls in order to get more of it.  Yep, it's an anti-drug message "hidden" in this wonderfully crafted script...NOT!

These pinheads almost succeed in destroying the PPGs.  When they realize what they did was wrong (oooh, what a freakin' revelation that is), they help the girls recover to stop Mojo.  The kids are absolved of any wrongdoing at the end of the story.  The explanation given?  Mojo put some bad stuff in the chemical x to make them evil.  SAY WHAT?!!!  Where's the brutal beating like in "Mime for a Change" and "Slave the Day?"  Those had the be the most annoying good-for-nothing group of wasteoids that ever walked the planet!  And what kind of anti-drug message is this?!  "Don't worry kids, taking those drugs from that stranger wasn't your fault.  The drug dealer put something 'funny' in that PCP he sold you.  That's what made you slaughter all those people in the 7-11."  Give me a break!

Okay, there was one, and I do mean one, funny part when Mojo likens the kids to those other losers from "Captain Planet."  Remember that show?  No?  Good, be thankful you don't.

Something's a Ms.

Sedusa has kidnapped Ms. Bellum and stolen her identity.  A number of unexplained robberies leave the police baffled.  The PPGs are able to figure it all out and confront Sedusa.  The twist to this episode is that it's Ms. Bellum that thwarts Sedusa instead of the girls.

I liked the fact that the girls were able to figure out Sedusa's plot and were smart enough to keep it a secret until the time was right.  Many of the earlier plots have the girls stumped until the "mysterious" villain reveals his/herself.

The Mayor is as comical as ever.  The opening bit with him trying to play the CD on an old record player was hilarious (even though it was probably lifted from "Austin Powers").

The Mayor was chock full of great lines in this episode:

• "Back for seconds?"
• "You can take off the whole week."
• "I have accomplished more than most men without the use of a brain."
• "Strong men also cry."
• "That woman is so fired."

Slumbering with the Enemy

The PPGs are planning a slumber party.  However, one guest is uninvited: Mojo Jojo!  Mojo disguises himself as "Mojicia."  The PPGs recognize him immediately, but Mojo convinces everyone he's really a little girl who just wants to have fun.  Mojo sneaks into the Professor's lab and steals some antidote x.  Antidote x?!!  Huh?!  What the heck is antidote x?!  Anyway, Mojo douses the girls with the stuff and it makes them weak as kittens.  He proclaims the PPGs are now useless because they have become "normal little girls."  The rest of the slumber party participants respond by subduing Mojo with pillows.  Pillows?!!  Say what?!

This episode was just an excuse to reassure little girls that they have worth even if they don't have super powers.  I guess the soccer-moms of the world were getting worried that their little darling's self-esteem might slip if they look up to the PPGs as role-models.  Like Barbie, the PPGs portray an image that's unattainable.  I don't want to beat up on the writers too much for this kind of occasional neo-feminist clap-trap.  They have been extremely restrained from caving in to the radicals who will inevitably use this show as a pawn for their own particular agenda.  But let's not dwell on this nasty subject any longer, okay?

Methinks some of the writers slipped in pictures of themselves in the copy of the girls' "Dreamboat" magazine.  In fact, I believe that's none other than Craig himself as the one with the dark rings under his eyes.  Cute.  BTW, how did the girls recover from the antidote x?  Also, why does Mojo always seem to have tons of chemical x at his disposal but never any antidote x?  Ugh.  I hate loose ends!