Another matchup idea I would love to see: Oddly enough, after thinking it over, I would peg Doofenshmirtz to win hands-down. True, Drakken is a moderately more competent bad guy and more of a legitimate threat (as in, he's never been beaten by a potted plant), but Doof actually has quite a few advantages over … Continue reading Matchup: D vs. D
Phineas and Ferb
Thoughts on ‘Phineas and Ferb Star Wars’
Past Entries: -Star Wars -The Holiday Special -The Empire Strikes Back -Return of the Jedi -The Phantom Menace -Attack of the Clones -Revenge of the Sith -The Force Awakens -Rogue One -The Last Jedi -Solo I wanted to end this series on a high note, so, despite the fact that it’s explicitly not canon (the … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Phineas and Ferb Star Wars’
How to Write Stupid Characters
Writing my Flat and Complex Characters post, describing the flaws in how Launchpad is written, it struck me that a major problem with him and similar characters (again, Soos from Gravity Falls) is that their stupidity is done in a very lazy way: they simply say or do whatever is most inappropriate or most idiotic, … Continue reading How to Write Stupid Characters
Doofenshmirtz and Identity Politics
Phineas and Ferb is one of those shows that, though simple on the surface, lends itself to endless fascinating interpretations. Like so many great works of fiction, it tells the truth merely by trying to tell a good story. One of the chief themes of the show is the balance between childhood and maturity: Phineas … Continue reading Doofenshmirtz and Identity Politics
Why ‘Phineas and Ferb Star Wars’ is the Best Disney Star Wars
It is kind of a sad commentary on the state of the once-venerable franchise that the best and most satisfying work to come out of Star Wars’s move to Disney is a Phineas and Ferb special. Granted, Rogue One was pretty good, though it wasn’t well paced and the characters were mostly pretty bland. And … Continue reading Why ‘Phineas and Ferb Star Wars’ is the Best Disney Star Wars
Mission Marvel and Legit Heroes
On the subject of genuine heroics, allow me to present Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel, a crossover special where the Phineas and Ferb cast meet a bunch of Marvel characters. Now, this sounds like it wouldn’t work; goofy surreal kid’s show meets semi-serious comic book heroes. And it’s not perfect, or even one of the … Continue reading Mission Marvel and Legit Heroes
A Quick Word on the Beauty of ‘Phineas and Ferb’
I’m rewatching Phineas and Ferb again at the moment and just finished the episode Magic Carpet Ride. During the song sequence, it suddenly occurred to me that this really is a microcosm of just what makes this show so special. It’s that it manages to be both absurdist and sincere at the same time. It … Continue reading A Quick Word on the Beauty of ‘Phineas and Ferb’
Thoughts on ‘Gravity Falls’
Gravity Falls is one of those shows that I’d heard raved about from several different quarters as being a very smart, very funny, and very mature kids’ show with a lot of dark, creative imagery. So, when I had some extra time (read: was procrastinating again) I watched through it. My reactions were surprisingly pretty … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Gravity Falls’
New Years Specials
There aren't as many good New Year specials as there are Christmas specials, for obvious reasons: New Year just doesn't have the same depth or meaning as Christmas. Still, there've been a few, and two of them particularly come to mind. The first is Happy New Year from Phineas and Ferb: the first episode of the fourth … Continue reading New Years Specials
Various and Sundry Cartoon Thoughts
Most of my viewing habits lately have been directed towards cartoons. Maybe it's because I find the rest of the entertainment world increasingly hostile, or just because I enjoy the medium, but in any case I've been watching a lot of animated shows lately. Stories, I find, are like relationships: made up of thousands of … Continue reading Various and Sundry Cartoon Thoughts
Serpent's Den 