History NightmareFuel / Cyberchase

* The Thanksgiving special, "A Tikiville Turkey Day" arguably shows The Hacker at his worst. We see him steal the Egg of Benedicta, and destroy its nest and canopy. The egg was considered the source of everything lush and green in Tikiville, and we watch all of the plant life on the site start to wither and die. He was willing to kill everything on this site because he saw his skin was growing pale, and he needed some "source of green" to restore his usual skin color.

* "A Whale of a Tale" is chock-full of these moments.

* Darkspot, the toy frog in "Trick or Treat", also counts. Especially when the group are crawling around looking for it and it appears above their heads bearing a SlasherSmile. Applies in-universe when the Earthlies [[TraumaButtonEnding run from a kid in a frog costume]]. This suggests that they might be developing trauma from their adventures in Cyberspace, which is scary in its own right.

* "Harriet Hippo & the Mean Green":

* The way Hacker backstabbed Coop, damaging his hard drive with magnetite, in the ""[[Recap/CyberchaseS4E5MeasureForMeasure Measure for Measure]]" flashback. Coop [[DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou had to flee to prevent Hacker from going after Slider]]. This fear still [[FaceYourFears comes true]] the moment the [=CyberSquad=] finds Coop, with Hacker exposing his son to magnetite and [[IHaveYourWife kidnapping him]].

** When Coop discovers the cure for magnetite poisoning, one of the ingredients is magnetite. As a borg, he cannot work with magnetite, as it will damage him. Even if there had been other borgs on the cybersite that he was hiding on, they would have been unable to mix the cure for the same reason. He also seemed to have no way to call for help or leave his hideaway. Coop has no way forward at this point, and he remains in his hide-away, separated from his son, for an unknown period of time. It's not clear whether he just gave up on ever recovering or seeing his soon again at this point. Meanwhile, Slider just woke up one morning with his dad gone, and no hints as to what happened. In the end, Slider and Coop needed a whole series of events, some of them very unlikely to happen, in order for Coop to be saved and the both of them reunited.

* The way Hacker backstabbed Coop, damaging his hard drive with magnetite, in the "Measure For Measure" flashback. Coop [[DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou had to flee to prevent Hacker from going after Slider]]. This fear still [[FaceYourFears comes true]] the moment the [=CyberSquad=] finds Coop, with Hacker exposing his son to magnetite and [[IHaveYourWife kidnapping him]].

--->'''Digit:''' A pile of pumice? What's pumice?
--->'''Matt:''' A type of rock. I wouldn't want to be a Poddle.
** Matt does not elaborate further, and for good reason. Pumice is a type of volcanic rock that is highly porous, or full of holes.
*** Hacker, the goofy LargeHam villain of this children's educational show, just [[OmnicidalManiac threatened to fill all of the Poddles]] with holes.
*** His key wasn't actually stolen either. The whole thing was a set-up to draw attention away from the statue that he was secretly using to [[TrojanHorse siphon away all of their site's energy.]]

** "Hackerboard" abruptly shows up again for a scene in "The Flying Parallinis", reminding the viewer that he still has the means to [[TheBadGuyWins win]].

* The shocking end to "The Snelfu Snafu: Part 1", when Hacker's AI is revealed. Not only is he animated in a similar way to Motherboard, he also was able to successfully take over all of Cyberspace by infecting Motherboard via a fake encryptor chip he [[BatmanGambit duped the kids into acquiring.]] This coupled with the fact that he seemingly erased Motherboard in the {{Cliffhanger}} at the end of Part 1 made it upsetting to many young kids. Luckily, Motherboard is restored in Part 2 and most is resolved. Still, as Wicked said (in the quote above under the photo), for many fans of the show, the worst nightmare had seemingly come true.

** "The Snelfu Snafu: Part 2" gives Hacker two more counts of attempted {{matricide}} that were very nearly successful. While Motherboard is trapped on the Encryptor Chip, he throws it into a black hole (which somehow spits it back out because he hasn't paid the fine), and later into a volcano. Seriously, if it weren't for Digit, Motherboard would've been gone forever!

** "The Snelfu Snafu: Part 2" gives Hacker two more counts of attempted {{matricide}} that were very nearly successful. While Motherboard is trapped on the Encryptor Chip, he throws it into a black hole (which somehow spits it back out because he hasn't paid the fine), and later into a volcano.

* Motherboard's appearance has unsettled some viewers due to falling into UncannyValley by having two entirely different shaped eyes. Her tendency to [[OminousVisualGlitch glitch out]] makes it worse.

* The shocking end to "The Snelfu Snafu: Part 1", when Hacker's AI is revealed. Not only is he animated in a similar way to Motherboard, thereby falling into UncannyValley, he also was able to successfully take over all of Cyberspace by infecting Motherboard via a fake encryptor chip he [[BatmanGambit duped the kids into acquiring.]] This coupled with the fact that he seemingly erased Motherboard in the {{Cliffhanger}} at the end of Part 1 made it upsetting to many young kids. Luckily, Motherboard is restored in Part 2 and most is resolved. Still, as Wicked said (in the quote above under the photo), for many fans of the show, the worst nightmare had seemingly come true.

* In the climax of "Shari Spotter and the Cosmic Crumpets", Hacker [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever turning giant]] is a minor concern. He has untold magical powers that he can use just by speaking. He was ''one syllable away'' from casting a spell to make the [=CyberSquad=] [[DeadlyEuphemism disappear]]. The show doesn't have detailed enough magic rules to clarify whether it would've worked if he hadn't been stopped just in time…

* Motherboard first turning delirious in "Cool It". Her image starts stretching in a pulsing manner, and her round eye suddenly lurches towards the camera. We then get a lovely perspective shot showing her field of vision squashing, stretching, and distorting. Instead of animating the background, there is only a black void with perspective lines tunneling behind Digit, making it look like space itself is warping around him. Gets less frightening once Motherboard [[DrunkenSong starts singing "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain"]].
* "Fortress of Attitude" has several scenes where the [=CyberSquad=] will be crushed or fried by lasers if they make a wrong move. The scene where TheWallsAreClosingIn is the most nerve-wracking. The impending threat is animated too quickly (as they so often are in the traditionally animated seasons), making it look like the kids and Digit are out of time to escape.
* In "Hugs & Witches", Buzz and Delete are sent to the beginning of time and forced to take the TheSlowPath while [[{{Claustrophobia}} locked in a time machine they can't operate]]. The episode last shows them crying for their boss's help while being shaken up by a dinosaur.

** The Spell of the Mean Green puts Motherboard clearly out of her mind. She spins around randomly, babbling nonsense as she corrupts each cybersite with a HatePlague. Her face also appears to be floating in front of her head. Looking closely at other episodes makes it clear that's just how she's modeled, which is either a great relief, or just makes Motherboard's appearance that much freakier.

** [[AmusementPark R-Fair City]] feels like a CircusOfFear once Spout is reprogrammed into a rampaging KillerRobot. Its [[AlienSky dark red sky]] does nothing to help.
** Matt risks his life jumping a gap without being able to see the other side. He thinks he knows how far it is, but Inez doesn't think that distance makes sense. The way she tries to reason with him, but can't pierce his rash nature and turns to AngerBornOfWorry, is prime ParanoiaFuel because [[RealismInducedHorror real children might make decisions like Matt's]].
** Spout can only be stopped from the inside, so the characters have to enter his head chamber, with a strange, dingy color palette, while he's completely uncontrollable. It helps a bit that Inez and Matt find it [[CreepyAwesome cool]].
** Glowla and the [=CyberSquad=] must stop Spout before he reaches the Aqua Power Plant. What happens if they fail?

* Darkspot, the toy frog in "Trick or Treat", also counts. Especially when the group are crawling around looking for it and it appears above their heads bearing a SlasherSmile. Applies in-universe, too, since the Earthlies run away from a kid in a frog costume once back home.

** Buzz's jealousy of Gigabyte is disconcerting. He is [[DesecratingTheDead rough with Gigabyte's lifeless body, breaking it throughout the episode and launching it off the top of the pyramid at the end]]. Buzz [[DisproportionateRetribution doesn't want Gigabyte to get between his friendship with Delete]], but why is Delete eager for Gigabyte's re-energization? Because the first time Gigabyte was brought to life, he ended up with Delete's brain and would thus understand the way Delete thinks. Because it's directly stated like this, Buzz's behavior might come off as particularly violent to neurodivergent viewers.

* The shocking end to "The Snelfu Snafu: Part 1", when Hacker's AI is revealed. Not only is he animated in a similar way to Motherboard, thereby falling into UncannyValley, [[spoiler:he also was able to successfully take over all of Cyberspace by infecting Motherboard via a fake encryptor chip he [[BatmanGambit duped the kids into acquiring.]] This coupled with the fact that he seemingly erased Motherboard in the {{Cliffhanger}} at the end of Part 1 made it upsetting to many young kids. Luckily, Motherboard is restored in Part 2 and most is resolved.]] Still, as Wicked said (in the quote above under the photo), for many fans of the show, the worst nightmare had seemingly come true.

'''Inez:''' ''Hacker's [[spoiler: destroyed Motherboard!!]]'''''\\
'''Matt:''' ''[[spoiler: He's in total control!!!]]'''''\\

** For the rest of the [[MultiPartEpisode two-parter]], [[spoiler:the [=CyberSquad=] must navigate a Cyberspace that is visibly ruled by the Hacker. He's terraformed and desecrated plenty of cybersites in the short time he's been in charge. Who's to say how else he could've abused his power?]]
** "The Snelfu Snafu: Part 2" gives Hacker two more counts of attempted {{matricide}} that were very nearly successful. [[spoiler:While Motherboard is trapped on the Encryptor Chip, he throws it into a black hole (which somehow spits it back out because he hasn't paid the fine), and later into a volcano.]]

* Forget that Hacker's [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever turned giant]] in the climax of "Shari Spotter and the Cosmic Crumpets"; that's the least of the concerns. He has untold magical powers that he can use just by speaking. He was ''one syllable away'' from casting a spell to make the [=CyberSquad=] [[DeadlyEuphemism disappear]]. The show doesn't have detailed enough rules for magic to give away whether it would've worked if he hadn't been stopped just in time. Given the scene's tension, however, one can assume so.
* The way Hacker backstabbed Coop, damaging his hard drive with magnetite, in the "Measure For Measure" flashback. Coop [[DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou had to flee to prevent Hacker from going after Slider]]. This fear still [[FaceYourFears come true]] the moment the [=CyberSquad=] finds Coop, with Hacker exposing his son to magnetite and [[IHaveYourWife kidnapping him]].
* Motherboard gradually losing her memory [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin in "The Case of the Missing Memory"]]. Control Central, which for all purposes is her physical body, then starts deteriorating and falling apart. The situation is [[RealismInducedHorror a bit close to reality]] whether interpreted as human or computer memory. Just to add more stress to the episode, Hacker is on the sidelines so the heroes don't even know [[FairPlayWhodunnit who done it]].

* In "Crystal Clear", Hacker pettily steals the Synchronizer Crystal. Said crystal is the only known way for cyborgs to reactivate their synchrometers (as they must do every so often). Then Buzz and Delete [[TooDumbToLive smash it up and sell the pieces]]. It's difficult to laugh at this until the heroes discover they can just grow an identical crystal.
* The last episode before the switch to rigged animation, "A Fraction of a Chance" goes out with a bang. Wicked breaks the portal system while the Earthlies are inside. They're trapped in the vortex and doomed to [[FadingAway slowly dematerialize]]. While Digit is forced to work with an obviously two-timing Wicked and SolveTheSoupCans to save his friends, the dematerialization process slowly cuts off their contact with him.
* In "Digit's B-Day Surprise", Hacker is this close to [[IJustWantToBeNormal destroying Digit's self-esteem]] and getting his signed permission to reprogram him. Had Hacker only gotten the signature in private, Digit's loved ones would never have known what happened until it was too late.

* "Watts of Halloween Trouble" is something of a foil to "A Fraction of a Chance". Hacker freezes the portal system, intending to lock the Earthlies out of Cyberspace but accidentally trapping them inside. They discuss the prospect of [[YouCantGoHomeAgain never returning home]], and Digit fails to offer any comfort. If Buzz and Delete had made off with the Portal Rebooter, the [=CyberSquad=] could have been marooned on R-Fair City. Hacker tracking them down would be a matter of time. At least if the kids were stuck in the real world like Hacker wanted, Digit could fly anywhere in Cyberspace to find a solution without risking abandoning his friends in the process.

One would think this would be out of place in a kids' math edutainment show, but things can get dark in Cyberspace... [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screen_shot_2021_12_27_at_92941_pm_5.png]]

* Ledge "Hackerizing" a majority of the cast with Inez being the only hold out. This includes ''Matt and Jackie'' who aren't even native to Cyberspace. Inez missed being Hackerized too by ''luck'' alone...
* Motherboard's appearance is this for some due to falling into UncannyValley by having two entirely different shaped eyes.
* The Frog in Trick or Treat also counts. Especially when the group are crawling around looking for it and it appears above their heads bearing a SlasherSmile.
* The shocking end to part 1 of the Snelfu Snafu, when Hacker's AI is revealed. Not only is he animated in a similar way to Motherboard, thereby falling into UncannyValley, [[spoiler:he also was able to successfully take over all of Cyberspace by infecting Motherboard via a fake encryptor chip he [[BatmanGambit duped the kids into acquiring.]] This coupled with the fact that he seemingly erased Motherboard in the {{Cliffhanger}} at the end of Part 1 made it upsetting to many young kids. Luckily, Motherboard is restored in Part 2 and most is resolved.]] Still, as Wicked said (in the quote above under the photo), for many fans of the show, the worst nightmare had seemingly come true.

* The Mean Green from "Harriett Hippo & The Mean Green" counts as this, with the [[ParodiedTrope (intentionally) ridiculously]] child-friendly titular hippo transformed into the also titular raving monster that chases down Matt and Digit to do god knows what to them.

* Hacker's AI in Snelfu Snafu, as not only is he animated in a similar way to Motherboard, thereby falling into UncannyValley, [[spoiler:he also was able to successfully take over all of Cyberspace by infecting Motherboard via a fake encryptor chip he [[BatmanGambit duped the kids into acquiring.]] This coupled with the fact that he seemingly erased Motherboard in the {{Cliffhanger}} at the end of Part 1 made it upsetting to many young kids. Luckily, Motherboard is restored in Part 2 and most is resolved.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:"Is this your worst nightmare come true or what?!" (Yes it is)]]

One would think this would be out of place in a kids' math edutainment show, but things can get dark in Cyberspace...

* Hacker's AI in Snelfu Snafu, as not only is he was animated in a similar way to Motherboard, thereby falling into UncannyValley, [[spoiler:he also was able to successfully take over all of Cyberspace by infecting Motherboard via a fake encryptor chip he [[BatmanGambit duped the kids into acquiring.]] This coupled with the fact that he seemingly erased Motherboard in the {{Cliffhanger}} at the end of Part 1 made it upsetting to many young kids. Luckily, Motherboard is restored in Part 2 and most is resolved.]]

** The Frog in Trick or Treat also counts. Especially when the group are crawling around looking for it and it appears above their heads bearing a SlasherSmile.

** Ledge "Hackerizing" a majority of the cast with Inez being the only hold out. This includes ''Matt and Jackie'' who aren't even native to Cyberspace. Inez missed being Hackerized too by ''luck'' alone...
** Motherboard's appearance is this for some due to falling into UncannyValley by having two entirely different shaped eyes.

** Hacker's AI in Snelfu Snafu, as not only is he was animated in a similar way to Motherboard, thereby falling into UncannyValley, [[spoiler:he also was able to successfully take over all of Cyberspace by infecting Motherboard via a fake encryptor chip he [[BatmanGambit duped the kids into acquiring.]] This coupled with the fact that he seemingly erased Motherboard in the {{Cliffhanger}} at the end of Part 1 made it upsetting to many young kids. Luckily, Motherboard is restored in Part 2 and most is resolved.]]
** The Mean Green from "Harriett Hippo & The Mean Green" counts as this, with the [[ParodiedTrope (intentionally) ridiculously]] child-friendly titular hippo transformed into the also titular raving monster that chases down Matt and Digit to do god knows what to them.

** Hacker's AI in Snelfu Snafu, as not only is he was animated in a similar way to Motherboard, thereby falling into UncannyValley, [[spoiler:he also was able to successfully take over all of Cyberspace by infecting Motherboard via a fake encryptor chip he [[BatmanGambit duped the kids into acquiring.]] This coupled with the fact that he seemingly erased Motherboard in the {{Cliffhanger}} at the end of Part 1 made it upsetting to many young kids. Luckily, Motherboard is restored in Part 2 and most is resolved.]]

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