Line #19 Series/Hounded


1	[[quoteright:323:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hounded.JPG]]
2
3	''Hounded'' is a BBC children's sitcom that premiered on {{Creator/CBBC}} on 11th June 2010 and ran for one series.
4
5	It centres around hapless presenter [[AsHimself Rufus Hound]], who is on his way to present a new cooking show, only to be transported into an AlternateUniverse by his Future Self. There, the evil Dr Muhahahaha, the ruler of that particular realm, is hatching a plan to rule the Earth.
6
7	Dr Muhahahaha also has a literal ResetButton, and so the series takes place in an endless GroundhogDayLoop. OnceAnEpisode, Rufus wakes up, [[ExpositoryThemeTune explains his predicament to the audience]], gets transported to the AlternateUniverse, uncovers Dr Muhahahaha's scheme and foils it, only for Dr Muhahahaha to hit the button and send Rufus back to the start of the day again.
8
9	----
10	!!This series provides examples of:
11
12	* AlternateUniverse: Rufus gets unwittingly transported to a different universe, no thanks to his meddling future self.
13	* BaitAndSwitchCredits: A minor example. When Future Rufus is shown in the intro, he has the number "3" written on his forehead, making it seem like it's a permanent physical feature of his. In fact, he only has it in the pilot episode, where ItMakesSenseInContext. In every other episode, his forehead is blank.
14	* BigNo: Rufus lets one out OnceAnEpisode, just as Dr. Mu (or occasionally Steve) presses the ResetButton.
15	* BigRedButton: Dr. Mu's ResetButton takes the form of one.
16	* BrownNote: The pilot episode features a darkly hilarious one in the form of [[JustForFun/{{Rickroll}} "Never Gonna Give You Up"]] being played at deafening volume until the poor person's head explodes.
17	* CouchGag: During Rufus' {{Introdump}} at the start of each episode, he passes a billboard that's different each time, and usually gives a hint as to what Dr. Mu's latest evil scheme is.
18	* DeadpanSnarker: Dr Mu's assistant Steve, who is extremely critical toward her master for always failing to achieve his plans despite having absolute power over time itself and therefore having God knows how much time to do so.
19	* EvilPlan: Dr. Mu has [[OncePerEpisode a different one every episode]], ranging from stealing intergalactic wool to creating an EvilTwin of Rufus.
20	* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: A mutual example. Dr Mu invariably fails in his plans to TakeOverTheWorld, and Rufus invariably fails in any attempt he makes to stop Dr Mu from hitting the ResetButton.
21	* FantasticVoyagePlot: In episode 8 (Queen Mu), Dr Mu has shrunk himself down to the size of a single bacteria, transported himself into her brain and is now controlling her! Rufus, who has sneaked on board Mu Force One and overheard the doctor's scheme, decides to go after him. Inside the Queen's stomach he teams up with a pair of Royal brain-cells who have been evicted from the Royal brain by Dr Mu. Together they set off on an incredible journey around the Queen's body. But when the Queen's yappy little dog arrives in the Palace, things don't go quite according to plan...
22	* GenderBlenderName: Dr Mu's assistant Steve, who is a woman.
23	* GroundhogDayLoop: Dr. Mu has himself and Rufus trapped in one, courtesy of his ResetButton. Every episode therefore takes place on the same day.
24	* HelpYourselfInTheFuture:
25	** Rufus's Future self always gives Rufus [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest a supposedly useless item]] that, in the end, helps him to defeat whatever crazy plan that Dr Mu was carrying out.
26	** Done more obliquely in the pilot episode, where Future Rufus inexplicably has the number 3 written on his forehead. At the episode's climax, Rufus is forced into a sadistic version of ''Series/DealOrNoDeal'' in which one of the numbered boxes will win the game when opened, and the rest will horribly kill whoever opens them. After Rufus makes several wrong guesses, Future Rufus arrives, very annoyed that Rufus missed the ''very obvious hint'' about which box to open...
27	* HereWeGoAgain: Each episode ends by repeating the opening shot of Rufus waking up, ready to go through the GroundhogDayLoop all over again and hoping that ''this'' time, he can defeat Dr. Mu for good and break out of the loop.
28	* HopeSpot: On at least one occasion, Rufus actually manages to dismantle Dr. Mu's ResetButton, complete with triumphant score. Steve simply snatches it back out of his hands, puts it back, and presses it.
29	* {{Introdump}}: Each episode opens with Rufus walking to his new job while [[BreakingTheFourthWall explaining the show's premise to the audience]] and introducing the various characters, including Dr Mu, Steve, and his future self. [[{{Padding}} It takes him about two minutes]].
30	* ItOnlyWorksOnce: Averted with Dr. Mu's ResetButton, which [[StatusQuoIsGod Rufus is helpless to stop him from pressing]], but played straight with his actual villainous schemes; he tries a completely different one each episode, forcing Rufus to figure out what he's up to all over again and then figure out a new way to stop him.
31	* ItsPronouncedTroPay: OncePerEpisode, during his introductory exposition, Rufus refers to Dr Mu as "Dr Moo-ha-ha", at which point Dr Mu chimes in with "It's pronounced... [''[[EvilLaugh evil laugh]]'']".
32	* ResetButton: Dr Muhahahaha has a literal one, which he inevitably presses at the end of each episode to send Rufus back to the beginning of the GroundhogDayLoop. On a few occasions, Rufus actively tries to stop this from happening, to no avail; more often than not, though, he only has enough time for an OhCrap look and a BigNo before it gets pressed.
33	* ResetButtonEnding: As noted above, ''every episode'' ends this way, courtesy of Dr. Mu and his literal ResetButton.
34	* RewindGag: At the end of every episode, once the ResetButton is pressed, the episode rewinds itself all the way back to the beginning, with Rufus waking up to start the GroundhogDayLoop all over again.
35	* ShoutOut: Several of Dr Mu's plans involve one.
36	** The pilot episode, as mentioned elsewhere on this page, includes a DeadlyGame version of ''Series/DealOrNoDeal''.
37	** Another episode has Dr Mu selling an entertainment device called the Mu-Box, an obvious parody of the Platform/{{Xbox}}, right down to its ads featuring a seductive female voice whispering "Mu-Box".
38	* TakeOverTheWorld: Dr Mu's goal. He's actually succeeded on countless other planets, but the constant meddling of Rufus and his future self is enough to prevent him from doing the same to Earth.
39	* VerbedTitle: Overlaps with PunBasedTitle, as it's a play on Rufus Hound's surname.
40	* YourHeadAsplode: In the pilot episode, one of the deadly ''Series/DealOrNoDeal'' boxes causes this by way of ''[[JustForFun/{{Rickroll}} Rick Astley]]'' of all things.

Context Series / Hounded