[[quoteright:634:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/danny_phantom_recap_5.jpg]]

-->'''''"The Freakiest Show On Earth!"'''''

'''Produced 2004, aired in U.S. on 6/17/05'''

'''Production order:''' 20 (1-20)

Just as a strange rash of ghost burglaries begins, Circus Gothica comes to town -- a dark, bizarre, creepy CircusOfFear led by a RepulsiveRingmaster named Freakshow. Sam couldn't be more thrilled (her parents, not so much) until she notices how weird her friend starts acting whenever he gets near the circus. By the time she learns all the performers are ghosts under Freakshow's MindControl, he's already recruited their newest member -- Danny Phantom.
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!!This episode provides examples of:

* ArcWords: Freakshow's fond of repeating "Cross over to the dark side" and "Unleash your dark side at Circus Gothica."
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Danny undergoes this obligatory superhero experience in this episode.
* CatchAFallingStar: Danny catches Sam [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries Superman-and-Lois style]] twice in this episode.
* CircusEpisode
* CircusOfFear: Circus Gothica is a cover to rob towns, and the ringmaster (appropriately named Freakshow) uses his staff to brainwash ghosts and force them to work for him. Not to mention what almost happened to Sam when she was forced onto the tightrope...
* CoolOldLady: Sam is shown to get along a lot better with her grandmother than with her [[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents Happy and Peppy Gary and Betty]]-esque parents.
* CorruptCop: At the jewelry store, a cop suggests he and his partner could "take this stuff and blame the ghost kid". The partner averts this by voicing the corrupt cop's arrest.
* EasyAmnesia: Danny says at the end that his time under Freakshow's control is "all a blur."
* EvilSoundsDeep: Danny's voice sounds just noticeably deeper when he's turned evil.
* FightingFromTheInside: Danny's clearly doing this at several points but is never able to resist the crystal ball's influence for long.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: During the climax, since Lydia stayed behind to attack the audience at the big top, she's not around when the crystal ball is broken and the ghosts are freed from Freakshow's mind control. [[spoiler:WesternAnimation/RealityTrip reveals this would have had [[NotBrainwashed no effect on her]].]]
** When Danny chases Freakshow's ghosts a second time, they all phase through a billboard of Freakshow holding up his crystal ball. This foreshadows that (sans [[NotBrainwashed Lydia]]) all of them are under Freakshow's control.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Sam tries to reach the brainwashed Danny several times.
* IWasQuiteALooker: Sam’s grandmother was a near spitting image of Sam when she was her age.
* LargeHam: Being a VillainousHarlequin, Freakshow is as hammy and theatrical as they come.
* MagicStaff: Freakshow controls ghosts with a staff topped with a magic, [[PowerGlows glowing]], [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver red]] CrystalBall.
* MindControlEyes: All the ghosts'[[note]]Except Lydia, who's NotBrainwashed[[/note]] eyes turn red when under the crystal ball's influence. Danny also gets [[CreepyShadowedUndereyes dark circles]] under his.
* NotAMorningPerson:
-->'''Sam:''' Ugh, I'm a creature of the night doomed to a family of morning people...
* ThePowerOfLove: Of course Danny's able to resist the mind control whenever Sam's in danger.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: The color scheme of Circus Gothica.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The eyes of all ghosts under Freakshow's control turn red.
* RightForTheWrongReasons: Sam's parents start a protest against Circus Gothica for “corrupting the minds and fragile psyches of their youth”. The place turns out to be even ''more'' sinister, but not at all in the way or for the reasons they believe.
-->'''Sam:''' How ironic is it that I'm stuck under house arrest while my parents go to a free Circus Gothica show?
-->'''Tucker:''' [[LampshadeHanging Only slightly less ironic than the fact that they were right about it being evil]]...?
* ShoutOut: Freakshow's design and make-up just scream [[Franchise/{{Batman}} "the Joker."]]
* StarCrossedLovers: Mild version clearly done with this trope in mind -- Sam's and Danny's parents don't get along, and Sam's forbid her from seeing Danny again, even getting a restraining order against him.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: Two cops have an amusing exchange after they catch Danny trying to stop a jewelry store robbery.
-->'''Cop #1:''' Hey, wanna take this stuff and blame the ghost kid?
-->'''Cop #2:''' ''(annoyed sigh)'' You're under arrest.