The Snowman Cometh
Original air date: 1/28/2000 (produced in 1999)
Production code: CCD-108a
Snowmen melt when it gets warm, so this week's monster, the last of a dying snowman species, seeks to bring lost back from the dead. However, the only way he can do this is to sack the anti-melting gene from a human being, and the Bagges have caught his attention while on a vacation in the arctic.
The Precious Wonderful Adorable Lovable Duckling
Original air date: 1/28/2000 (produced in 1999)
Production code: CCD-108b
A tiny duckling mistakes Eustace for its mother after he hatches it by accident, but there's more to this hatchling than meets the eye. It gets terrifyingly protective of its new mother and seeks to get rid of Muriel, and Courage once he gets in the way of its various attempts.
"The Snowman Cometh" features examples of the following tropes:
- Borrowed Catchphrase: The Snowman, after dropping Eustace's anti-melting gene, also drops his "Stupid dog!" catchphrase due to it being Courage's fault. Eustace excitedly lampshades this too, while stressing that Courage doesn't do anything right.
- Freeze Sneeze: The episode's opening shot is of an igloo which Eustace can be heard sneezing and snivelling from inside, establishing that he, Muriel, and Courage are in the Arctic and that he's very much not enjoying the cold.
"The Precious Wonderful Adorable Lovable Duckling" features examples of the following tropes:
- The Bad Guy Wins: To an extent. The Duckling fails to get rid of Courage and Muriel, but it does ultimately get what it wanted most: having Eustace, who's stuck on the moon as well, all to itself. The Duckling even lampshades this at the end.Duckling: This didn't work out so badly after all, did it?
- Bound and Gagged: The Duckling has Muriel strapped to a rocket like this.
- Ironic Episode Title: The Duckling only pretends to be lovable and adorable, but is actually sadistic and crazy.
- Irony: The fact that the Duckling loves Eustace, even though Eustace tried to eat his egg, and hates Courage, who wanted to nurture the egg.
- I Want My Mommy!: The Duckling cries for "MAMA!" (whom he thinks is Eustace) when he gets his wing stuck in the rocket he was trying to use to send Muriel to the moon. Eustace does try to come to the rescue (though likely only so he can keep his willing servant), but all he accomplishes is getting himself sent to the moon as well.
- Missing Mom: We never find out who the duck's real mother is.
- Never My Fault: Also doubles as Hypocritical Humor. Eustace complains to Courage "Stupid dog brought me a rotten egg!", when really he swiped it out of Courage's hands, while Courage tried nurturing the egg.
- Pet the Dog: Maybe. Eustace's fondness for the Duckling is probably just due to his enjoyment of being pampered by him and a mutual dislike of Courage, but he does go out of his way to rescue him when he's caught in the rocket and at one point calls him his "pal".
- Save the Villain: Even after all the trouble the Duckling's caused, Courage does try to help free him when his arm gets stuck in the latch of the rocket he intended to use to launch Muriel to the moon. Eustace then shoos away Courage and grabs the Duckling, only to be launched into space with the duck.
- Strapped to a Rocket: The Duckling straps Muriel to a rocket in his final attempt to kill her, but Courage frees her as the Duckling gets his wing caught in the latch.
- Title Drop: A few times, as Muriel takes to referring to the Ducking as a "precious, wonderful, adorable, lovable duckling". Yes, that means the whole title.
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: The Duckling pulls this on Courage to gain sympathy from Eustace. For example, when Courage tries to prevent him from breaking Muriel's rocking chair by taking his saw away, the Duckling desperately points to the saw-holding Courage while Courage does the same to him. No points for guessing which of the two Eustace chooses to believe.
