These are what we call the 'YMMV items.' Things that some people find in this work. We call them 'your mileage might vary' because not everyone sees these things in the same way. This starts discussions in the trope lists, a thing we don't want. Please use the discussion page if you'd like to discuss any of these items.
YMMV: Inspector Gadget
The cartoon:
Alternative Character Interpretation: Some people say that Gadget isn't stupid, he's willingly being a distraction so Penny can accomplish the mission, since when Penny's safety is threatened, he suddenly becomes a lot more competent.
The theme song often plays in the background. No matter what locale Gadget goes to, the local music is simply the theme song reworked to that particular country's musical style. This further ingrains the theme song in your ear and also saves the sound people from having to worry about copyrights.
First Installment Wins: The first season and series are possibly the most parodied out of the franchise.
Harsher in Hindsight: A MAD agent couldn't dare sneak blunt objects on a plane today, nor could Penny and Brain sneak into the cargo hold to get to destinations under Gadget's nose without plenty of TSA office visits and permanent inclusion on the no-fly list.
Not to mention the chances of Gadget ever getting past airport security what with all the metal and potentially deadly equipment he's got inside him (Go-go gadget scissors, anyone?)
A fanfic called "Euro Gadget," based on the 1999 movie, uses this as a plot point. Brenda calls the airport ahead of time so that he won't have a problem with the metal detectors.
Hilarious in Hindsight: Gadget biting and destroying his pillow during a nightmare in "Bad Dreams Are Made of This" becomes even funnier and more disturbing if you're familiar with the honeymoon scene from a certain infamous vampire love story.
The idea of an assassination attempt via grenades disguised as milk bottles, and the assassin disguised as a milkman, would later be reused in The Living Daylights.
Memetic Mutation: Gadget appeared to give instructions on a lot of early Di C DVD menus (even in series that had nothing to do with him), and some of the things he says have caught on due to a review by James Rolfe. Move the glow around the button you want to select!
Nightmare Fuel: There's a lot of potential for Fridge Horror in Gadget's robotics, but occasionally it's less implicit than usually. For example, in "Magic Gadget," the second-season premiere episode. In their attempts to murder Gadget, the Great Wambini (stage magician cum ruthless M.A.D. agent) and his flunkies in turn transfix him with swords, drown him, and finally cut him in two at about mid-stomach height, trying to effect a Rasputinian Death. Gadget, of course, survives everything with only mild discomfort, and continues his investigation in his usual bumbling fashion — both halves of him. Wambini and company (and Brain) are, naturally, horrified.
The Problem with Licensed Games: While the games based on this franchise aren't necessarily terrible, they're very forgettable with a few exceptions.
They Changed It, Now It Sucks: The second season, which has a different film look to it, most of the action takes place around Gadget's neighborhood, many of the voices are different and the plots...
They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot: Gadget is a pretty darn awesome superhero in concept, but he spends the entire series gleefully clutching the Idiot Ball and generally being useless. A lot of people say that Penny's a lot better as The Protagonist, and wish that she was the series' primary focus.
The films:
Broken Base: The fans are divided between those who despised the first film for not being close enough to the cartoons, those who hated the second film for not being enough like the first, people who hated both and prefer to stick to the cartoons, and the people who liked both films. All of the above is 'without'' taking onto consideration the people who liked either of the movies, but disliked the cartoons.
Ho Yay: That Kramerreally seems to get off on Claw's abuse... while Claw praises Kramer in comparison to constantly dumping on Sikes. Not to mention:
Claw: "Ok. Turn me on, Kramer..."
Moral Event Horizon: Scolex crosses it in his very first scene. Interestingly, John Brown (the future Gadget) thinks Scolex's MEH wasn't the murder of Dr. Artemus Bradford, but having his henchman track oil behind his limo, thus causing Brown's '87 Chevette to flip onto its roof and slide into a Yahoo! billboard. What makes that worse is that Scolex enjoys watching Brown suffer for going after him.
Nightmare Fuel: Gadget with all of his robotic parts exposed.
The tarantula coming out of Robo Gadget.
Overused Running Gag: The gag of the hearts popping up on Gadget's hat showing he's in love pops up in both movies, several times.
Sequelitis: The direct-to-video sequel dropped most of the better aspects of the film adaptation, the high-quality cast and the large budget was cut drastically. On the other hand, it was given props for following the cartoon's formula more closely than its predecessor.
Uncanny Valley: Ironically used with Robo-Gadget. The shifty eyes and fake teeth are scary without trying. One could argue that Broderick made a better villain than a hero.
