Penn Zero: part-time hero

Love this episode. All that singing must have been grating, though.

Well, here's one show I'm actually happy to see leaving me wanting more, since it's on hiatus after this. Damn shame...

And now, summing up my thoughts on the latest effort.

The Princess Most Fair: The only problem is that they sang too much, TBH. If this was meant to be an effective slam on past Disney movies in general and how grating too many of their songs usually are, then whomever wrote this nailed my thoughts exactly on such BS...

I also love how this show actually had the balls to switch all of the male characters' genders for the whole conflict and NOT stupidly make some insulting/condescending joke about, but rather just having them go with it. THAT alone made everything on display worth it, IMHO!

Hail Larry: Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling this one too much - Larry is clearly an idiot, so I could actually sympathize with Rippen (despite it being HIS fault they didn't actually win this time!). For someone making actual effort to be a good villain, it would suck if Rippen was ever outdone by an idiot like Larry, under any circumstances. And it's not like Larry would have won on his own - Penn and co. were just being way too nice, knowing the fucking obvious. Then again, I'm not a fan of the whole "actual villain gets incapacitated, so henchperson is forced to take their place, but isn't truly capable" plot, so that's part of why I didn't like this one= as much as I did the first segment, in comparison.

edited 28th Apr '15 2:43:09 AM by Shokew

Well, in this case, Larry Wilmore was dangerously freaking close to winning it all, and you could tell by the last few minutes, he was changing very quickly into a full-time villain, so, I say he's in the Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass section.

And this series actually feels more like Cyber Chase meets The Magic School Bus with the whole "Kid and his friends fight their teacher and principal" plot.

Well Rippen finally wins and Phyllis might be secretly evil.

Yeah, I can see "kid and friends fighting teacher and principal" as a real turn-off for people, like in far too much crap out there - and that's FACT... Hopefully, later episodes will continue to introduce better villains for Penn and Co. to fight. Anything to keep things fresh and believable around here.

I actually like it that way. It's at least a plot no one else in this year has made a reality.

Do the Milkman or Professor Evil Professor count?

I think he means recurring evil character besides just Rippen.

Also, new episodes return next Monday.

Well, Word of God says Milkman may return.

I'm noticing a lot of cartoons are returning and starting this summer. Esp. Disney ones.

edited 25th May '15 7:47:26 AM by ScottPilgrim2013

Or On Demand if you have it.

No school means better ratings, right?

I'd think so.

and I can only hope the ratings pick up, because flaws aside, I don't want Star Vs. to be the only new show with a future ahead of it. I'd hate to see them backpedal on this show, more than anything...

One thing's for certain, the next episode did look silly, but quite promising enough.

It would seem I was worried about the silly premise/setup of this latest episode for nothing after all. Thank God, too - these latest episodes reminded me of why I actually do like this show, so far anyway.

It's a Colorful Life: Just from how it looked, I didn't have the highest expectations of it at first - then I watched it... And was quite surprised.

The heroes weren't fully in the right this time - this situation in its entirety was not something of good vs. evil here. It was more something along the lines of discrimination and prejudice between two sides. Despite the simplistic setup, whomever wrote this actually did a great job with it. The only real complaint is that they're all the same now (as in Hues...); I think it would have been perfect if some turned back into hues and some stayed black and white. If that had happened, this should have been some God Tier stuff on display here. It's not terrible as is (High Tier is what I rank this one, overall), but it's kinda missing that oomph that would have really gotten the message across that they conveyed so well before the episode's end.

The real thing holding things back for me was how annoying these townspeople were clearly acting on both sides; but that's what brings up my argument in the paragraph above, so it's not a total problem that makes this episode as bad as it could have been without it, overall. That, and I definitely feel that this was a really good jab at all those mostly terribad 80's joints that always had the designated good guys in the right - when they never really were. Discrimination and prejudice of any kind is never resolved when the designated heroes save the day. EVER. Good to see whomever wrote this knows that, too, at least. I'm looking forward to how they top themselves in future episodes going forward, now.

Larry Manor: I was quite worried that power outage was all Larry's fault, which would have hurt this episode royally for me (enough to make it Low Tier Garbage in my eyes, having Larry be responsible for THAT would have been insulting, IMHO)! Thank God that wasn't the case and a much better effort (a High Tier one) resulted from all of this. Why I feel this way...

1) We see some dangerously hidden depths from Larry here; he's pretty bad at the villain thing and all, but he sure lives well like one... Well, his face comes off like he's no good at it, anyway. Furthermore, we have an idea of how desperate Rippen is to be good at being a villain so much - if one thing being Larry clearly cheating him and outdoing him at life, not just in rank at their job, but in terms of living conditions as well.

2) It is nice to see Penn and Co. not try to beat up Rippen and Larry - unless it involves missions, which is good because failure to control that behavior in the real world setting can have severe consequences. Another nice thing here, as usual from our protagonists, is that Penn truly is a better person than he comes off with how this ends; It's pretty clear Penn, as much as he and his team whoop Rippen all the time, there is some remorse to doing so so much as well, and it's really starting to show - Well, I'm glad to see even the show is aware it needs more villains, then. can only hope they get on it, already, because seeing Rippen lose like this is getting kinda sad, I admit. In fact, everything about all of this was surprisingly heartwarming without going too deep into it.

3) We have an idea of just how powerful and experienced Phyllis and Phil actually are from the short B-plot going on; yeah - I always knew they weren't just there for opening and closing portals; you also have to be good at the whole hero/villain thing in order to really understand the work, maintenance, and science jargon that goes into entering alternate dimensions. However, I think Penn and Co. should be worried - Phyllis is way more of a villain than she is a hero, and this B-plot shows us that in spades. Overall, It ain't too much - but it's there - the kind of world-building and character development I expect to go into a show with a setup/premise like this; and unlike Steven Universe / Adventure Time, they aren't going at a snail's pace with this, either, which is why for any flaws aside that hold this show back from true greatness, I'm still tuning in proudly, unlike those two examples.

edited 2nd Jun '15 6:54:09 AM by Shokew

In short: Colorful life was done well with how Discrimination is in most cartoons, and Rippen shows more compassion for Larry in the end.

Larry manor did some necessary world-building for Larry(Wilmore) and shows that Penn Zero has the humble charisma to let Rippen win for once. And, it took place in real time, which I hope we get more of.

Phyllis may also be deceptively evil, as well.

I'd be amusing if Phyllis was originally a Part-time Villain and Phil a Part-time Hero, but when they became engineers they switched jobs for some reason. Which might explain why they're both so apathetic.

edited 2nd Jun '15 10:09:24 AM by KnownUnknown

I know this show don't get a lot of traffic here, but I might as well post my thoughts on the latest episode (only because I care that much to do it, despite that...):

I had my doubts, but once again, this show did a good job holding my interest, especially with this introduction of a new villain, despite being a bit 1D I'd happily see more of, due to being competent and dangerous enough, and one complex antagonist turned protagonist who I'll also be glad to see again when the time comes...

Lady Starblaster: So what we have here is a basic 1D villain, except she was actually competent, dangerous, and fun to watch in action, as well as get beaten if only to show she ain't invincible. Simplistic. but effective enough to hold my interest, mostly because of how well written a majority of it was. I say majority because I felt Rippen being smitten with her was kinda dumb, IMHO - Thank God Larry was there to bail him out at least; I've called Larry dumb before, but that doesn't stop him from being useful in a bad situation, like at the end there.

Amber: Definitely another winner alongside Lad Sarblaster for this show, IMHO... Mainly because these writers not only took a 1D villain, but made it entertaining in the previous segment before, but they also took someone who fell into a bad situation, via feelings of neglect and no other outlet but villainous tendencies, AKA a more complex antagonist setup - at least until Amber and her father made up, which could have went either way. Then again, she just wanted to prove she could be a hero like her father - so while I should be mad at her behavior... I actually felt bad for her and was glad to see her overcome it in the end. Despite returning to an old setting, which would lose some points at first, they did quite well for themselves here, despite a rough start with Scaly Briggs being so mentally messed up at first (though that's just a nitpick.).

While I found Both segments to be High Tier material, overall, Amber is the better of the two, simply because I am more fond of complex antagonist setups (even if they turn protagonist eventually, as long as it's done well.).

Both were actually really good. LS showed that Rippen still has emotions for love and companionship. But after the betrayal, he is still a loyal friend to Larry. I think Rippen might just change sides at the end of this season.

1D?

I agree, I hope Lady Starblaster appears again! She's a great character.

edited 10th Jun '15 10:10:03 AM by kyun

I don't know about that last one, but THAT would be a good idea, if only so a better villain can replace him. That would be some great writing there, if you ask me (I'm sure you didn't, though - just the thought that counts.).

I don think he would go that far, he would probably settle for being slightly nicer to them outside his Part-time Villain work.

THAT I would be okay with if it happened - the whole asshole teacher schtick (which they do aim to keep to a minimum, so far, anyway...) is not one to be relying on for Rippen, nor is it one I'm particularly fond of, as it sends the usual bad message that all teachers are assholes. Especially when that is just so not true, nor should it be a go-to joke to abuse so damn much (as it's too easy to screw up.). This is how I feel about Rippen being an asshole teacher type, especially knowing how bad teachers have it IRL, especially today trying to - just do a good job actually teaching kids shit and stuff...

I'd rather Rippen evolve beyond becoming another Denzel Crocker - we don't need that lingering around too much in an actually good show (so far) like this one, for example.

Boone being a hero for once is a great change of pace.

So, when Penn dies when he's in another body/part of the Multiverse, does the hero he plays die and he gets sent home or does he die or do both die?

He came pretty close to dying as he was infected with- something (I thought it was Lepra)

I guess both die.

So Rippen is completely willing to let Boone kill Penn? That's dark.