Bastard1
Since: Nov, 2010
01/02/2016 00:00:00
You basically wrote the review I would have written myself if I'd ever got around to watching the whole show (I'll admit the repetitiveness got to me after a while) - thanks for saving me the trouble. I tend to laugh off the whole "ZOMG we in a golden age of animayshun BOYEE" sentiment of contemporary times as over-hyped statements of little to no perspective, but shows like P&F and Gravity Falls do tend to give me pause for thought.
Stay cool!
Leave a Comment:
A Colorful Summer of Carpe Diem
Lots of comedic shows either rely on cynical, dark, and crude humor, or sickeningly sweet and corny jokes. Phineas and Ferb is a show that proves joyful, clean optimism and idealism can actually work. It's not without its flaws, and some episodes are better than others, but on the whole, it's a rare gem.
As described on the main page, the show often relies on its standard formula, which is more entertaining than it may seem! It might seem repetitive, and it does get so at times. Fortunately, the show is self-aware enough to lampshade and joke about all of it along the way. This is where a lot of the humor is derived from: Lampshade Hanging and Running Gags. The show also frequently plays around with the formula, by changing up elements, defying viewer expectations, or in a few cases abandoning the formula altogether. For humor, the show also relies on shout-outs, cultural references, parodies, and Breaking the Fourth Wall. All things tropers can appreciate.
The cast consists of diverse, colorful characters, who grow in number as the series progresses. There are almost no straight jerks here, and Phineas and Ferb themselves are selfless and likable. Even Candace shows her heart at times, and sometimes, things turn out well for her too. Meanwhile, Perry and Doofenshmirtz provide a hysterical comical duo, with Perry acting as a Silent Snarker and a Straight Man of sorts, and Doof being a Cloud Cuckoolander Harmless Villain.
The show also boasts a not-insignificant collection of bouncy songs. An early song was liked so much, Disney had the show's creators add a song in every episode! Unfortunately, this also became awkward at times, as a number of episodes have songs randomly stuffed into them as a result. However, considering the random, often inexplicable nature of the show, this can also actually work in its favor.
In a nutshell, this is a good show. It's funny, bright, optimistic, and has a good theme: Seize the Day. And it doesn't really matter exactly how you do it, or how Phineas and Ferb do it; they just want to bring fun and joy to themselves and to others, and make every day count.
P.S. The first episode "Rollercoaster" was a weaker entry, so don't base your experience entirely on that. The show gets much better as it goes.