When I read the opinions on the YMMV section that Pound Puppies was "so okay it's average" and disappointing compared to Friendship Is Magic and Recess, I was surprised. I loved the show immediately, and even more so since DHX has assumed production.
If the show does have a fault, it's that you know the adoption will succeed. Of course, that means as team leader, Lucky will come out on top.
The main YMMV complaint is that Lucky is a "Canon Sue" and "boring" compared to his teammates. He does seem that way on the face of things. However, if you only see certain episodes of Recess, T.J. can come off that way himself. But as other Recess fans will also tell you, Mr. Detweiler's much deeper than that.
Generally speaking, Lucky is indeed proud, confident and tenacious. And when he makes guarantees as he does in "The General", "Quintuplets" and "Taboo" and pulls them off, the more cynical viewer might roll their eyes.
Yet when Cookie leaves the team in (and for the) "Rebel Without A Collar", Lucky can't bring himself to say goodbye, and, like any other guy, finds it hard to tell Cookie how he personally feels about her. The remarks a dog on another team made about him and the Pound Puppies in "Snow Problem" caused Lucky to endeavor to humiliate his opponent (though, notably, not cheat) and focus more on winning a race than placing the puppy. Similar issues with pride made Lucky and his team have to scramble and work with the rival Kennel Kittens to make up for their fight losing each of their charges their potential home in "Catcalls".
Lucky is also well aware he needs his team. He knows he's not as smart as Strudel, nor as street knowledgeable as Squirt, nor as tough as Cookie, nor as strong or capable of pulling off human traits as Niblet, and he will defer to their strengths when necessary.
Even if some of the resolutions — especially when they aim for Aesops — are predictable, I find the path there to be quite entertaining. I commend Paul & Joe, as well as Wendi Moss Klein and Nancy Steingard, in accomplishing that feat thus far. Yes, I might prefer more episodes of Recess, but I'm very happy to take more Pound Puppies. (And The Hub seems less likely than Disney to cancel the show for arbitrary reasons.)
And Lucky's a complex character. You just have to dig a little. Give the show (and him) a shot.
WesternAnimation Underappreciated and Underloved (or, In Defense of Lucky)
When I read the opinions on the YMMV section that Pound Puppies was "so okay it's average" and disappointing compared to Friendship Is Magic and Recess, I was surprised. I loved the show immediately, and even more so since DHX has assumed production.
If the show does have a fault, it's that you know the adoption will succeed. Of course, that means as team leader, Lucky will come out on top.
The main YMMV complaint is that Lucky is a "Canon Sue" and "boring" compared to his teammates. He does seem that way on the face of things. However, if you only see certain episodes of Recess, T.J. can come off that way himself. But as other Recess fans will also tell you, Mr. Detweiler's much deeper than that.
Generally speaking, Lucky is indeed proud, confident and tenacious. And when he makes guarantees as he does in "The General", "Quintuplets" and "Taboo" and pulls them off, the more cynical viewer might roll their eyes.
Yet when Cookie leaves the team in (and for the) "Rebel Without A Collar", Lucky can't bring himself to say goodbye, and, like any other guy, finds it hard to tell Cookie how he personally feels about her. The remarks a dog on another team made about him and the Pound Puppies in "Snow Problem" caused Lucky to endeavor to humiliate his opponent (though, notably, not cheat) and focus more on winning a race than placing the puppy. Similar issues with pride made Lucky and his team have to scramble and work with the rival Kennel Kittens to make up for their fight losing each of their charges their potential home in "Catcalls".
Lucky is also well aware he needs his team. He knows he's not as smart as Strudel, nor as street knowledgeable as Squirt, nor as tough as Cookie, nor as strong or capable of pulling off human traits as Niblet, and he will defer to their strengths when necessary.
Even if some of the resolutions — especially when they aim for Aesops — are predictable, I find the path there to be quite entertaining. I commend Paul & Joe, as well as Wendi Moss Klein and Nancy Steingard, in accomplishing that feat thus far. Yes, I might prefer more episodes of Recess, but I'm very happy to take more Pound Puppies. (And The Hub seems less likely than Disney to cancel the show for arbitrary reasons.)
And Lucky's a complex character. You just have to dig a little. Give the show (and him) a shot.