History WesternAnimation / Devlin

%% * TranquillizerGun: One is used to [[InstantSedation instantly sedate]] Prince in "Save That Lion."

* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler: Uncle Jack's pipe]] in "Innocent or Guilty."

* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to most Hanna-Barbera fare, ''Devlin'' was some pretty heavy stuff. For comparison, a regular comment on this show is said that "when Devlin falls off his bike there's no cartoony sound effect, he goes to the hospital."
** Among the issues the show dealt with were PTSD, illegal immigration, child runaways, family separation, and a loose satanism metaphor [[note]]From a modern perspective "satanic idol" now conjures up stereotype images of death metal bands. But in the 70s Lucifer here was depicted as a more hedonistic and non-moralistic pop star. He also seemed to have an easy time attracting female attention in a Saturday Morning setting. You can see how the metaphor would have been written differently in the 1970s than today[[/note]].

* TheBabyOfTheBunch: Ernie and Tod definitely underestimate Sandy at times. A particularly glaring example is in "Dad's Friend."
* BalloonBelly: Tod gets one after eating at Aunt Martha's in "Sandy's Choice."
* BigBrotherInstinct: Tod especially has this towards Sandy.
* CharacterTitle[=/=]FamilyTitle: In universe, Ernie is "Devlin," but since the show is very much an ensemble piece, the title could be interpreted as referring to Ernie, Tod, and Sandy.

* FluffyTamer: Zebras and lions aren't exactly fluffy, but Juan does a masterful job of calming them down in "The Stowaway."

* InstrumentalThemeTune

* TranquillizerGun: One is used to [[InstantSedation instantly sedate]] Prince in "Save That Lion."
* WalkingTheEarth: Subverted, as the circus actually gives them a ''reason'' to travel around.

* NonIronicClown: Jester
* OneWordTitle
* OutnumberedSibling: Sandy.

* WalkingTheEarth: Subverted, as the circus actually gives them a ''reason'' to travel around.

** Sandy endears herself to most animals she comes across--especially baby lions.

* HonorBeforeReason: Ernie has a problem with this. For example, refusing to breach his contract after being injured--even though his boss was willing to let him--led him to having a public HeroicBSOD in "Victory Over Fear."

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: In the episode "Sandy's Idol," Hank engages a singer named Lucifer, who the description on the back of the DVD release describes as a "satanic idol." Downplayed somewhat, as there's no real evidence that the singer is a) {{Satan}} or b) consorting with him--he's just really obnoxious and totally self-absorbed. See the DarkerAndEdgier entry fr a longer explanation.

** Among the issues the show dealt with were PTSD, illegal immigration, satanism, and child runaways.

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: In the episode "Sandy's Idol," Hank engages a singer named Lucifer, who the description on the back of the DVD release describes as a "satanic idol." Downplayed somewhat, as there's no real evidence that the singer is a) {{Satan}} or b) consorting with him--he's just really obnoxious and totally self-absorbed.

* HeroicBSOD: In "Victory Over Fear," Ernie has an accident that leaves him suffering from traumatic flashbacks. Things come to head when the flashbacks prevent him from completing a stunt during a show.

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: In the episode "Sandy's Idol," Hank engages a singer named Lucifer, who the description on the back of the DVD release describes as a "satanic idol." Downplayed somewhat, as there's no real evidence that the singer is a) UsefulNotes/{{Satan}} or b) consorting with him--he's just really obnoxious and totally self-absorbed.

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: In the episode "Sandy's Idol," Hank engages a singer named Lucifer, who the description on the back of the DVD release describes as a "satanic idol." Downplayed somewhat, as there's no real evidence that he's a) UsefulNotes/{{Satan}} or b) consorting with him--the singer is just really obnoxious and totally self-absorbed.