History YMMV / StretchArmstrongAndTheFlexFighters

** In "Endgame", Riya explains to Jake that "school stuff mixed in with mom stuff" stresses her out. Season two elaborates that [[spoiler:Stretch Monster killed Riya's parents, so Riya became Blindstrike in order to avenge them, with Dr. C acting as her rather tough trainer and commander. As if that doesn't already sound stressful enough, the episode preceding "Endgame", "Secret Ninja Party", ends with Dr. C and Blindstrike getting ambushed by Stretch Monster and the Flex Fighters, so any guilt that Riya would've developed after failing to fend them off would remain fresh on her mind when telling Jake about her problems.]]

** All the main characters fall into this. For Jake, he has the struggle with trying to be a hero and maintain his social and personal life. For Nathan, there's him trying to stand out in his family, and his confidence issues. Ricardo suffers from abandonment issues. Season two reveals that Riya still grieves her parents dying while she was just a little girl, [[spoiler:because Stretch Monster/Rook took down the plane transferring the couple and Dr. C to another lab.]]

** In "Endgame", Riya explains to Jake that "school stuff mixed in with mom stuff" stresses her out. Season two elaborates that [[spoiler:Stretch Monster killed Riya's parents, so Riya became Blindstrike in order to avenge them, with Dr. C acting as her rather tough trainer and commander. As that doesn't already sound stressful enough, the episode preceding "Endgame", "Secret Ninja Party", ends with Dr. C and Blindstrike getting ambushed by Stretch Monster and the Flex Fighters, so any guilt that Riya would've developed after failing to fend them off would remain fresh on her mind when telling Jake about her problems.]]

** In "Endgame", Riya explains to Jake that "school stuff mixed in with mom stuff" stresses her out. Season two elaborates that [[spoiler:Stretch Monster killed Riya's parents, so Riya became Blindstrike in order to avenge them, with Dr. C acting as her rather tough trainer and commander.]]

** In "Endgame", Riya explains to Jake that "school stuff mixed in with mom stuff" stresses her out. Season two elaborates that [[spoiler:Stretch Monster killed Riya's parents, so Riya became Blindstrike in order to avenge them.]] In between those two episodes, a fan theory interpreted "mom" to refer to [[spoiler:Dr. C, who does seem like a rather tough commander and trainer for Riya/Blindstrike as the viewers learn more about their relationship.]]

--->'''Kane:''' ...sometimes the most frightening path is the one that's best.

* HilariousInHindsight: Stretch guessing that Mr. Savic is Blindstrike gains one level of hilarity in episode #12, [[spoiler:which reveals Blindstrike as a young woman, not an old man]], and another one in episode #18, [[spoiler:when Mr. Savic becomes the Monster of the Week]].

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: Because of the previous Stretch Armstrong dolls lacking any personality or detailed backstory, this show only seems liked by viewers who can keep an open mind, and/or previously enjoyed other cartoons Victor Cook directed.
* AuthorsSavingThrow: Season two addressed laments calling Riya Dashti a FlatCharacter by giving her an emotional arc, and by hiring the show's first female writer -- Jennifer Muro -- to flesh out Riya's past and motivations.

** Brick and Mortar earned some popularity, due to completely [[InvertedTrope inverting]] the trope idea that two silly dudes can't also be capable of delivering an immediate CurbStompBattle to the protagonists, their likable banter and close friendship, and their endearing goal of wanting to help people with the very device they're inventing. Near the end of season two, they team up with the Flex Fighters against the Tech Men, and push the boundaries of appropriate language for a Hasbro kids' show by referring to the Tech Men as, "fascists". Certainly helps that they're voiced by Creator/WayneKnight and Creator/TroyBaker.

** Brick and Mortar earned some popularity, due to completely [[InvertedTrope inverting]] the trope idea that two silly dudes can't also be capable of delivering an immediate CurbStompBattle to the protagonists, their likable banter and close friendship, and their endearing goal of wanting to help people with the very device they're inventing. Certainly helps that they're voiced by Creator/WayneKnight and Creator/TroyBaker.

* ItWasHisSled: The first season finale reveals that [[spoiler: Rook is Stretch Monster]] . Go to any forum or video on the internet, and it'll be a major point of discussion. Despite this, the description for his figure hides this more effectively than the description for Blindstrike's figure does that character's secret.[[note]]Stretch Monster's figure doesn't seem to have a "turn into human" feature.[[/note]]

* FanficFuel: Blindstrike's OriginsEpisode leaves some holes that the viewers could fill, unless season three fills them.[[note]]Specifically, how Riya figured out who killed her parents, and how she could get help from Dr. C. The brief appearance from Riya's aunt might also make some viewers wonder how she either would react or reacted to learning about her niece's transformation into a vengeful ninja.[[/note]] Earlier, the show also glosses over Blindstrike's reaction to discovering [[spoiler:the Flex Fighters' true identities.]]

* FanficFuel: Blindstrike's OriginsEpisode leaves some holes that the viewers could fill, unless season three fills them.[[note]]Specifically, how Riya figured out who killed her parents, and how she could get help from Dr. C. The brief appearance from Riya's aunt might also make some viewers wonder how she either would react or reacted to learning about her niece's transformation into a vengeful ninja.[[/note]]

%%* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Riya sounds proud in "Split Personalities" at skipping Leadership Class, but might regret it after "Doomsday Clock". [[spoiler:Her looking over the unconscious Dr. C's computer might imply that she'll have to become the new commander of the Flex Fighters and Erika.]] (Do not un-hide this entry unless Riya really does replace Dr. C.)

** Cat garners pity from "Endgame" viewers who wonder where he would live after his owner, [[spoiler:one of Stretch Monster's test subjects, appears to lose a battle with the Flex Fighters]]. The second season has Ricardo take him in, but [[spoiler:Ricardo's parents moving out of Charter City threatens to leave Cat homeless again]]. As of the end of season two, [[spoiler:Cat appears to have reunited with his previous owner, but only after the guy got roped back into Stretch Monster's evil plans.]]

** Brick and Mortar are a rare villainous example that doesn't fall under JerkassWoobie. The reason they robbed banks was because [[spoiler: they needed money to fund a teleporter]] . The fact that they have an engaging dynamic like that of friends, and they intended to return the money, helps their case out.

* CounterpartComparison: Considering the creators previously worked on [[WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan three]] [[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan different]] [[WesternAnimation/MarvelsSpiderMan Spiderman shows]] , comparisons to the characters and settings were rather inevitable. Even then, they are reminiscent of other projects. For example:
** Jake himself is an obvious one to Spiderman, being an adorkable teenage boy who tries to balance his personal life with his superhero life, and has powers that allow him to swing around pretty much anywhere. He's also reminiscent of Robin from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' , mainly due to sharing the [[Creator/ScottMenville same voice actor]] .
** Ricardo is like a more fleshed out version of Luke Cage, being the snarky, big guy of the group with his own personal issues. Ogie Banks even voices both of them.
** Nathan has a personality like Spiderman, while his wing stretching powers are reminiscent of the Vulture (only Nathan is a hero).
** Jonathan Rook is like Max Modell, being a reasonable authority figure in a high position of power who's encouraging of his young protégés. [[spoiler: However, with the reveal that he's Stretch Monster, he's more like Norman Osborn, someone who maintains a good public image but is actually a villain. His Stretch Monster form even looks quite a bit the Green Goblin. His publicly slandering the heroes gives him some shades of J. Jonah Jameson.]]
** The Freak Sisters having long, stretchy hair that they can weaponize is not too far off from how Doctor Octopus' powers operate. Them also being professional thieves who are young and playful is reminiscent of [[{{ComicBook/Nightwing}} the Double Dare twins]] .
** Quick Charge is like a gender flipped Electro, having electricity powers and having once been a normal person who worked for a prominent corporation.
** Jake's father Mark Armstrong is much like Gary Cole's own [[WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated Mayor Jones]] , being a stern, but loving and single father to a blond haired protagonist. They do differ a bit in that [[spoiler: Mark has genuine affection for his son while Mayor Jones became corrupted due to the Planispheric Disk, though he eventually turned around via Cosmic Retcon.]] In addition, Mark doesn't know Jake is a Flex Fighter while Mayor Jones knows about Fred's mystery solving team.
** Smokestack has a visual resemblance to the Rhino due to being grey and heavyweight , while having a crime boss background and personality more in line with [[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra Yakone]] . It's no coincidence that Clancy Brown voices all three of them.
** Nathan's crush Erika visually resembles fellow redhead Mary Jane Watson (albeit with glasses), while having a more adorkable personality in line with Gwen Stacy. [[spoiler: Much like the ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' incarnation of MJ, she's also exposed to a substance that gives her powers.]]
** Concept wise, the Charter City School Of Leadership And Success is a lot like Horizon High, being science oriented schools for young prodigies reaching their greatest potential.
** Riya is similar to [[Disney/BigHero6 GoGo]] , being a snarky, sarcastic girl of an ethnic background. [[spoiler: With the reveal that she's Blindstrike, who's been trying to expose Rook's corruption, and the fact that her weapon is also bladed, she plays this much straighter.]]
** As of season 2, Officer Reynolds has mannerisms similar to Yuri Watanabe, being a higher up authority figure who secretly helps out the heroes. [[spoiler: Given how Kane and Rook turned out, it's pretty much guaranteed that he'll play this role.]]
** Kane is like Harvey Bullock, a jerk with a heart of gold type authority figure who does what he can to do good. [[spoiler: However, with the reveal that he's Number One, the leader of the Tech Men, he's more like a child friendly version of the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamByGaslight'' version of James Gordon, aka Jack The Ripper, someone who wants to bring order to the city, but does so through immoral means.]]

** In "Endgame", Riya explains to Jake that "school stuff mixed in with mom stuff" stresses her out. Season two elaborates that [[spoiler:Stretch Monster killed Riya's parents, so Riya became Blindstrike in order to avenge them.]]

* FanficFuel: Blindstrike's OriginsEpisode leaves some holes that the viewers could fill.[[note]]Specifically, how Riya figured out who killed her parents, and how she could get help from Dr. C. The brief appearance from Riya's aunt might also make some viewers wonder how she either would react or reacted to learning about her niece's transformation into a vengeful ninja.[[/note]]

* TheUntwist: Several viewers have admitted feeling suspicious of [[spoiler:Rook eventually betraying the Flex Fighters]] ever since they first saw him.

* AwesomeMusic: The show's theme song is a very heroic tune, and you will be humming it to yourself all day.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: TheReveal of who exactly leads the Tech Men frustrated viewers who wished that either the character in question never became evil, or the show tried harder to make this reveal feel less abrupt.

* ItWasHisSled: [[spoiler: Rook is Stretch Monster]] . Go to any forum or video on the internet, and it'll be a major point of discussion. Despite this, the description for his figure hides this more effectively than the description for Blindstrike's figure does that character's secret.[[note]]Stretch Monster's figure doesn't seem to have a "turn into human" feature.[[/note]]

** In "Endgame", Riya explains to Jake that "school stuff mixed in with mom stuff" stresses her out. Season two elaborates that [[spoiler:Stretch Monster killed Riya's parents, and she became Blindstrike in order to avenge them.]]

-->'''Erika:''' Sometimes the best things in life are unplanned.