Line #13 Fridge/DextersLaboratory


1	Fridge examples in ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory''.
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3	The movie ''WesternAnimation/EgoTrip'' has [[Fridge/EgoTrip its own page]].
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5	!!FridgeBrilliance:
6	* The pilot episode ends with Dexter and [=DeeDee=] in a FreakyFridayFlip scenario despite them using the Animal Swapping Remote to turn back to normal. This is because both of them used the remote at the exact same time. Dexter never thought of the possibility of that happening.
7	* The ending to "[=DeeDeemensional=]" implies that [=DeeDee=] will constantly fail to warn Dexter about the Dimensional Gateway every time she goes back it time. However, Future [=DeeDee=] also went back in time as well. In other words, Dexter would eventually be bombarded with so many [=DeeDee=]s that he'll figure out what's going on and decides to dismantle the Dimensional Gateway.
8	* The reason why Dexter and Dee Dee had such a different experience being an ant for a day is probably because of their gender. Dexter, being a male, was destined to be a low-ranking worker ant, after all what use would he be as a warrior? Dee Dee, being a fertile female and old enough not to be a larva, was likely promoted to princess. For this reason none of the ants cared about Dee Dee singing and dancing in work hours, they just assumed Dee Dee was practicing leadership. Dee Dee's song in question has a distinct "Simon says"-vibe. If the ants taught Dee Dee the lyrics, their true intentions might have been to give Dee Dee the habit of ordering around her future subjects.
9	** If this is the case, it would be a case of mistaken InsectGenderBender, as males have few duties beyond laying around and mating, while worker ants are female.
10	* Dee Dee seems to have a thing for rap music and hip hop culture. In one episode she wants Dexter to see a dance she learned on Series/SoulTrain, but what made me realize it was in the SeriesFauxnale "Last But Not Beast" she sings a line from Music/QueenLatifah's song U.N.I.T.Y.
11	* Mandark could apparently read Dexter's mind in his first appearance, but never displayed this ability again. However if you pay attention, all he actually did was tell Dexter that he could read his thoughts before Dexter asked. So the simplest explanation was that he was just bluffing and made a lucky guess as to what Dexter was thinking.
12	** Or, maybe he was smart enough to calculate what he was most likely thinking.
13	** This is actually confirmed if one pays close attention. When Mandark asks Dexter to set him up on a date with Dee Dee, Dexter agrees only after he realizes that Dee Dee will likely wreck Mandark's lab. We, the viewers, see this represented as several smaller Dexters speaking to the main one, but it's clear that it's supposed to represent Dexter's thoughts. If Mandark was truly able to read Dexter's mind, he would’ve known Dexter had an ulterior motive for agreeing to his request. The fact that Mandark acts completely surprised when Dee Dee ''does'' (unwittingly) wreck his lab shows that he had no idea it was going to happen.
14	* From the same episode, [[CharacterisationMarchesOn Mandark appears to surpass Dexter in every way]], though his dorky, easily duped self quickly appears by the end of the episode. From that point on, Mandark is either an equal or inferior to Dexter. However, this wasn’t Mandark's first meeting with Dexter: it actually took place several months before, when Mandark and his parents moved into Dexter’s neighborhood. After Dexter brushed him off and laughed at his first name (this is likely a retcon, but [[ButForMeItWasTuesday Dexter not even remembering someone he deems inferior]] [[SmallNameBigEgo is]] ''[[ItsAllAboutMe completely]]'' [[SmallNameBigEgo in-character for him]]), Mandark reinvented himself, changed his name, and swore to ruin Dexter where it hurt: his science. This explains why Dexter didn’t remember him and why Mandark, even at that early point, took perverse pleasure shutting down Dexter's lab, and why his mystique collapsed so quickly. While he was able to put up an impressive facade for a short while [[ThePowerOfHate to spite Dexter]], ultimately his insecurities betrayed him.
15	* Mandark having a disdain towards his HippieParents may not be just because they neglect his love of science. Given his [[DarknessVonGothickname nickname]] and the look of his lab, Mandark can strike one as something of a {{Goth}}. An obscure but occasionally seen stereotype is that goths aren't too fond of hippies (what with the bright colors and lack of edginess). Therefore, part of this conflict could derive from the difference between Mandark's interests and aesthetics and that of his parents.
16	* In some episodes, Dexter and/or [=DeeDee=] are transformed into something, but weren't shown changed back at the end. But by the next episode, [[SnapBack they are back to their normal selves]]. Since Dexter is a super genius, he somehow finds a way to change him and/or his sister back to normal. Example 1: The pilot episode ends with a FreakyFridayFlip. Dexter just used the Animal Swapping Remote to place him and [=DeeDee=] back to their proper bodies. Example 2: ''Monstory'' ends with Dexter and [=DeeDee=] still stuck as Giant Monsters. Dexter basically used his experimental super cookies from ''Big Sister'' to turn them back into humans. Example 3: ''[=DeeDee's=] Tail'' ends with [=DeeDee=] still as a horse. Dexter just used the Animal Swapping Remote to turn his sister back to her human form once she got bored of being a horse.
17	* For such a boy genius that can create impossible technology, you'd think Dexter would have a lot more sensical answers from his supercomputer, which somehow doesn't even realize that an internal build-up of gas ''isn't'' going to be fatal. Well, who built the computer and would likely have to program its mentality and responses on his limited experience with the world?
18	* In "Picture Day", Dexter added extra lighting fixtures to help show off his new handsome face. Only for the heat of extra lights to melt his face off. You may be asking why Dexter's face was back to normal by the end of the episode so easily? That's because it was a synthetic face. Just like the synthetic beard Dexter had on in "Beard to be Feared". So after the face melted, Dexter just wiped it off his original face.
19	* The ending of "The Koos Is Loose" has Dexter imagine The Koosalagoopagoop away. Which [=DeeDee=] was completely upset about. However in "Koosalagoopagoop", [[UnexplainedRecovery Koosy is shown to be alright with [=DeeDee=] by his side]]. It's more than likely that [=DeeDee=] managed to imagine Koosey back into existence.
20	* The ending to "The Big Cheese" has Dexter's lab destroyed due to him failing to say the right password. Yet the next episode has the whole lab rebuilt. It's highly possible that Dexter used the vast fortune he earned from his celebrity status to rebuild the lab from scratch (and salvaged some items that weren't damaged).
21	* In "Don't Be A Hero", Dexter went through several attempts to become a superhero. However, he already has an alter ego in "Dexstar: Boy of Wonder" (First established in "Star Spangled Sidekicks"). That is until you realize that "Dexstar" mainly uses high-tech gadgetry for his super-heroics. Dexter just wants to have actual superpowers.
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23	!!FridgeHorror:
24	* When watching ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', if you think about it too much, you'll realize what a cruel, destructive Jerkass [=Dee Dee=] really is. When she's not completely destroying her brother's life's work, she at times openly belittles, insults, humiliates, and abuses him for shits and giggles.
25	** Watch the ep with Dexter having to read to [=Dee Dee=], particularly where his mother FORCES him in a super ANGERED tone of voice. [[JerkAssWoobie No wonder the kid spends so much time in his room!]]
26	*** Look at how advanced Mandark's lab was compared to Dexter's and see how fast [=Dee Dee=] trashed it, and you wonder how much Dexter could have accomplished if he wasn't forced to rebuild every... let's be generous, week or so.
27	** The opposite also counts: Many times, Dexter can come off as cruel to Dee Dee without even trying to understand his sister and just considering her an idiot because she doesn't share his passion for science. It seems likely, to some viewers, that they will drift apart when they grow up.
28	* In the musical episode, one of the things Dexter makes is a helmet which Dee Dee destroys WHILE HE'S WEARING IT, by THROWING IT (and her brother who at this point is apparently still in diapers by the way) on the floor with enough force to shatter it. What would their parents think if they found out about THAT little "accident"?
29	* There's that "Dollhouse Drama" episode where Dexter shrinks himself down to doll size, but the procedure makes his imagination run wild, so that he believes everything Dee Dee says in her game of dolls is true (i.e. that her [[{{Franchise/Barbie}} Darbie doll]] is his wife). We keep switching between his perspective (wherein the dolls live, breathe and speak to him) and reality. Finally (from the real-world perspective) he tears the action figure who's supposed to be his EvilTwin limb from limb, and Dee Dee announces, "Dexter has broken his brother into pieces!" ''What's Dexter seeing??''
30	** He is seeing things as he imagines them, not as they would really happen. He wouldn't know what it looks like to rip someone apart, so he would see his Twin's limbs coming off painlessly.
31	* Much of what Dexter does in his laboratory would be disturbing if it weren't so silly and cartoony. For example, in one episode he saws open his sister's head without anesthetizing her in any way, yanks out and casually discards her brain, and replaces it with one of several human brains he has in his lab (which raises more unfortunate questions).
32	** There's been a few episodes where Dexter acts in a much more standard MadScientist way before the episodes hijinx starts, laughing to himself about how "the fools" don't suspect anything, ShowThemAll, etc. There's a chance that ForScience isn't his only motivation...
33	* At the beginning of the race in "Mock 5", we see there were a bunch of others racers besides Dexter and Mandark. At the end Dexter comes in first and is immediately followed by the [[DeathCourse wave of lava]] rolling down the hill. [[InferredHolocaust So what happened to the other racers?]]
34	* "Trapped with a Vengeance" has the villain Yohnny the Janitor terrorizing Dexter for making him work overtime and causing him grief for leaving all kinds of messes every day before leaving school. But... while he is sympathetic, JerkassHasAPoint here. Yohnny has to clear away all kinds of dangerous chemicals that ''Dexter is leaving in a mess''! Not only does he have no training to properly dispose of or knowledge of these chemicals, Dexter doesn't label anything so one mistake could cause an explosion or release a poisoned gas. I know that Dexter is meant to be a ''[[InsistentTerminology Boy Genius]]'' but if any member of the scientific community saw that they'd heavily condemn Dexter. If a '''teacher''' saw that, Dexter would be banned from the school labs!
35	* In "Dexter vs Santa's Claws" throughout the episode he believes that Santa Claus is his dad in disguise. So basically this means that Dexter's willing to murder his own dad just to prove his theory that Santa is his dad in disguise!!!
36	* From the movie ''Ego Trip'', as much as Dexter travels to the future, we never see Dee Dee. Not even once. It's rather easy to come up with reasons for this (such as her dying and this being partially why Dexter becomes a paranoid, scared man who never stands up to Mandark).
37	** Otherwise, consider Mandark's feelings for her, what he became in the future and this can get really dark really fast.
38	** While one ''could'' argue that Dee Dee's exclusion from the future events might have something to do with the fact she hopped in the time machine at the beginning, it’s also likely Dee Dee became as broken as Dexter did after Mandark became the executive of the Corporation. While Mandark wouldn’t do anything to harm Dee Dee (she’s the object of his obsession, after all), it wouldn't change the fact that he’s still the sadistic, slave-driving boss that regularly torments her brother via public torture. For all their jerkass moments to each other, Dexter and Dee Dee do care for each other in some way, so what's to say that Dee Dee wasn't emotionally broken by watching her brother getting tortured, and couldn't do anything about it out of fear for Dexter's safety?
39	** It's even worse than you think; unlike Dexter, ''Dee-Dee wasn't shielded from the effects of the corrupted Protocore!'' She was most likely lobotomized like the rest of humanity, turning her into a barely-sentient moron. Sure, the show always did play her lack of common sense for laughs, but not to ''that'' level! And, building on what's mentioned above, god knows what Mandark could do to her in that defenseless state.
40	* The ending of "The Big Cheese" isn't just a SuddenDownerEnding, but it also makes you wonder if Dexter will be able to reverse what happened now that his lab's gone. Think about it: Dexter essentially has aphasia now. Sure, he managed to become a world-famous celebrity just by saying ''"Omlette du fromage"'', but to be stuck like that ''permanently?''
41	* And even that doesn't compare to the end of "Eww, That's Growth". Dexter's not tall enough to ride a roller coaster, so he speeds up his growth but ends up too tall. Once he finally gets on the rollercoaster and his having a great time, his head crashes into the upper part of a tunnel and the scene abruptly cuts to a THE END card. Yes, the implication is that the episode ends with '''Dexter being decapitated.''' WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids?
42	** It brings to mind the real cases of people who've been injured or even killed on rides like this, including children like Dexter. And it's PlayedForLaughs here...
43	** [[AscendedFridgeHorror This is in fact confirmed.]] Creator/RobRenzetti [[WordOfGod even says so]] [[https://twitter.com/RobRenzetti/status/1597436971080556544 here]]; he straight up confirms that Dexter actually dies. Which then brings to mind another thing... Dee Dee was sitting right next to him and ''[[HarmfulToMinors was exposed to her brother's likely graphic death]]''.
44	** On top of that, imagine Dee Dee trying to explain to their parents how he died. As a matter of fact, the blame should be pointed towards their dad as he allowed Dexter to drive his car even though he's not old enough for a driver's permit and license.
45	* The ending of "Dexter Detention" has Dexter being thrown in jail for being mistaken for a convict. But there were other kids that escaped detention with him as well. Does that mean they were thrown in jail as well?
46	* At the end of "The Parrot Trap", Dexter accidentally blurts out that he has a secret lab, which leads to [=DeeDee=] stating that he now has to [[LaserGuidedAmnesia wipe Mom and Dad's memories]]... '''Again'''. If Dexter previously erased his parents' memories of discovering his lab, does that mean he constantly wipes their memories every time?
47	* The ending to "Lets Save the World You Jerk!" has [[EarthShatteringKaboom Earth blown to bits by the waves of meteors]], with Dexter and Mandark being the sole survivors. Now consider the fact that Dexter and Mandark will eventually run out of oxygen.
48	** Also the fact that Dee Dee, Dexter's parents and everyone else in the show were on Earth and most likely died.
49	* "Momdark": While the episode itself is rather comedic, there are very dark implications regarding the part where Mandark kidnaps Dexter's mother. What makes this frightening is that we fade to black when Mandark was approaching an oblivious Mom from behind and we cut to Mandark's lab where it shows Mom is in a deep blissful sleep while imprisoned in a suspended animation tank filled with green water, so it is left to the imagination on how Mandark, a skinny child, is able to knock out a grown woman; [[NothingIsScarier either with chloroform, choking her until she passes out, or any other way]]. Plus, Mom smiling blissfully while unconscious could be because Mandark must have programed his suspended animation tank to give her happy memories and [[AngstWhatAngst based on how she seems to be unaware that she was kidnapped by a deranged child]], it's likely that he also programmed her to not remember being kidnapped. In other words, Mandark committed MindRape against Mom.
50	** What's also frightening is the implication that Mandark somehow broke into the car to knock over the groceries to bait Mom so that he can kidnap her more easily.

Context Fridge / DextersLaboratory