Jack Styles, Revolutionary War Veteran and agent for the US Government, is sent to the West Indies Island of Palau-Palau by Thomas Jefferson to undermine the French Empire. There he meets British agent Emilia Rothschild as his partner as they set out to undermine a shipment of French troops.
Tropes featured in this episode:
- Anachronism Stew: On top of an end to French Imperialism, Jack (as the Daring Dragoon) demands a three-hour work-week and a comprehensive dental-plan.
- Covert Pervert: When Jack rummages through the Governor's desk, he finds a deck of nudie cards.
- Crusading Widow: While Emilia's now-dead husband was French, they were both against Napoleon's imperialism and now she actively works to undermine the French Empire as a freelance revolutionary.
- Enfant Terrible: To emphasize how out of place Jack is in Palau-Palau, a kid runs into him. When Jack offers to give back his toy, the boy responds by kicking him in the shins and calls him a "bad man."Jack: Someone sterilize that kid!
- Establishing Character Moment:
- We're introduced to Jack Styles valiantly rescuing the President's niece from French insurgents in Canada with his fists and quips. When asked by his Damsel in Distress how she could repay him, it Smash Cuts to them in bed. A "scoundrel with a heart" indeed.
- We meet Emilia Rothschild is introduced informing Jack about the Daring Dragoon, she puts Jack in his place with a cleverly hidden note from Jefferson and then shows him her hidden laboratory. This establishes her as the brain to his brawn, the snob to his slob and the cause and/or reason behind some of the more sci-fi elements of the series.
- We're introduced to Governor Croque adjusting a family portrait featuring him and his brother Napoleon. When Jack makes a crack at his brother, Croque emphasizes that the "munchkin" is his brother Napoleon, who's the Emperor of France... before agreeing that yes, he is "rather minute." Then when his General shows up with worries of the people's belief in the Daring Dragoon, the Governor dismisses his worries, stating that the people have a right to fantasize. This establishes the Governor as a serious politician and a Non-Action Big Bad, but is also a dandy who's just doing his job.
- Folk Hero: It's established that the people of Palau-Palau admire a local folk hero named the Daring Dragoon. When Jack is cornered in the Governor's office, he fashions together a costume meant to evoke the hero to stay undercover, becoming the folk hero for the remainder of the series.
- The Guards Must Be Crazy: Jack manages to get the French guards after him from chasing him by singing the French national anthem.
- Improvised Parachute: The President's niece's dress to escape the French in Canada with Jack.
- Reassigned to Antarctica: President Jefferson genuinely believes the mission in Palau-Palau is vital to American interests and that Jack is the best man for the job. He even phrases it as "you'll be gone forever, or at least until Napoleon is six-feet-under" (which, historically speaking, would be in 20 years). Of course, Jefferson knew that Jack was fooling around with his niece and wanted him as far away from her as humanly possible.
- Running Gag: When Jack asks about the contents of what Jefferson's niece is wearing to fashion a parachute, she slaps him twice. Later, he asks what color Emilia's underwear is (intending to fashion a disguise), only for her to slap him.
- Schizo Tech:
- Emilia's fire-place is a hologram created through a series of mirrors and a phenakistoscope, all used to hid the entrance her laboratory.
- Emilia uses a rudimentary diving suit to sneak aboard the Governor's ship.
- The Tape Knew You Would Say That: When Jack takes umbrage at the thought of working with Emilie, she reaches into his coat and pulls out a note from Thomas Jefferson, telling him to "shut-up and do what the lady says."Jack: That's what I get for voting.
