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Light Makes Right
Reviewed: 07/29/2007
Failed Attempt to Summon The Great Gummies Number One!
Well; here we go. This is the episode that saved the series from joining The Wuzzles on the cancel list until it was finally canceled by Eisner for real in 1990. In Ducktales; it was Gizmo Duck's debut pilot in 1989 because of Bubba's stinking up the show; in Rescue Rangers it was The Case of the Cola Cult for just being plain surreal; in TaleSpin it was A Bad Reflection On You for the awesomeness of Kit Cloudkicker in the face of Baloo's cocky pilot of the year nonsense telling Baloo what he needed to hear (or course TaleSpin is totally unfair as half of the episodes in that could make the argument of being the most important; including the pilot) and in Darkwing Duck; it was Time & Punishment as we see Drake Mallard finally growing a brain and we realize why it's a good thing that he stays REALLY STUPID. However; those shows merely were important because they cemented their fate as the shows that defined the DTVA Golden era of animation. I use the term loosely because Gargoyles and Kim Possible proved that there was life after the Jymn Stone Four.
The Adventures of the Gummi Bears were different because at this point; the show was very close to joining The Wuzzles on the finish heap that all cartoons go to when they suck and die. However; the writers created a major angle that would save the show from certain death: The probable thought that the Great Gummi's that the Gummi Bears worship in their history and culture (think religion and faith) still exist. This was a major angle that the writers would play to the hilt from this episode forward that gave the Gummi Bears purpose and ultimately led to renewal of the series and made the show more interesting than ever. Of course by Season Five; the Great Gummi's would finally show up along with other Gummi tribes and it would render the series as a lame duck until it's cancellation in 1990. It also created a slow death march of Duke Igthorn as a major heel and the need to bring in another heel which would become Lady Bane; but she never got to the level Dukie did when Dukie was ultra cool. I'll explain it a lot more as the series goes on. So how does this episode do...Let's rant on and find out shall we....
The following episode is written by Michael Maurer. You know who is the story editor. This was Michael's last episode in this series by the way. I believe this is Michael's last DTVA episode although his writing career is still in full bloom even to this day. So he didn't leave because he was a really bad writer that's for sure. This is also the last episode until the beginning of Season Three that I will be referring to the writing credits as writers. That's because the teams started referring to the writers as Story By and Teleplay by. I'm not exactly sure what the role implies; but my best guess is that the story writer is Story By while Teleplay refers to the person converting it into a script for the voice talents to use. And Wikipedia actually agrees with me; with one extra detail: Teleplay is actually a Screen Play which is written for television broadcast. Wikipedia; the savior of all things when elites are too busy self-serving themselves to answer such questions in life. Time to rant and move on...
...And the writer doesn't wait to start this barn burner as we begin in a gloomy forest as Gummi Bears of various shapes and sizes are running through the forest in a clutch of panic and fear. At this point; the series has been very lighthearted with adventure and action with laughs sprinkled in. Now the writers have decided to start adding the pathos which when used properly can shatter a viewer's thought in how characters are seen. Drama is very powerful as TaleSpin demonstrated in many of their episodes down to an artform. This episode begins such a tradition and this gives me a lot to think about. They all run towards the shoreline where massive Gummi wooden boats are awaiting for departure. This is turning into a Final Fantasy episode. Within the panic a pink bear shouts for his mother to look. Those two kids with the mother look like Sunni and Cubbi in different clothes; but the pink bear is voiced by a different talent which sounds like June Foray. You can tell by the Rocky J. voice she is using. There is a fire going on in the background and I assume the village of the Gummi's was burned to ashes. An brown elder Gummi runs up to tell the younger ones to run for their lives. He is voiced by Bill Scott in case you care. Everyone runs into the water and the kids get put on the life rafts and the guards of the Great Gummi's row them to safety inside the wooden boat.
We get the rising sails sequence and enter sequence as the wooden boats sail away from the carnage as we see the fire from the distance. The music in this scene is like someone is dying from cancer; but it's apporos for this scene. We end the dream sequence with the yellow and pink bears staring in shock as we head back to reality because they are really Sunni and Cubbi. Okay; not really, it's a nice trick by the animator to make us think that they were really on that boat in the past. Zummi is telling the rest of the Gummi Bears about the story of the Great Gummi who fleed from the jealous humans who would try to screw them, destroy their culture and get their secrets. Doesn't this sound like religion for some odd reason? Tummi is sad so he borrows Grammi's knitting red scarf to blow his nose in a cute spot. Grammi pulls it away and gives Tummi the stare to back him off. I was hoping to avoid using stupid puns throughout this episode; but Tummi wouldn't let them go. Sunni the diva thinks this is amazing that the Gummi tribe is still alive and wonders why their ancestors stayed behind. Zummi explains that their mission (which they accepted) was to signal the Great Gummi's when it was safe to go home. Grammi continues to knit while relying that the ancients build a great machine which creates a signal far across the sea. Cubbi snaps out of his boredom and then wonders what happens next. Gruffi blows him off because he's Gruffi and he still hates humans. Cubbi wonders what would happen if they came back because it's pretty safe to come back. They have completely forgot about Dukie of course.
Cubbi also gets his own dream sequence where the Great Gummi's were inside the dining hall of Gummi Glen where Gummi Bears of every shape, size, color and dress are having a party. See; if the Great Gummi's came back; he would have someone Cubbi's age to play with instead of having to deal with teenybopper diva poopyhead Sunni Gummi. Okay; that was mean, but it's not far from the truth actually. Cubbi is knighted by the wizard of Gummi's. Who is his name I don't know since the writers never bothered. Sunni's dream is to be the princess of the Gummi's. I shudder to thnink if she became queen of the Gummi's and the damage she would do to their tradition and culture. That would make the jealous humans look like babyfaces in comparison. Zummi would learn from the Great Gummi Wizards in order to get his Level 10 Mage skills up to Level 999 Sage skills.
He does his float spell from Duel of the Wizards on them. Grammi just wants them to respect his cooking. Find a Great Gummi cook Grammi and that wish would come true. Grammi puts her five layer chocolate cake on the table and Tummi comes out to take about half of it. Well; Tummi is really fat so he'll eat anything at this point. We head back to reality as Sunni declares that the important part is that they wouldn't be alone anymore. You know the Gummi Bears are getting bored when THAT happens. Wait a second?! Where's Gruffi's fantasy?! I guess Gruffi is the Squidward of Gummi Bears who hopes and dreams are buried six feet under. What a baby?! Cubbi wants to signal the Gummis to come home; but Grammi has to tell him the bad news because there is one problem: They cannot find the signal machine. Still; they want to do it...except for Gruffi because he loves being alone because it's safe I guess. I know he didn't say anything; but again Gruffi had no fantasy in the dream sequence earlier.
We head to Drekmore as we head to the book room with Toadie using the magnifying glass to look at various ways to stomp on Castle Dumbwin...ERRR ...Castle Dunwyn. Well; I manage to go two minutes with using only one stupid pun before using three in a row. It's just not a Gregory rant without them. Toadie wants to try the catapult from A New Beginning; but Dukie remembers the crushing force of irony that befallen him and he rips the book off of Toadie's hands...and rips the book in two. Great CONTINUITY from the writers there as Dukie wants a new weapon THAT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK as he throws the book right on target at a picture of Castle Dunwyn. He wants to grind Dunwyn to dust of course which is his way of life I guess. Toadie wants to know why Dukie hates Gregor and Dukie gives the most obvious answer known to mankind: They threw him out because he deserved to rule Castle Dunwyn...and why?
Dukie: Do you know why?
Toadie:
Because you are snappy dresser?
Dukie: [Yelling right
in Toadie's face] Because I'm a peaceful man!
Yeap; Duke Igthorn is insane because only a peaceful man would yell in ultra-cool sidekick's face right Dukie?! Too funny as it gets even funnier as Dukie proclaims that he is loved by everyone while shaking Toadie to death as Toadie shows off just how funny he really is. Poor Toadie! Dukie drops Toadie like a bad habit (with a good bump from TMS off-screen) as Dukie goes over to the photo of Castle Dunwyn and states that he was Dunwyn's greatest knight. Whoa, character development?! In a television cartoon?! What are the odds of that?! About 25:1 tops; 12.5:1 at least. Of course the magnifying lens shines a light on Dukie's fragile butt and he jumps like a Mexican jumping bean. HA HA! Even the magnifying glass hates you. Good bump from TMS off-screen again. Dukie is now ticked off and the urge to kill Toadie rising. Oh; he's pulling up his sleeve so you know he's serious! He's ready to MURDER Toadie for doing absolutely nothing...AND THE ROCK SEZS NOTHING because all monster heel must kill sidekicks for being screwed despite doing nothing to them.
However; the magnifying glass catches his eye and he realizes that there is a Gummi book that he probably stole from them that gives him some inspiration. He invokes the magnifying glass which burns the picture of Castle Dunwyn as it becomes the scene changer to Castle Dunwyn at nightfall as Dukie and Toadie (dressed in badly patched up friar outfits) sneak into the castle. How about that for a cool scene change?! They go to the condemned building and Dukie is upset because he cannot get in due to it being boarded up. You know you are screwed when THAT happens. Apparently; King Gregor hates him so much that the building has no use even for him. Geez; did Dukie whiz on Princess Calla for that to happen?! Dukie pulls the sign clear from the window and enters inside without further incident. So much for trying not to be heard. Dukie lights a candle inside while Toadie managed to enter inside the window with some effort and they walk in the dreaded house that Dukie's father built I guess. Dukie smashes a cobweb and makes it to the bookshelf. He sets the candle down on a table and goes to the shelf where he proceeds to throw books behind his back looking for the Gummi Book that he stole.
Toadie dodges them; but takes one right in the kisser and falls backwards to a wussy bump on the bed off-screen. Dukie finally finds a brown cover book called “Tall Tales of The Gummi Bears” and of course he flips the pages to a picture of the burning telescope which so happens to be a Gummi Scope, or the Lightning Gun depending on your point of view. Dukie reads the story as the location of the Gummi Scope seems to be at a river source near a mountain. Toadie loves that story of course. See it not only sends out signals; it can burn things to ashes and Dukie sees Dunwyn burning in flames with each passing word while shaking Toadie again. Toadie reminds Dukie that Gummi Bears are make believe which earns a Class S blow off from Dukie. Got to love that ogre logic there. We head outside to see Cavin (who by the way is in his last episode featuring the voice of Christian Jacobs.) walking his gray horse across the road in front of Dukie's house as Unwin shows up to mock him.
However; Cavin notices Dukie and Toadie coming out of the house so he and Unwin (along with SWEETHEART HEE HEE!) are forced to hide while Dukie and Toadie walk away from the house declaring that the weapon of choice will give him Gregor's throne. Cavin realizes it's Duke Igthorn and Unwin decides to act all brave and stuff by calling him out. Igthorn use the fourth shut up of the series and rips a page from his book and throws the rest of it right in Unwin's midsection. Unwin flies away like a cartoon character backwards and takes a wussy bump on the floor. That was a cheap shot as Cavin yells out for the guards. Dukie and Toadie try to use the front doors and open them; but two guards in armor stop them. One of them demands answers and he's voiced by Will Ryan. Dukie reveals himself and does the POWER OF THE PUNCH times two to knock the guards out. Those punches looked ultra wussy. Talk about the power of suggestion. Toadie blows the guards off and they both walk out easily. Unwin looks at the book as he gets up and realizes that it's none of his concern. He gives the book to Cavin and storms off. Cavin flips the pages of the book wondering why Dukie wants a children's book. He notices a rip in the pages and decides to leave to talk to the Gummi Bears about this.
We head to Gummi Glenn inside the hallway as the Gummi Bears and Cavin exchange notes about the situation. Of course the bears won't let Cubbi in on the action because he's too small. What a bunch of meanies?! Gruffi blows this off because humans don't know squat about Gummi Bears. Cubbi of course puts his foot down because it's not fair. If life was fair; Nintendo would be third party by now. So Cubbi has an idea and he uncorks his VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE and drinks up. It's BUTT BOUNCING TIME as Cubbi bounces up and notices that he has a book just like that. Cubbi runs away to get it and returns with the book looking proud of himself. Zummi takes the book and reads where the missing page is. The babyfaces realize that it's the signal machine and it's time to look for it. We head outside in the morning of course as Dukie and the ogre are walking on the meadow plains in a valley of mountains looking for the Gummi Scope. Dukie is looking for a straight as a lance on the seven hills. I don't like riddles; so don't ask me what it means. Of course the ogres are idiots so they crush a couple of flowers in order to amuse me and take out their frustrations on their own brains I guess. We head back to Gummi Glenn as more notes are shared. Cavin remembers that there it is Mount Sentinel which has an underground river.
Zummi thinks that it's a great idea since they never explored that Quick Tunnel and Gruffi blows it off because it's too dangerous ...and he hates humans still. Of course he does the annoying pose which is punished by a scene changer and a sequence in the Quick Tunnels. It always happens as they stop in front of a flooded underground river as the Quick Ckar take a MAN-SIZED against each other and flood water into them as Tummi blows water from his mouth in a great spot. They see a cave and the babyfaces hop out of the bobsleds and enter inside. Everyone is in awe of the technology the Great Gummi's had in the past. Zummi realizes that they have found the Gummi Scope and Cubbi wants to raise it up. Zummi notices a lever (WRONG LEVER!) and tries to grab it but stick in the mud Gruffi stops it because it's too dangerous..and he hates humans. Grammi blows her off because contact with the Great Gummi's is worth the risk. Gruffi blows that off because it's the GUMMI WAY! I thought he got that out of his system in the pilot episode?! Zummi then explains to Gruffi that their mission was to contact the Great Gummi's and this is THE GUMMI WAY! Gruffi realizes the crushing force of the truth and pulls the lever (WRONG LEVER!). Rumbling occurs and the Gummi Scope rises to the sky in a nice sequence as the mountain opens up. The Gummi Scope rises above the mountains above the forest as everyone is in awe of it's power as the segment ends nine minutes in. I don't think this episode is awesome; but the character development is certainly making it worth watching that's for sure...
After the commercial break; we return to the Gummi Scope in profile now and Tummi is in awe because Gummi's do think big and not small. Boy; even the Great Gummis think Cubbi is not worth their time. Cubbi still wonders how this thing works and Zummi goes over to the blue book to read up on the function of the Gummi Scope. Zummi reads the instructions while Tummi plays around with the wheels. One is big and one is small. The big one is for side to side; the small one is for up and down. The Gummi Scope sells as it should. Cubbi invokes the telescope and sees Dunwyn Castle from that position as we get the telescope shot of the castle. Sunni pushes Cubbi aside from the wooden stool (NOT THAT ONE!) and looks at the peep hole at find the peep shot of Gummi Glenn. Gruffi sees the panel and it has several Gummi Bear locations: Berryborn, Great Bearton and New Gumbria. I suspect they are plays on countries of Great Britian and New Guinea. I have no pun for Berryborn though.
They are the new kingdom where the Great Gummi's sailed too. Zummi tells Tummi to aim the Gummi Scope to Berryborn and Tummi sells as he uses the wheel to move the Gummi Scope to Berryborn. We know this because the panel is moving in that direction. Grammi uses the telescope and sees land in front of her which looks like an area in Nova Scotia; I guess. Gruffi asks Zummi how to send a message and Zummi points to the MORSE CODE MESSAGE GIVER OF DOOM as it sends flashes of light. The white feather would then write what the Great Gummi's would say back when they flash light back. Zummi taps on the switch to send a hello to the Great Gummi's and there is no answer at all back. Everyone is disappointed; so Zummi asks Tummi to swing over to Great Bearton. Tummi invokes the BIG WHEEL OF FORTUNE to swing the Gummi Scope to Great Bearton. Zummi tries again and there is no answer again..That of course leaves New Gumbria left. Zummi thinks the third time is a charm as Tummi invokes the big wheel to swing the Gummi Scope over to New Gumbria.
Zummi tries again and there is no answer again. Sunni hugs Grammi as Grammi admits defeat. Sunni doesn't believe it until Cubbi notices a flash of light coming back at them. Like there was any doubt. The flash of light allows the feather to be dipped in the ink well by the hand machine. Hmmm; that ink must be super wet for it to last so long for hundreds of years. The feather writes the message and states greetings friends. IT'S A MIRACLE! Everyone cheers and Tummi of course screws up by hitting the big wheel and the Gummi Scope moves away and Zummi panics. Tummi then invokes the small wheel and the Gummi Scope moves up causing Zummi to panic even more. I am so loving this! Tummi tries to stop the wheel; but it's going too fast and Zummi unintentionally pushes the button which shoots a beam of light right into the forest allowing Dukie and the ogres to be buried into one tomb of tree branches. OUCH! That's going to leave a mark! On the tree branches. Dukie and Toadie pop up from the carnage as Toadie spits out his acorns and Dukie sees the Gummi Scope and declares victory as we return to the Gummi Scope as Zummi realizes the poem as the sun beam basically cuts a landing strip of dead trees.
Grammi then notice Dukie and the battle to protect the Gummi Scope IS ON BABEE! Dukie and the ogres climb up as Gruffi knew this was going to happen so he's lower the darn thing while the rest of the Gummi Bears run interference. Cubbi does an awesome slide down spot toward the ground on top of the mountains as the babyfaces roll the blouder down on the heels. See; bullet shooting guns would be out of place here so this is going to have to do. Dukie realizes that it's the Gummi Bears. As if it could be anything else Dukie?! The heels climb up and green ogre takes a boulder right on his big pinhead because he is dumb see. Gruffi tries to push the lever (WRONG LEVER!) but it's stuck. You know you're screwed when THAT happens. Cubbi asks the obvious question of the episode and Zummi gives the obvious answer. I think you can tell which is which here as they continue to roll boulders down on Dukie and his dumb heels. Only the green ogre seems to be taking them. Dukie really wants those pesky Gummi Bears because he's now calling his henchmen dolts. Zummi realizes that they screwed the boulders so the Gummi Bears scatter like scalded dogs as they hide in the bushes. The heels get onto the Gummi Scope as apparently Gruffi scattered into the bushes as well. Otherwise; it's logic break #1 for the episode.
Dukie kisses the Gummi Scope and I have only one thing to say: Dukie germs; begone from my Gummi Scope! He cheers for victory of course because Castle Dumbwin..ERRR...Castle Dunwyn is his for the taking... We head to the drawbridge of Castle Dunwyn as Dukie mounted on his black horse threatening King Gregor with surrender or tasting castle rubble. King Gregor of course refuses because Dukie is unfit to rule his realm. Princess Calla wants a closer look so he drags Cavin up to the tower. I have a bad feeling of where this is going. Dukie gives Gregor one last warning and Sir Tuxford blows it off in style. Nice to see Lazybones' lazy bones haven't affected his ability to blow off people. Dukie does the cut throat sign (which some people condemned when a young football player did the same thing after seeing an NFL player do it I should note) and points for the ogres at the Gummi Scope to fire at will...or in this case Dumbwin. The ogres use the big wheel to turn the Gummi Scope around and they fire straight at the tower where Cavin and Calla were in. Oooooo. See now you know why this is Castle Dumbwin now. Make the joke. Pay it off. Princess Calla screams..badly as the tower completely collapses into the moat (I think) as King Gregor shrieks in horror...badly to end the segment 14 minute in. Oh come on voice talents! The tower collapses and both Cavin and Calla might be dead and your acting sounds like a zombie?! That is absolute crap!! And worst of all; this episode was going so well too....
After the commercial break; we head back to the collapsed tower where the knights help throw rocks away to save Cavin and Calla. Of course; Cavin is all right but Calla is completely out and appears to be dead. Cavin uncorks his VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE and drinks up. It's ROID RAGE time as Cavin pulls the plank of wood and pops Calla out of there. Tuxford helps him get the knocked out Calla out of harms way. Gregor is ticked off now as he calls Dukie a coward. No Gregor; Dukie's an attempted murderer now! Don't worry; Dukie will lose all of his heat soon enough as Gregor refuses to surrender. Well; he nearly killed your daughter so I wouldn't surrender either. Toadie defends Dukie's honor because he's a martyr, not a coward. Toadie praises Dukie for being the greatest knight in Dumbwin and people love him. I guess people booing him on the battlements is equal to loving him. I guess Glenn Beck was right: To know me is to love me. Dukie blows them off as the drawbridge lowers and here comes Sir Tuxford and the knights of Dumbwin to arrest that attempted murderer. Dukie responds to that as the ogres fry the drawbridge to ashes with the Gummi Scope.
Dukie tells Gregor to raise his flag to surrender at sunset; or face the WRAITH OF DUKIE in full force. We head back to Gummi Glen at the dining room where the Gummi Bears just sit there feeling defeated. WHAT?! You actually succeeded in contacting them! All you need to do is tell them to come back. And I see a clear CONTINUITY ERROR here as the bears aren't even bothering to stop the ogres from attacking Dunwyn. It's not any secret why Dukie wants their juice since they clearly saw Dukie trying to attack Castle Dumbwin in the pilot episode. The most important episode is dying before my eyes here. Cavin falls down to enter via the trapdoor and tells the Gummi's of Dunwyn's problems including Dukie's near fatal attack on Princess Calla. The Gummi's are shocked and appalled to find this out along with the fact that Cavin's basically out of the picture because he had to save Calla using his VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE. Now Gruffi has to go to plan B: The babyfaces must stop Igthorn themselves. We return to the Gummi Scope as Dukie and Toadie are on there ready to burn Dumbwin to ashes. Of course; Toadie wonders why Dukie doesn't burn Dumbwin to ashes; and Dukie blows him off because he doesn't want to rule over a pile of rubble. He has never heard of slavery hasn't he?! He invokes the telescope on the castle and there's still no flag. Dukie decides to blast the garnary (which I suspect is where Princess Calla is knowing Michael now.) as the ogres get the Gummi Scope into position.
We cut to the bushes as we see Grammi pop up because it's her cue to attack as she uncorks her VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE and drinks up. It's BUTT BOUNCING TIME as she bounces up towards the lens of the Gummi Scope and spray the cake batter on it with the pastry squirter. Nice to see her deeply entrenched in her stereotype as Dukie can now see absolutely nothing..AND THE ROCK SEZS NOTHING! Of course; Toadie has to clean it because he doesn't want to invoke the WRAITH OF DUKIE. Now that TaleSpin's been completed to the fullest; I can change the WRAITH OF BECKEY joke into something funny now. Toadie gets the message and climbs up as Dukie orders the ogres to rotate the scope two degrees. They sell as we cut to outside the scope as Gruffi and Zummi pour the oil beneath the ogre's feet and scatter into the bushes. We cut to see Toadie cleaning the lens to a squeaky shine.
He is so good at cleaning. Sadly; the ogres start to set their feet on the oil and they slide right off the deck (while spinning the wheel of course) and Toadie has to hang on for dear life on the lens of the Gummi Scope. Okay; that was cute to watch. The scope finally stops on cue and Toadie goes flying and whacks Dukie hard right in the back of the head. They take funny decent bump on the floor. Of course; the Gummi Scope is still in perfect position to shoot at Dumbwin in spite of the Gummi Bears efforts now. However; the reason why Dukie wanted to shoot before sunset was because if the sun sets; he has no power until tomorrow. Smooth move there Dukie. Gruffi claims that Dumbwin needs a miracle to stop Dukie now and Zummi has a miracle in his magic as he takes out the SPELL NOTES OF SATAN. Ahh; I see Cavin has joined the group now; not that he could do anything right now. Zummi chants his spell....
Zummi: Clamoud, Clamigh, humigh!
Translation: Cloud Mound Cloud Might Hum Might!
That of course creates a cloud to block out the sunlight; but it's way too small. Well; he tried and the spell was good in theory; but Zummi's too weak to do that spell. He needs to be a Level 20 Mage. Zummi floats the cloud over to the Gummi Scope and it attaches itself to the lens. Dukie tries the You Cannot Do That On Television promo; but he has to stop the execution because he notices the cloud on the lens. He orders the ogres to get rid of it before the sun sets. That shouldn't be too hard; but then again these are ogres so we will have to see. Toadie gets the honor of cowering in fear before being grabbed by the vest and throws him onto the Gummi Scope. Dukie's aim is getting a lot better now that all of his heat is back. Toadie slides towards the lens and almost slips and falls in the process. Toadie gets to the lens and like an idiot he tries to blow the cloud away. As least Zummi's cloud spell has it's roots down if you know what I mean. The sun continues to set down as Dukie hates Toadie even more; but Toadie manages to blow the cloud away just in time to get in one more shot before sunset.
Dukie orders the Gummi Scope to fire and the ogre pushes the button to start the scar beam; but the sun completely sets and the beam has no effect on the tower. Princess Calla is safe for one more night at least. Dukie swears in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (drat) and blames those pesky Gummi Bears of course. The ogres hang their heads in shame while the Gummi Bears and Cavin jump for joy in victory. And thus the world is right again. However; there is still about three minutes left in the episode so it's not over yet. Gruffi point it out that they merely bought Dumbwin some time as we cut to Princess Calla's room where Calla's head is bandaged up and looks nearly dead as Gregor swears on his bloody honor that Igthorn will pay for this. Tuxford enters and asks Gregor if he wants to stay with Calla. Gregor refuses as he wants Igthorn's butt badly now and they will invoke the surprise dusk attack on Dukie. The knights on horseback ride out of the castle now that the drawbridge is repaired. Maybe it's just me; but Dukie should have fired on them and burn the castle to ashes after all. Then he would have won. I guess I was right about Dukie losing his heat all along. We cut to Gruffi (as the Gummi Bears and Cavin sit by the fire) as he proclaims that they need to destroy the Gummi Scope and I agree with him. No one is safe around that thing and even Zummi has to agree with him on that. We cut to the underbelly of the Gummi Scope as Gruffi's plan is to dig a tunnel to flood the supports so that the Gummi Scope would simply collapse on itself.
The babyfaces digs the hole while Zummi claims that he's looking for a shovel. Of course; he is lying as he climbs the supports of the Gummi Scope. He wants that paper which the Great Gummi's wrote. We head to the Gummi Scope as Dukie sees sunlight and he invokes the telescope because he's ready to burn Dumbwin to ashes...for real! However; Toadie informs Dukie that Gregor and his knights on horseback are nearing the scope and Gregor is ticked off and the urge to kill is rising. Dukie jumps off the deck of the scope and starts repeating what the Gummi Bears did in order to run interference. The ogres help as the horses get distracted; but Gregor holds his ground and moves on. More boulder riding as Zummi crawls to the Gummi Scope. He makes it to the wheel and turns the Gummi Scope over to New Gumbria while Gregor unintentionally runs interference for him. Zummi zaps the button and tells the Great Gummi's to repeat the message. We cut back to Gruffi ordering the babyfaces to dig that hole faster and Tummi manages to strike water right on cue just as the message from the Great Gummi's is being written on the paper by the hand machine.
The underground cave floods out as the digging is finished and the babyfaces scatters out of the cave. Cubbi then realizes that Zummi isn't around. The final burst of energy by the water blows the cave wide open and the babyfaces gets into the Quick Cars and the rushing water carries them away. The message is completed as Zummi tries to grab it; but the orange ogre grabs Zummi. Curses! Foiled again! Dukie threatens Gregor again as Gregor is merely ten feet away from MURDERING Dukie for trying to MURDER Princess Calla; and Gregor blows him off because he wants Dumbwin. Dukie is completely insane as he orders the ogres to fire on Dunwyn. The problem is that it would fire on New Gumbria instead since Zummi successfully got the Gummi Scope out of harms way. And besides; the supports of the Gummi Scope are collapsed due to the flooding water. ALL HELL IS BREAKING LOOSE as Zummi manages to get free from the ogre and tries to get to the message paper again; but the Gummi Scope parts which are falling down block Zummi's path towards it. Zummi crawls to the paper and tries to grab it; but the Gummi Scope tips over to the side and Zummi slides down.
Dukie hold on to the Gummi Scope in insane fashion as Toadie pleads for him to run. However; Dukie is insane and his hope chest is gone as the Gummi Scope slides down the hill and crashes down with a MAN-SIZED bump. We cut to Princess Calla waking up slowly. She's all right as if Disney would allow death in a cartoon. That would be sick and wrong. That's sarcasm by the way. She looks out the window and sees that the Gummi Scope is destroyed. King Gregor goes over and declares that Dumbwin is safe once more as Dukie walks from the carnage. He is insane to walk out uninjured from that spot. He is super-human! Dukie sobs for the loss as Toadie tells him that he always has Toadie. That's a no-no you idiot! Dukie gets mad and chases Toadie right out of the episode and out of season one in total anger. Oh well; better luck next time Dukie! HAHA!
We cut to the bobsled as the babyfaces recover from the carnage as Tummi squeezes the water from his hat. Tummi wonders what is left of Zummi as Cavin notices the Gummi Scope was destroyed. Cubbi points to the carnage and it shows Zummi is all right crawling on the debris looking for that message that was written in full. The babyfaces searches around until Tummi takes the blue feather right in the can and that's where the message is. Zummi goes over to look at it and it's all smeared and unreadable. And there is failed attempt to contact the Great Gummi's return home number one right there. Grammi doesn't feel too bad because they managed to prove that the Great Gummi's exist, saved Dunwyn and beat Dukie all in one day. Hey; you cannot get better than that as Sunni wonders what the future holds now. Gruffi doesn't know; but he knows that they must go on. They lasted this long without contact and they'll continue to do so until the end of their time and THAT'S THE GUMMI WAY. And the end of the episode and season one at 21:19. Great episode with awesome character development; but the episode was marred by bad acting, CONTINUITY ERRORS and a slight weakling of Dukie near the end. However; in the context this was a much important episode since it allowed the series to go on and have a real purpose: Find the Great Gummi's and bring them back to Gummi Glen. **** 1/4 ( 85%)
THE REVIEW LINE
Well; season one is in the books and it ends better than the series begins. I have already explained in the beginning of the rant on how important the episode is so I won't repeat it here. However; this episode wasn't the perfect episode that I thought it would be. A few errors which included The Gummi Bears basically going home after losing their chance to send a message which was out of place and was only there to allow Cavin to warn them about Igthorn attacking Dunwyn which was pointless since the Gummi Bears should have easily know why Igthorn was after the Gummi Scope. Then there was the scene where the Gummi Scope destroyed a tower. I mean; Princess Calla and Cavin were nearly killed by the collapsing tower and the acting of horror sounding like they were zombies. It was horrible and the talent had no excuse doing that. Dukie was weakened a bit due to the writers trying to make him look insane; but that was a minor thing and it didn't affect the episode quality. All in all; the episode was excellent for the most part. I still think the errors are glaring because it is the most important episode in the series; but it wasn't enough to drag it far down. So that ends season one and season two is upon us with Up, Up & Away as the writers decide to add their first new Gummi Bear to the mix..and it didn't work as you will see.
Thumbs up for this episode and I'll see you all next time.