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Up,Up & Away
Reviewed: 08/04/2007
Chummi proves to be a chum after all!
Welcome to Season 2 of Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears. A season which might not have happened without Light Makes Right of course. Now that the major angle has been delivered; it's time to continue the light hearted adventures of those candy bears with this one. See; the writers thought that adding a new Gummi Bear to the mix would help the series. However; Chummi didn't prove to be a show stealer if you know what I mean. Never the less; the writers did manage to find one character that would be annoying enough for the senses to still have pleasure and that would be Gusto. However; that is at the end of Season 2 so it will have to wait. So let's rant on shall we....
This episode's story was written by Jymn Magon and Arthur Vitello. The teleplay was done by Doug Hutchinson. The stories credits are exactly the same for the entire season so I will only mention them in this rant and the other credits will be for the teleplay which are different. Jymn Magon is still the story editor at this point and that will stay until Season Three when he'll join Tad Stones. Arthur (also known as Art..Oh I get it...HAR HAR!) is well known in the television animation business as a producer for DTVA until he moved to director and producer for Tiny Toon Adventures and The Tick from Warner Brothers. He was an animator for the R-rated movie Fritz The Cat and more recently in the Art Department for the movie Valiant.
We begin in the forest as Cavin and Cubbi are running away...well; not quite. Cubbi is on the ROIDS so he's bouncing (complete with the WOODEN SWORD OF PIN PRICKS.). This is actually the second time in the series that these two have been alone for at least one scene. They are being chased by the lizard men which have suits that make them looks like complete tools. The background music is absolutely beautiful in this scene as Cavin jumps onto the wooden spring stump and he and Cubbi get onto the tree. I see the babyfaces has redesigned Gummi Glen for Cavin now that he's part of the family. The lizard men are undaunted as Cubbi runs into the hole and bops a lizardman as Cavin does a really cute sequence with his feet as he pushes the red button. I swear to God that every button in a cartoon has to be red. It's the LAW you see! That snaps the branch and a lizard man falls down to his certain death; if death were allowed at this point. Only the word; not the action is allowed. Cavin climbs up while Cubbi bounces up the tree. I thought this series would be slower and eaiser to call; but Jymn must be training the audience to be able to follow complex spot building before TaleSpin is created. Cubbi actually bounces off his head and doesn't die from it. Those ROIDS are really useful. Cubbi pulls the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and the branch opens (?!) to reveal the crushing rocks. Okay; this is really getting overkill now Jymn.
All the lizard men fall down the tree in a messy heap complete with the dust cloud. One of them is now wearing Grammi's outfit. Did he eat her?! Oh wait; now it's speaking like June Foray and it's really Grammi Gummi. Oh I get it; Cubbi and Cavin were playing with their imagination! No contrived rainbow spot because this show existed long before Spongebob and therefore he's not here to stink up this show. It's time for lunch as Grammi doesn't seem so upset. I would be if I was..Oh wait; it's in their heads never mind what I said. Cavin climbs as they will make their next imagination fight be against skeletons. That is thinking way too small; and isn't that just indirectly burying Dukie there guys?! And oh my god; what the hell happened to Cavin's voice?! Okay; this is the where Disney decided to change voice talents for Cavin. This Cavin is voiced by Brett Johnson who got some minor fame as the voice of Charlie Brown in It's Flashbeagle which is one of my all time favorite TV Movies involving the Peanuts. That was about it actually and judging by his voice; I can see why.
Then again; I didn't feel R.J. Williams was right for Cavin either. Cavin was a kid who was a quite shy and sounds like a behaved little boy. R.J. Williams sounds like a bundle of joy and can explode into awesomeness. Just like Kit Cloudkicker. Brett sounds like a combination of the two; and not in a good way. In a bigger surprise; Disney allowed Brett to voice Cavin until near the end of Season Three and then David Faustino voiced the final episode in the DVD Volume One set The Knights of Gummadoon before changing to Jason Marsden until 1990 when of course R.J. Williams got the honor of doing the grand finale episodes. Cavin and Cubbi proclaim that they are knights fighting side by side like the old days before those pesky humans turned on them because of their VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE. Cubbi is somber because he cannot be a knight because there is no Gummi ruler to do that; even though Cavin will be knighted by King Gregor. Cubbi's got a point there and Cavin should know better than to act like a child here. Cubbi tears some leaves in a really sad moment. Cubbi's biggest dream is to become a knight kind of like Kit Cloudkicker wants to be a pilot...And speaking of pilots....
We head into the sky as we see the airship that Newton Gimmick would steal when Teddy Ruxpin started. Okay; maybe not. We see someone holding the map as the airship goes over Drekmore as we get the overhead shot of the ogres basically doing nothing. I don't know what TMS was trying to do here; but they look like knuckle-dropping ground ogres there. Not unlike some idiots in the video game industry nowadays who say that the Wii bubble is going to burst. We head to a gate where Dukie is pacing around while his ultra-cool sidekick Toadie is playing the silver harp. TOTAL MARKUP CITY FOR THAT SPOT. Toadie's singing and playing is so bad it's funny. Dukie goes over asking Toadie about how music makes him think and Toadie foolishly sells it which earns Toadie a Grade A blowoff and a pluck on those strings which basically allows Toadie to fly off-screen and take a pretty sick bump off-screen. The SHADOW OF DOOM beckons and Dukie sees the AIRSHIP OF GIMMICKS and he's inspired...to shoot that damn thing down. The ogres throw various international objects at the ship; including the dreaded chicken. Sadly; the chickens aren't from Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past; so they don't team up and beat the crap out of the ogres in response.
They do manage to deflate the balloon with the spear and it sails away even faster much to Dukie's disgust. First moron reference of the series commences as we head to just above Dunwyn forest as we see the airship go into a tailspin (BWHAHAHAHAHA!) like a rocket. We cut to Cubbi and Cavin climbing down from the tree as the airship takes some MAN-SIZED bumps (DUH! Like it could be any other bump?) as Cubbi and Cavin see the airship and climb down. Knights to the rescue! It should be Children to the Rescue but that wouldn't be politically correct now would it?! I mean; a child rescuing an adult? That would be disgusting..Disgusting I SAY! That's sarcasm of course. The airship defies gravity for a bit before finally taking some sick bumps into the trees and rests there for good I suppose. The airship hangs around like one of those amusement park rides involving pirate ships. The KNIGHTS OF GUMMI GLENN look down from the trees and see a man dressed up completely like something out of the Crimson Pig from Miyazaki.
Anyone who thinks that Hayao doesn't steal from Disney (as much as Disney steals from Hayao) is an anime purist of the worst order. They need to be pitied and shunned forever. Trust me; that's the only way I can enjoy anime in any way. Cubbi and Cavin finally put their feet on the ground. I should point out that the animation style has changed for the bears in that they look more like TaleSpin bears rather than Teddy Bears. The soles of their feet give away that distinction. They unmask him ala Scooby Doo (nice touch to put in that they run if he wakes up) and it reveals a brown bear face. Oh my gosh; he's a Gummi Bear! Which isn't surprising since Gummi Bears are far more advanced than the humans are. If they were not; then the humans weren't be after them of course.
We get the shot of Gummi Glen outside before heading underground where the babyfaces is in the living room laying down on the red sofa. Zummi proclaims (while covering his eyes for no reason) that he's only shaken up. He FELL about 20 feet from the airship?! Must be the ROIDS as Grammi wonders who he is and then the brown bear wakes up almost instantly and proclaims his welcome. That was pretty lame if you ask me. I think he was faking it all along. Much like Peter Griffin faking an injury to his leg in over dramatic fashion. I just realized after watching MUGEN on Youtube between Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin that Peter is so bad that he needs Homer to make me laugh. When Peter does the fake injury spot alone; it's not funny. But when Homer is there blowing him off (IN YOUR FACE! YOU SUCK DIDDY-O!); it sounds infinite times funnier. Peter won the MUGEN fight 2-1 by the way. This guy sounds like a babyface version of Dan Dawson. Gruffi blows him off because he's dazed. No; because he's cocky. Chummi Gummi offers his hands Grammi and they shake on it while Grammi pulls down on her hat. Now speaking of new voices; here's the DTVA (and animation debut actually) of one of the greatest talents or our time.
A man who managed to surpass Mel Blanc in voice roles (Although Frank Welker surpassed him. Note From The Future: You are still wrong on both counts Mr. Weagle.) and became the voice of Disney for years to come. He is Don Karnage, Louie Lamount (not anymore due to the Prima suit), DARKWING....DUCK and Bonkers. He is Jim Cummings of course. Learn to love him..Learn to live with him...Diamonds are forever and so is Jim Cumming's sparkling career. In fact his first debut in Disney was as a giant puppet lion known as Lionel in Dumbo Circus back in 1985 which was his official acting debut. Welcome to the family Jim! Sadly; Chummi was not one of his better characters. He was in fact still working out the kinks of his voice at this point. Chummi shakes Gruffi and Tummi's hands as he smacks Tummi on the bed wondering what fun there is on a Saturday night. Chummi is getting on my nerves and he's supposed to be a babyface here. Tummi thinks that fun involves taking a bath. Geez; cleaning himself should be the least of Tummi's worries if you know what I mean and now Chummi praises Sunni and they shake hands quickly. Chummi and Sunni would gel together as father and daughter like Paris Hilton and his father; but without the nasty sex tape and jail time.
Zummi gets to shake on this too and then Cubbi gets the last shake of course since he's the hero here. Chummi is so glad to see dozens of Gummi faces and is about to shake hands with Cavin which causes Chummi to repulse into his defense mechanism. I have a feeling that Chummi is going to drive a wedge between Cubbi and Cavin; I just know it. Cubbi defends his friends honor but Chummi blows Cavin off because he wouldn't trust a human in battle. Cavin didn't like that response. We go to the walking sequence with the babyfaces as they exchange notes. Chummi is from Gummerset and of course Chummi claims that they are from Gummerset. I think he's making it up and no one notices. Maybe this is the Stormy Weather template. We walk through the hallway as they exchange more notes as Chummi realizes that the Great Gummi's are gone and his work was all for nothing. He demands that they return to his airship as he's wants to leave apparently. Well; that was awfully rude of him. Why couldn't he stay for some Gummi culture before leaving? Or is he sore because Cavin's still around?!
We head to the airship as Cavin is sitting alone on a tree branch probably hurting from Chummi's hatred towards humans. Join the club; we all know Gruffi's got the same attitude basically. The Gummi's are on the ship as the ship hasn't taken too much damage. Sunni the diva gets her first line in as we see Dukie and his ogres approaching the airship. Gruffi thinks that this is bad. No?! Really?! By the way; this would be the debut of Corey Burton as Toadie and Gruffi voice it should be noted due to Bill Scott's passing. Chummi wants to try to run interference; but Cavin decides that he's better than Chummi because he's a bigot when it comes to humans. Okay; not really. Cavin drinks up with the VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE and it's ROID RAGE TIME! Cavin bounces up and pulls the rope in order to pull the airship up. Chummi is actually impressed by the kid as the airship is tugged out of sight. Dukie is dumbfounded while swearing in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (blasted) because he cannot find the airship. The babyfaces cut a speak no evil promo as the ultra-cool sidekick Toadie runs right into Dukie of course because he's OUR idiot.
Dukie blows him off as Toadie cowers in fear while saying peevishness. I got to say that Toadie sounds better with Corey Burton voice acting. Gruffi not so much though. The GANG OF DUMB HEELS walk away without further incident. Cavin slides down as he proclaims that they are gone. Chummi and the rest of the Gummi Bears jump down and Chummi is finally impressed with Cavin's courage and use of roids. Okay; maybe not the second thing. Cubbi proclaims that Cavin is a great guy. I wish he really was; but Kit is a really great guy himself. Anyhow; we head to Cubbi's room as Chummi and Cubbi enter and apparently; Cubbi has been watching live cinema versions of Extreme Castle Makeover in order to get that room. Oh come on! You knew that one was coming. He does a cute Tarzan spot on the rope and then shows Chummi his Shield Symbol collection all made by Gruffi. That is just asking to be mocked but Chummi praises Gruffi's handiwork. One of them was called Sir Plummi which Chummi claims to be a boy right here in Gummi Glen. They exchange notes on being a knight someday as they look at each other with giddy eyes. So now we head to Castle Dumbwin...ERRR...Castle Dunwyn as it's clear that the animators have taken a 180 degree turn in the animation style with this season. Thankfully; no spot blowing has happened..yet...Bird chirping and we head to the hallways inside the castle as Cavin enters via the trapdoor stone slab. Why bother?!
Why not use the drawbridge like a human being should. I swear that one day someone will wonder why Cavin would take that route and then want to FOLLOW HIM when his back is turned...Cavin is whistling and here comes Sir Lazybones Tuxford blowing him off because he had to look for him for three times in the past week. Again due to the passing of Bill Scott; Sir Lazybones is now voiced by Roger C. Carmel. This would not last long as Roger would also pass away shortly after this season and he would be replaced by Brain Cummings in 1987. Roger did Harry Mudd in Star Trek it should noted. Cavin apologizes and of course he nearly blows his cover before recoiling with the time forget excuse while covering his mouth. Sir Tuxford is unamused because this actions state that he doesn't want to be a knight. Speak for yourself Lazybones!
Cavin wants to be a knight and Sir Lazybones gives him an ultimatation: Place duty above the Gummi Bears; or never win that sword as Tuxford walks out. Cavin doesn't like that response... We return to the forest as Cubbi, Gruffi and Tummi wrap up the bubble bag (which Chummi should be use to right now.) and watch out for thorns because Gruffi doesn't want to have Chummi steal his heat from his I guess. Zummi goes to Chummi with the NOTE OF SATAN (Sunni and Grammi show up now) and give it to him. Zummi wants Chummi to tell the Great Gummi's that they are still alive. Chummi tears up the NOTE OF SATAN (YAY! I mean D'OH!) and proclaims that he has a better idea: Take the Gummi's on his airship. Everyone cheers for victory on that as Cubbi proclaims that this would mean that the Great Gummi's would be able to knight him for real as the segment ends eight and a half minutes in. This is not a good episode so far...
After the commercial break; we start off with Chummi using the mallet on the wooden board planks and he's singing. Now if there is one thing Jim Cummings can do well at this point it is sing. This is the Rough, Tough Burly Sailor song (written by Michael and Patty Silversher- Home is Where the Heart Is which most people think Christopher L. Stone did which is false.) I'm not going to bother calling the action here because I made it a rule that songs that are Disney-like which is for dancing and entertaining the kids instead of advancing the plot are not worth calling for. Which makes Home Is Where The Heart Is the only song in DTVA to have that honor of being spot called by me. Noelle North's singing is a sight to behold I should note. Lorenzo Music not so much. Dukie and the ogres are still looking for them of course and since the song is going on; I'm going to ignore the spot the yellow ogre did there. Thankfully the song ends quickly as the wooden blue bird whistles and that the sign for Dukie to finally get away from his dumbfounded thinking as he swears in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (Blast); just as he began his search. How about that?! Dukie and the ogres turn around as Zummi breathes a sigh of relief (yeah right?!) while misspelling again in case anyone thought that the writers forgot about that end of the character.
Chummi isn't worried as he has the rope and they'll be casting off tomorrow of course. Sadly; the rope is as weak as his character; so Cubbi (complete with smaller mallet) agrees to find him stronger rope which allows them to play Captain and first mate for a bit. Cubbi is carrying this episode on his back as usual. We head to the horse stalls as Cavin is apparently doing all of Lazybones' chores by feeding the horses hay. Princess Calla is with him as Cavin blows off Tuxford for getting him into trouble. Princess Calla blows off that as she stuffs hay down Cavin's back. Mmmmm...hay violence..SLURP! Cavin counters with some hay throwing of his own as they play who can bury the other in hay off-screen as Cubbi pops up from the hay. Cubbi actually runs like a real bear here (Why? He NEVER does that anywhere else.) and the two human children stop playing in the hay for my amusement. Cubbi asks Cavin for some rope and delivers the news that he'll be leaving Gummi Glenn to return to the Great Gummi's. Problem is that they aren't coming back and Calla is really upset as she wants to talk to Sunni. Too late Calla; Sunni already knows, you just in denial mode. Cavin cannot believe this and now he's upset because he and Cubbi are supposed to be friends. Cubbi wants to be a knight and he explains it in the most selfish matter possible.
I knew Chummi was a bad influence on kids! I just needed to see Cubbi in action to prove it. That sailor song has brainwashing powers. Cavin tries to explain his feelings but he cannot as he and Cubbi leave as they go for the rope. We cut to the streets as Cubbi and Cavin have rope and they are looking for the tunnel out of the castle. Cubbi runs forward to find it which allows Unwin to return to mock Cavin as usual. Nothing bully BEGONE FROM MY TV SCREEN! He's even doing Gruffi's pose just to annoy and mock me...and we quickly cut to inside as Sir Tuxford basically blows him off for being a thief for stealing the rope. And Cavin can no longer be a knight because he's a thief now; basically busting him down to kitchen helper. That's it?! No dungeon?! No trial?! That's uber lame! Then again Lazybones was a fool as he leaves. Oh well; thieves are quicker so Cavin does have at least one job in store if he ever wants to be in a RPG. Cubbi was in the room the whole time of course and he feels bad now. Cavin basically blows Cubbi off because he can no longer become a knight. I cannot say I don't blame him. He was thief material anyway or maybe ninja. Cavin basically tells Cubbi to leave and Cubbi agrees to as he asks for Cavin to be there to say goodbye. Cavin just sits there sulking. I betcha he refuses to do so.
We head back inside the kitchen of Gummi Glenn as Grammi sezs goodbye to anything not nailed down. And of course; Gruffi blows it off by nailing on the floor just to annoy her. Grammi enters and blows off Gruffi in kind of course. I'm on Gruffi's side this time around as he doesn't want other Gummi's to think that his kind was a messy bunch of slackers. AND HE WON'T REST UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE! What a stubborn old mule. Then everyone just realized that they conveniently have stuff to do except for Cubbi of course. The babyfaces just comes out and admits that they don't want to leave because this is their home. WHAT THE HECK?! There was absolutely no build up or context to that moment. There was no sign that they didn't want to leave. It was contrived and forced. This is just..there to suck. Cubbi of course cannot believe this (YAY!) as Chummi enters and realizes that they aren't going to leave. He takes it awfully well though. Well; at least they didn't break logic and gave no reason for them not to leave as Gruffi remembered that they have to preserve the place until the Great Gummi's come back. Cubbi is really upset at this as he cannot go by himself with Chummi. So they don't trust Chummi after all?
That is just peachy as Cubbi and Cavin's dreams go up in smoke. Cubbi does the most funniest blow off I have ever seen in my life (I'm sure the writers didn't intend it that way) and Chummi defends him relating the story of being the youngest in the group. Zummi relates to this problem and Grammi asks Cubbi is he really wants to go knowing that he would never see each other again. Cubbi wants to do because he wants to be a knight. Tears are shed and I don't really care. I'm sorry folks if this doesn't sound emotional to me; but TaleSpin did this so well that seeing any other DTVA series do it (even if the writers tried their best as they did here) just doesn't work anymore. I don't blame the writers here; I blame myself for seeing TaleSpin so much. Chummi rubs his forehead and promises that he'll treat Cubbi like a son to him. Nightfall ensumes as the airship is all pumped up so to speak and the fire is roaring inside with firewood being placed in. Tummi and Gruffi are on the airship doing nothing. Cubbi calls out to them that the wind is heading up due west. Nice to see that Cubbi has rubbed off of Kit so well. We cut to the forest where five ogres are sleeping (including the rare purple ogre) with two ogres guarding Dukie's tent.
They notice a second moon rising; but of course the ogres are idiots and they are forced to realize that it's the airship. We go to Cavin's bedroom as Princess Calla (complete with candlelight) to inform him that the Gummi's are leaving and that they can wave to him on the tower. However; Cavin storms out of bed (he sleeps in his own clothes by the way) and leaves to return to Gummi Glen for one last goodbye even if it costs him kitchen helper. Well; he cannot be a knight so what if he is late?! We return to the airship as Chummi calls for Cubbi to come up and Cubbi is a rope ladder away from doing that. Cubbi hugs Zummi as they wish him a safe trip. Again; this is an emotional moment and it's done as good as they could do it at the time. However; TaleSpin did it so well that it's not the same anymore. Gruffi gives him one wrapped up present for his birthday. Huh?! That was out of nowhere and Gruffi's attempt to say goodbye is out of place as well. And of course Dukie commences the attack before Grammi can speak her peace. Dukie and the ogres (along with ultra-cool sidekick Toadie) run out of the bushes as Chummi calls for Cubbi to come up.
The babyfaces run interference as they drink up their VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE and it's BUTT BOUNCING TIME! The Gummi's distract the ogres as Cubbi climbs up which allows Grammi to speak her peace one last time: Don't forget us! Dukie wants to get up there and the ogres do the boost up spot which Baloo would steal for Louie's Last Stand. Dukie manages to jump up and land on the airship without any trouble. Now that's a quality boost. Toadie of course being the ultra-cool sidekick gets throw up onto the airship and takes a bump against the balloon before taking a real wussy bump on the ground. New animation style; weaker bumps. What a depressing moment for me?! The ogres get on the airship (including the rare purple ogre!) and Chummi counters with the dagger and uses it to cut the rope. The airship sails into the sky as the green ogres jumps onto the rope ladder. The babyfaces watches in horror as the airship sails away to end the segment 15 and a half minutes in. This is one of those episode which shows that they were still learning and learning how to change their style as well.
After the commercial break; and we get the ultimate showdown between Dukie, Toadie, Chummi and Cubbi. Chummi orders Cubbi to cut the rope (Why?!) and Cubbi cuts the rope ladder..Sort of before Toadie grabs him. Green ogre is hanging by a thread right now. Chummi shows down on Dukie and basically nails his club right in his nose. What is with these bears and Dukie's nose?! Is that his real weakness because I don't get it? Purple ogre stands there doing nothing...AND THE ROCK SEZS NOTHING! Cubbi and Toadie struggle and Cubbi manages to cut the rope ladder completely and green ogre free-falls to certain death. Or not as he takes a really silly bump into the bushes. Good animation though; I'll give them that much. More nose pointing from Chummi. Retire that spot now; it sucks badly! Dukie takes his club and blows him off as the purple ogre grabs Chummi. Wow! Purple ogre has a brain. IT'S A MIRACLE! HAHA! Chummi is REALLY STUPID to fall for that spot and NOT notice that purple ogre is doing nothing..AND THE ROCK SEZS NOTHING!
Cubbi tries to save him; but purple ogre grabs him as well. Dukie takes the wheel and spins it thinking that it cannot be too hard and of course the airship goes out of control. The heels and babyfaces flop on the airship and land on the back wall of the ship. Dukie retakes the wheel and still has problems. Cubbi is free and Dukie wants those pesky Gummi Bears; but ultra-cool sidekick Toadie is sicker than the writers writing this episode. I LOVE that Wii blue eyes spot from Toadie. He may be an idiot; but he's OUR idiot. We head back to Castle Dumbwin...ERRR...Castle Dunwyn as Princess Calla is shivering and awaiting for someone. Purple ogre does manage to grab Cubbi and Chummi though and throws them into the storehouse. We cut to Cavin running in the forest trying to find the Gummi Bears and wish them a safe journey. However; he notices the airship is flying away and waves to someone. Cubbi calls for help and Cavin realizes that Cubbi is in trouble. He finds the spring stump; call out the episode title; jump on it and it does nothing... AND THE ROCK SEZS NOTHING! You know Cavin is a thief when THAT happens. Cavin jumps on it several more times and then it finally works! Dukie declares that he has the airship in firm control...for about three seconds as Cavin grabs onto the rudder and again Dukie is screwed what a shock?!
Dukie somehow regains control as ultra-cool sidekick Toadie points down to inform him that they are over Castle Dunwyn and Dukie notices the Princess on the tower. He proclaims that he was a very good boy today. What...a...pervert?! Cavin uncorks the VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE and tries to drink up; but the rudder shoves the vial out of his hands and that plan is screwed. I take it back; Cavin cannot even perform thievery. He is so screwed now as the airship approches Calla. Cavin tries to warn him but Princess Calla gets lassoed by the LASSO OF BANE TO ALL ACTION CARTOONS EVERYWHERE and Dukie pulls her up like a fish on a hook. We cut to a crier in the most absurd armor I have ever seen calling for the troops with the bell. Wrong bell crier; that's the fire bell! FIRE THAT CRIER!! Roger C. Carmel does his voice it should be noted for the two people who care. Dukie gleefully blows him off for me as Cavin manages to climb onto the ship. We cut to the storeroom as Chummi tells Cubbi not to play hero and to open the door. Cubbi agrees and opens the door and climbs out. He tries to practice the fine art of not being seen but ultra-cool sidekick Toadie blows his cover. Cubbi tries to open the door; but Toadie cuts him off forcing Cubbi to scatter. Dukie (with Calla in tow) opens the door as Chummi appears at the door and Calla gets thrown in on Chummi and Dukie closes the door. Cut to the battlements as King Gregor and Sir Lazybones Tuxford exchange notes and Logic Break #1 for the episode happens about 18 minutes in. The reason: Princess Calla didn't scream.
If Sir Tuxford is a knight than Cavin should sue the castle for defamation of character. We cut back to the edge of the airship as we see Cubbi on the yardarm with the rope as our ultra-cool sidekick Toadie and our somewhat still cool Dukie have our carrying babyface cornered. He's doomed..DOOMED I SAY! As about as doomed as Nintendo right now. Cavin climbs over the ship and takes the wheel as Dukie is distracted. Cavin tilts the airship to the right and Dukie goes sailing in that general direction as the airship is nearing the tallest tower in Dunwyn. Cavin puts the bucket and the airship pretty much sails 360 degrees. Cavin might have a higher calling as an air ship rider ala Cid from Final Fantasy's past right now. Cavin calls for Cubbi and it's knights to the rescue and it's time for a little Wii Bowling as Cubbi rolls himself into a ball and purple ogre goes down like a pin. Now that is awesome BABEE! They would use that spot for the second opening in Season 3 I should note. Cubbi climbs up the steps as Cavin climbs up the rope webbing as Dukie cannot catch him. Cubbi bops purple ogre on his big pinhead to show who the boss is in this series. Cubbi gets chased by purple ogre on the airship as the ogre somehow doesn't destroy the floor in the process. Cubbi bounces onto the anchor and rides it down.
Now I would have left Cubbi there and then waited for him to come back up and pound him; but purple ogre's brain shrinks as he pulls the anchor up and manages to have Cubbi in his sights. Cubbi points to him that he's going to get whacked by the brick bridge; but purple ogre's brain shrinks completely as he has Cubbi. And of course; he gets MURDERED by the bridge. Purple ogre has been popped from the airship and into the moat. The airship continues to fly around the castle as Cubbi runs around until ultra-cool sidekick Toadie grabs Cubbi again. However; Cavin jumps down and basically flips Toadie head over feet until Toadie bounces right into Dukie's groin. Ooooooo..and he doesn't sell! He's got DICKS OF STEEL BABEE! Or the spot was blown which in 1986 is understandable. Dukie blows off the two kids; calling Cubbi a baby bear! You are asking for it Dukie; but Dukie uncorks the wooden boards (tearing it off the airship). He has the knights cornered; but Cubbi uncorks his VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE and drinks up. It's BUTT BOUNCING TIME as he goes underneath Dukie's legs as Cavin climbs up to the top of the balloon on the airship.
Real smart move there Cavin; allow the guy with the popping tool an excuse to go up there. Cavin then unties the rope from the balloon and blows off Dukie. He climbs down and swings like Tarzan; and does the old DOUBLE FEET OF DOOM right into the throat of Dukie. OUCH! That's going to leave a mark! On his voice box! Now this episode is redeeming itself. Another tradition born in this series. Dukie free-falls out of the airship and is popped right in the moat where he belongs. Purple ogre and Dukie get MURDERED on each other with a MAN-SIZED bump just for old times sake. That leaves Toadie and Cubbi does the silliest boo spot (but it's so funny never the less) I have ever seen; and Toadie free-falls off the airship in a really impressive visual and MURDERS Dukie in a MAN-SIZED bump into the water (create with impact blow).
Now that was a sick bump and the Disney editors made it more so by creating the impact star. Chummi and Calla manage to get out of the storehouse and the kid babyfaces cheer for victory. Cavin tries to convince Cubbi to stay because he's a hero right here. However; Cubbi still wants to go and become a real knight and there are no Gummi rulers in Dunwyn. Cavin and Cubbi say goodbyes and shake hands. Princess Calla gives Cubbi a goodbye kiss in an emotional moment that is dulled by my love for TaleSpin. Cubbi cries of course as Princess Calla and Cavin jump down from the airship and land with a good bump onto the hayloft. Princess Calla and King Gregor have a bonding moment as Calla declares that Cavin saved her which is absolutely correct of course. Sir Lazybones Tuxford is impressed and he restores Cavin back as a full knight.. and the world is right again!
Not quite as we return to the Gummi Airship as Chummi has the wheel and Cubbi looks bored for some odd reason. Chummi declares that they'll have great adventures together as Cubbi decides to open his backpack and open the present for his birthday. And it reveals a plaque declaring Cubbi as Sir Cubbi which Gruffi made himself. Wow...Wow...Wow...Even I'm misty eyed over this spot. The stubborn mule showed some true real feelings for Cubbi as Cubbi cries once again. This is one of those moments that defined what Disney pathos was all about..and how Jymn Magon would take these moments and refined them into other shows; leading up to TaleSpin which played it to an art form that made us not like it because we wanted comedy (DARKWING..DUCK I'm looking at you.) until years after we finally got it and by then TaleSpin was dead. Much like this series is now.
Cubbi finally decides that he cannot go with him. Chummi agrees with some disappointment; but he cannot blame the child anyway. Chummi lets Cubbi off near the edge of the ocean. Cubbi jumps off and waves goodbye to Chummi as the airship slowly sails away forever. Chummi even gets to keep the plaque Gruffi made as proof of the Gummi's existence. Despite Chummi not being anything special other than the voice talent; he showed some goodness as a babyface. I still say that a heel Chummi turning into a babyface in the end would have worked better; but what do I know?! We return to the living room as the Gummi Bears are basically screwing up their work because Cubbi might be captured by Dukie. Geez; with those weapons, maybe they are better off slacking off if you know what I mean. Zummi opens the door just as Cubbi comes in and the world is now officially right again in Gummi Glenn as Tummi has his little friend back. So sweet.
Now we go to the final scene as we get the musical flourish from the FLOATING MUSIC OF DOOM which is Zummi's doing by the way as Cubbi walks down the hallway (The Gummi stand beside him in a line) as Princess Calla (who will be the future ruler of Dunwyn) stands to grant Cubbi knight hood (Cavin has the sword of course). Cubbi takes off his hat and kneels before the future queen and Princess Calla officially knights Sir Cubbi as the Unseen Knight and Secret Defender of Dunwyn. He would soon be known as another name very soon which I think is the coolest of them all; but that's for Season 3. Go to Cubbi's closeup and fade to back to end the episode at 21:20. Cubbi Gummi and Cavin carried this episode kicking and screaming and while most of the pathos didn't convince me (which really wasn't the writers fault); the most important one of them all did and that's what counts. A few notes before I leave. The ending uses a different picture; but TMS is still animating the series at this point. **** ( 80%)
THE REVIEW LINE
The first episode of season two is in the books and this one managed to be good despite some really contrived moments and glaring problems with Chummi Gummi. To be perfectly honest; Chummi Gummi was better off as a slimy heel like Dan Dawson who only Cubbi likes ( because he's a child) and then Chummi turns face when he realizes that he was wrong to treat Cubbi this way and redeems himself by helping Cubbi defeat Duke Igthorn. Here; Chummi wasn't much of a real babyface character and he was nothing special. Jim Cummings wasn't special either as he was still working the kinks out of his voice. I don't understand why the Gummi Bears would go along with the plan to go with Chummi and then just decide not to go which is completely out of place and just an excuse for Cubbi to act out like a little baby. The subplot with Cavin's being downgraded from knight status was okay for the most part; but if Sir Tuxford calls himself a knight for his lack of hearing skills (and logic break with the princess not screaming) then Cavin looks like a great knight. However; everything after Act three was absolutely awesome once Cavin and Cubbi got to actually do their thing for real from the beginning of the episode along with some outstanding bumping from Igthorn and Toadie. To also be honest; I thought the pathos were pretty good; but most of them were ineffective because I've watched TaleSpin so much and seen it done so much better. Most notable was when Cubbi screams and cried “It's not fair”. It looked too funny to be taken seriously and I'm sure the animators and writers didn't intend that to happen.
However; the final pathos which was the most important involving Gruffi's plaque of Sir Cubbi at the finish did the job in making me care about Gruffi and also Cubbi as well. It was the most believable thing in the entire episode and it really showed that once Jymn Magon got it down later on; he and his writers would be unstoppable...until the execs felt that comedy was more important than tears and DTVA went into hell for a while before returning to pathos and drama with Gargoyles. The final scene with the knighting had to happen to show that in reality; Cubbi had his ruler all along which was the future queen of Dunwyn; Princess Calla. As if King Gregor wouldn't have a backup plan. I also happen to like the animation style TMS is using now; although they need to keep the bumps as good as possible. Now the new voice talents are going to have to work harder because acting job was a little off key in this episode. Now the next rant will be two shorts based on my two favorite shorts in season two. After that; every episode is basically brand new in my eyes. So....
Thumbs up for this episode and I'll see you all next time.