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He Who Laughs Last
Reviewed: 07/30/2011
Usually Laughs At Your Expense.....
So we head for the second of four 22 minutes episodes today as Cavin's grandfather Sir Gowain is in big trouble of losing his fortune. And the Gummi Bears have problems of their own. So what happens here? Let's rant on and find out shall we....?
This story was done by Terrie Collins, Rich Fogel and Mark Seidenburg. The teleplay is done by Terrie Collins. The animation is done by TMS.
We begin this one inside the castle of Dumbwin...ERRR...I mean Dunwyn as we zoom in and cut to a noble's house and then inside what looks to be a bar as the denizens of Dumbwin are having their beers. It's the old WE KNOW IT'S ALOCHOL BUT WE'RE NOT TELLING ANYONE as we see Sir Gowain tell another Gummi Bear tale. I see Sir Gowain has the exact same voice as King Gregor now. Today's tall tale involves Frost Giants of course as Gowain uses his cane and a dish as a sword and shield to force the point across. Cavin seems amused; the denizens not so much. Still the flourish is enough to convince the crowd to be in awe though as Cubbi and Sunni watch on from the balcony. Cubbi thinks the story gets better and better when he tells it and Sunni blows him off. Cannot blow your cover eh Miss Diva? Gowain then asks if he told the story from Over The River And Through The Troll and one of the patrons calls him out on it...about 100 times and everyone laughs on cue. Even Sunni and Cubbi giggle under their breath on that one since it IS true. Gowain thinks it “bears” repeating (Yeah; because we cannot continue without bear puns eh?) as the purple wearing fat face patron with crooked mustache blows him off because only children and fools believe in that rot. In other words; only HE doesn't. He continues eating some yellow mash as Gowain proclaims that he can prove Gummi Bears exist if he only had that medallion he had as a youth. The patron calls him a liar as Gowain gleefully answers that one for me (Like a near rodent; you can only see what is in front of you.) which means he's the male version of Tummi. POW! OUCH! Ummmm....Okay; more like Hoppo...POW! OUCH! Ummmm....Okay, more like....Okay Poppa Bear; I'll move on......
The patron saint of near sightness accuses Gowain of calling him a rat and pounds on the counter allowing his chicken leg to splash right into the green tunic patron eating soup. I believe he's the same one who told the purple tunic patron to shut up earlier. Nice continuity there guys. He gets up and we have a chair throwing, food throwing, dish throwing, Cavin ducking fight on par with Tea Party gatherings. The purple tunic patron goes through a table (!!) and accuses Gawain of starting it because it's NEVER the guy who pounded on the counter and have a chicken leg splash into someone's soup. Noooooo. It's always the frail one who called him out on his BS. Cubbi is loving this as Sunni covers her eyes in disdain for this violence. Cubbi almost loses his balance and yells for Gowain to look out as Gowain sidesteps the “rat” and trips him up with his cane. Good bump from the “rat” though as Sunni grabs Cubbi and wants to leave despite Cubbi loving this. I see Gruffi's attitude has infected the diva today as we cut to an outside shot of the bar and a chair shatters the window on cue as we fade to black to turn Michael Eisner on......
So we get an outside shot of Castle Dumbwin (after that fight I think the name suits it perfectly) as we head into the castle with King Gregor addressing Sir Willowby (who turns out to be the “rat” from earlier) and defending Gowain. Gregor has a point there since Willowby is the one who was dumb enough to start the fight by pounding the counter. See how easy it is to figure out when you have visual evidence? Gregor calls Gowain harmless and that gets Lord Willowby pissed off as he accuses Willowby of starting the riot. Gregor doesn't buy it and blows him off as he leaves. Willowby is called a lord here for some unknown reason as Willowby ponders about getting back at the fairytale storyteller (his words, not mine).
So we head to Gummi Glen and zoom into a shot of the lake as we see Zummi going over his SPELLS OF SATAN written on cue cards on the floor while Tummi acts like a back watcher. He looks through and finds the spell that he's looking for and it's for hair removal. Tummi grabs the basket and corrects him that he was supposed to find a fruit multiplication spell. Zummi throws various spells away as Tummi gets giddy over Grammi making plum trifle. Didn't Tummi learn last time when he screwed with magic? I guess it only applies if you are doing a speed spell. There are only two plums left inside as Zummi finally remembers. Zummi goes to the Great Book of Gummi as Tummi asks if Zummi has had too much on his mind and Zummi blows it off as nonsense. I notice that he is looking for his glasses despite having them in his hands. HAHA! I still think the funniest one was when Gimmick lost his and got them recovered by an ear tugging Molly. Anyhow; Tummi gleefully points out the obvious and Zummi laughs it up and recovers as he looks in the great book and finds it. He writes it down in his notes as Tummi places the bucket down onto the floor. Zummi then invokes his SPELLS OF SATAN:
Zummi:
Wonit Onup Momore Frommute!
Translation: Won It On Up No
More Fruit Mute!
So you can silence fruits? Doesn't that sounds very homophobic Zummi? Anyhow; the plums spin around and we have ourselves a plum twister~! HAHA! Zummi claims that he overdid it. NO?! REALLY?! The twister turns into a tornado as Zummi and Tummi bail stage left. So we cut to the living room as Gruffi is replacing a painting and pushing it according to Grammi's specs. Gruffi moves it to the left and blows Grammi off of course. So Zummi and Tummi run into the room as the twister throws plums everywhere. Yeah; real smart to run into the room where Gruffi is sure Zummi. Zummi hides under the table as Grammi wants Zummi to make it stop. Zummi has a lot of trouble finding the counter spells in his notes; but he does find it in his hat of course. Conivent place; eh?
Zummi:
Plummet Unup Numo More!
Translation: Plum Un-Up No More.
Okay; Un-Up is NOT a real phrase; but it gets the job done anyway. Zummi proclaims that he did it thus becoming a level 46 mage and incurring the WRAITH OF GRUFFI. And getting entombed in plums of course. Well; at least Tummi can now have that trifle he wanted so much. Tummi looks around and claims that the picture in the room is crooked as Zummi stutters. No really; I'm as SHOCKED as you are. Gruffi blows off Zummi claiming that if it rained ogres with his memory; he would forget to come inside. Ooookkkkaaayyyy.
So we head to the book room as Tummi is cleaning the Great Book proclaiming that he'll have to wait another year for the trifle. Except that we clearly saw Zummi entombed in 100 plums in the previous scene! Bad, bad form there guys. Tummi stops cleaning and notices a red apple like tree picture inside. Tummi notices that according to the reference; the fruit grows year round and Tummi gets giddy. Tummi runs out as Gruffi, Zummi and Grammi enter with the SHANE DOUGLAS MOPS OF DOOM as Tummi wants Grammi to get the pot ready since he wants fruit trifle tonight. Zummi goes to the book to take a look and then gasps in horror because terrible things will happen to those who eat the offending fruit. Zummi and Grammi run out to try to stop Tummi and Gruffi goes over to the Great Book and slams it shut proclaiming that it's caused enough trouble already. I'm guessing that this will play a part in the episode later on. Although; it's pretty contrived when we saw enough plums to feed a small army when Zummi was entombed in them earlier.
Anyhow; we cut to the streets of Castle Dumbwin as a black horse and carriage come in and we see Willowby's head pop out (I have no clue who voices him, maybe it's Will Ryan) as Gowain continues telling his silly stories to a small group of peasants with Cavin looking on as Unwin blows him off because they haven't been seen in 500 years. The peasants laugh as Cavin is pissed off and tries to step in; but Gowain holds him back because some people won't believe. Willowby steps in and he warned him yessire and he'll get Gowain locked up for this. Riiiigggghhhtttt. King Gregor already states that Gowain is harmless anyway so what crime does he charge him with? Gowain proclaims that he'll stake his life on it that Gummi Bears do exist. So Willowby calls his bluff and throws his glove down on the ground proclaiming that he dares him to find it; or Gowain will lose all of his fortune. Now that's more effective to get him locked up since Gowain wouldn't be able to pay taxes. Well played Willowby; your first effective heel move of the episode. Cavin tries to reason with him (because that would kill his friendship with the Gummi's since he broke his promise otherwise); but no dice as Gowain picks up the glove, cuts a promo and accepts the challenge to a huge pop. Gowain and Cavin leave stage left as Willowby calls him an addled old fool and he'll get his fortune while stroking his mustache like Oil-Can Boyd.
So we head to the forest as Tummi has found the tree already and in an obvious logic break; the red fruit mentioned in the book has changed to orange. Orange you glad it's not banana yellow Greg? AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! POW! OUCH! Wahhhhh....Serves you right Rhinokey-sama! Tummi picks the red-to-orange color changing fruit and puts it into the basket. Tummi takes an orange apple from the tree and rubs it into his tunic and then eats it of course. The adult Gummi's run in as Gruffi pleads for him not to eat it...Too late as usual as Tummi tells them not to worry because he picked enough for everyone. Grammi checks Tummi's head and Tummi claims to be all right as he grows branches out of his ears. Zummi proclaims that it has started and Tummi is confused as Zummi proclaims that he's leafing. Tummi gleefully answers that one for me as Gruffi is flustered. Tummi is turning into a tree as a branch grows from his nose and mouth. I'm sorry folks; after seeing the infamous dork grows a Skittles tree through his belly button, I cannot take this one seriously even if I tried. Tummi screams for help and that ends the segment nine minutes in.
After the commercial break; we head back to castle Dumbwin as we see Cavin inside near the front gate pacing around a horse. We then see Gowain grabbing more stuff than his own body weight being giddy for a Gummi Bear hunt. Cavin isn't so sure and asks Gowain to call it off; but Cavin gets petted on the head (Must...resist...Gidget....pet...shop...joke) and assures him that this will work out for them. He plops the stuff onto the horse's back and the horse is not impressed with this. Cavin asks the obvious question and Gowain gives the obvious answer as Willowby arrives on horseback with about six followers as Gowain blows him off like Bill Cosby calling out his grandpa on a bet. Gowain gets on his horse as Cavin proclaims that he'll catch up with him in time as Gowain rides out of Dumbwin and Cavin proclaims that he cannot let Gowain find the Gummi Bears because he promised to keep their existence a secret. So he decides to look for them for help. So we head to inside the book room of Gummi Glen as Cavin head inside and slips on some plum guts on the floor. Cavin calls out for the Gummis; but no dice. Where IS Cubbi and Sunni anyway? I would have thought that they were home by now. Another bad logic break by the writers.
Anyhow; we return to the forest as Tummi's condition is getting worse as they need to get him back to the Glen before he takes root. Tummi sums it up nicely as they all stop and hide behind the bushes to notice Willowby standing in front of a tree taunting Gowain and his followers laugh at Gowain. Gowain is using the magnifying glass and blows them off because they are scaring them away. I think that is the general idea Gowain since Willowby doesn't want to lose this bet. The Gummis bail to the Quick Tunnel door and sadly; Tummi's branches make him into Winnie The Pooh. Gruffi is not amused as Grammi and Gruffi pull where Zummi shows off his power and pushes. However; one of the branches gets under Zummi's medallion as Zummi gets pushed in with Tummi and the medallion lands on the ground. We then see the Gummi's slide down the chute and go into the messy Glen. Nice to see the animators didn't forget that there was a mess still there. Zummi claims to have a counter spell as they head to the Great Book of Gummi room. We return topside as everyone leaves and Willowby laughs off Gowain's attempts to find a Gummi Bear as he looks around and notices Zummi's medallion and grabs it in awe. Gowain walks to him as Willowby hides the medallion in his back pocket. Wait; why is Cavin WITH Gowain? I thought he was still IN the Glen. Gowain asks him if he found something; but Willowby gold bricks like crazy. Gowain isn't exactly buying it and neither is Cavin as Willowby bails like a scalded dog and that ends the segment at 11:39. The plotholes are piling up in this one....
After the Youtube break (yes; I found a Youtube version of this episode; so the purges from Disney are not successful. Yet.) as Gowain is not buying this bull crap and Cavin decides to follow him and see what he is really up to. Gowain approves of this and Cavin follows Willowby while Gowain does some more searching. So we head back to the great book room as Gruffi, Sunni and Cubbi pull Tummi Tree in. Huh? So they FINALLY showed up? Out of nowhere? Dumbass writers! Make up your mind if you are going to write out Cubbi and Sunni in this episode! Grammi and Zummi push him in and after a ** struggle they get him in. Zummi goes to the book to find the counter spell; but he discovers that he has no medallion. Gruffi of course does his trademark pose and blows Zummi off. What a jackass this Gruffi fellow is? Gruffi doesn't want to prune Tummi which Tummi takes somewhat offense to and after we exchange notes on Tummi's plight; Zummi suddenly remember that he left the medallion near the tree stump in front of the Quick Tunnel. No, not quite left, but close enough as everyone bails. Scene changer of doom as we get some mature lighting and see Gruffi and Cubbi (So that's WHY they needed him? Why not Zummi since he's the one who needs to redeem himself?) open the tunnel door and they notice Gowain looking for clues with the magic lens. Gruffi wants to “question” him as we see Gowain walk around right into the OUT OF NOWHERE loop of rope and that springs Gowain upside down like a catfish as Gruffi runs in and blindfolds Gowain before Gowain screams for help. We then fade to black to turn Michael Eisner on....
….and return to Gummi Glenn as Gowain is tied up and blindfolded as the GANG OF GUMMI WAY surround him. Gowain demands answers to this outrage. Gruffi blows him off because he's asking the questions as Zummi whispers in his ear that it's Sir Gowain who happens to be Cavin's grandfather. Gruffi does his trademark pose and doesn't seem to care anyway. I see he has lapsed back into his hating humans stance again. Zummi points out that he has the medallion and could be of help which Gruffi no sells. Zummi reminds him of Tummi and Gruffi finally relents for Tummi's sake and undoes the blindfold. Gowain looks around and sees his best wet dreams finally come true. Gowain is untied as Zummi explains the situation to him and then shows Tree Tummi. Now I see why Skittles Mother was blowing off the Skittle tree kid in the commercials. Anyhow; we exchange notes on the situation as Gowain proclaims that he found it once and he can find it again. He then gets the LIGHTBULB OF BLOODY CLAIRTY and realizes that it was stolen by Willowby. Wow; that was lucky deduction eh? He makes Chip's deduction meter look broken in comparison. He promises to get it back and he can win the bet in one fell swoop which of course he tells them and Gruffi blows him off. Gowain stutters for a moment and then decides to keep the secret anyway as Gruffi no sells the deal of course. Geez; no character development whatsoever. Zummi agrees to go with Gowain because he lost the medallion in the first place as Zummi and Gowain leave with Gowain cutting another promo about being victorious. Gruffi gleefully blows that one off of course because he's such a jerkass. And people accuse Miss Cunningham of this bullcrap?
So we head to Willowby's residence (I think) AFTER HAPPY HOUR (after dark) as we head to Sir Willowby's room (I think) as a door opens and we see Cavin go inside. We see the medallion on the desk next to the bed as Cain notices it and notices that Willowby was up to no good. NO?! REALLY?! As if causing the food fight in the bar wasn't enough to convince thee? We then hear Willowby humming in the background as Cavin dives underneath the bed. We see Willowby in his night gear with a candlelight enter the bedroom as he takes his slippers off and dives into bed as the fatass crushes the bed forcing Cavin to wiggle out of the bed and blow his cover. Heh. Willowby calls him a thief. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Projection much there sir? Anyhow; we cut to a closet as Cavin is thrown into a batch of stinky clothes by Willowby as he proclaims that he'll deal with him and Gowain tomorrow before slamming the door shut. So we head into the dark hallway as we see Zummi and Gowain do an absolute piss poor job of practicing the fine art of not being seen. Memo to Gowain: Cutting loud promos is a bad idea. Zummi gleefully blows off Gowain's claims of being crazy. He has a point there Gowain; Zummi is nutty. Not as nutty as Kit though. POW! OUCH! Hey.......
So we head to Willowby's room as Willowby has the Rebecca Cunningham sleeping patch on and is sleeping like a lazy fatass. Zummi and Gowain sneak in; looking under pots and pictures as Zummi notices the medallion hanging on the wall and Zummi channels QP Huey and that's enough for Willowby to wake up. Zummi runs out of the room like the wind...a westerly wind this time as Gowain is in shock which is enough for Willowby to take off the eye patch and accuse Willowby of being crazy and a crook. Well; you're half right there sir. I'll let you figure out which is which on your own as Gowain bails and Willowby jumps on the bed and destroys it in the process of calling the guards. See; this is why that song of “No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed” was a forewarning. Two guards casually come in asking about their lord and Willowby blows them off. The chase is on as Gowain cuts another promo and somehow he managed to steal the medallion from the wall. Huh? I didn't that happen. Man; I do need my eyes checked after all.
So we head to the closet as Cavin is invoking the metal wire of doom to open the lock to the closet and succeeds. So Willowby was right after all. Cavin opens the door and Zummi/Gowain slam the door right in his face and Cavin bounces into some books on the rebound. HAHA! So we resume the SCOOBY DOO CHASE SEQUENCE THE GOWAIN EDITION~ as the guards apparently have a clone spell because they surround Gowain and Zummi with four guards somehow instead of two. Oy vey writers. So Zummi and Gowain jump out of the window (thus rendering the logic break pointless of course) and land in a horse and carriage of hay. The horse neighs loudly as the horse races off the property as Cavin cheers for Gowain. At least I realize that he's not cheering for Gowain's death here as Willowby is looking out another window on the pan shot and he's fuming. Gowain cuts another promo calling him Chubby. I see Gruffi has been teaching him insults to practice on Tummi in between scenes.
So we head into the forest as it's the SCOOBY DOO CHASE SEQUENCE THE GOWAIN HORSE EDITION~! And the carriage bumps the log and Zummi and Gowain bounces away as the heels chase after the carriage. Huh? How in the hell could the guards miss THAT? I know humans aren't that bright; but that is SO obvious beyond belief. We see Zummi and Gowain recover behind the bushes as Gowain relates a story about certain monsters while plucking bushes from his nose. Zummi tells him to can it since Willowby and his horse are coming and Willowby seriously needs to grow a thick skin. You are upset that he called you Chubby?! Zummi and Gowain bail as we cut to Cubbi on top of lookout and he notices Gowain and Zummi running with the medallion. Gowain stops and tells Zummi to move on ahead to save his friend and Zummi runs and then remembers to stop and tells him that he needs the medallion. Gowain is about to throw it to him; but on the windup; the Willow Of The Wisp whip grabs it back for Willowby. Damn that three second lapse of judgment from Zummi.
Willowby cuts a promo on him and rides away as Cubbi slides down the tree pointing out the obvious for us. We see most of the Gummi's (sans Gusto and Tummi of course) on the ground in front of the tree as Gruffi drinks his vial of roided juice and it's BUTT BOUNCING TIME! We cut to Willowby cheering victory as Gruffi bounces on top of him and bounces Willowby flat on his back with a MAN-SIZED bump. OUCHIE! You really pissed Gruffi off there pal. But this still doesn't redeem Zummi in anyway. Willowby turns around as Gruffi orders him to hand over the medallion and Willowby grits his teeth and waddles backwards like a scalded duck. POW! OUCH! Ummm...I mean scalded dog. He tries to get to the tree stump; but Cubbi bounces in which forces Willowby to land on the springing tree stump and Willowby gets sprung into the air; and where he lands, only Tummi seems to care. Willowby lands with another MAN-SIZED bump on his back (which would have broken it in any other sane universe) and somehow he stands up. He backs up near the tree and Sunni pops out to surprise him.
Then Grammi bounces up from the stump (and giving us a glorified shot of her undergarments to boot) as the Gummi's surround Willowby as Willowby pleads for mercy. Cubbi agrees to it as long as he returns the medallion to them. Willowby screams and bails stage left with the medallion as we see Zummi and Gowain walk together as Gowain calls himself an old fool and Zummi consoles him claiming that he is the old fool as the two guards who have seemly killed off the two guards from the surround scene earlier. Man; this is getting silly now. Zummi bails as the two guards grab Gowain to arrest him and here comes running scared Willowby in a panic as Gowain grabs him and tells him to control himself. Willowby stammers about seeing Gummi Bears and Gowain blows it off. Willowby insists that he saw them and as we segue into the next scene changer; Willowby is a proven liar. Heh. Gowain blows him off as Willowby shows him the medallion and Gowain grabs the medallion and claims to have won the bet. Willowby doesn't care and runs away like a scalded dog into the forest out of sight. Yeah; a medallion doesn't prove much since we already pointed out in several episodes involving Cavin and Unwin that the medallion has been copied before and thus doesn't prove a thing. However; that copout finish is the only finish that returns the series to status quo; so there you go.
Anyhow; we return to Gummi Glen as Tummi seems to be speaking his last will and testament which involves not being used as firewood. HAHA! Grammi tells Zummi to hurry as he goes to the Great Book and places the medallion on the book seal to open it. Zummi flips the pages to the page where the tree picture was (and still has red fruit on it) and casts the SPELL OF SATAN....
Zummi:
Turnme Pummamac Tummi Nomow!
Translation: Turn Me Fun Mac
Tummi Now!
Good enough I guess as Tummi returns to his usual fatass stuff. Somehow; he sounded better as a tree. Oh; and I see the whole place is cleaned up now. I should have noticed when Gowain was kidnapped earlier; but whatever. He does shed some branches as Sunni asks if he's all right. Tummi proclaims that he doesn't want to see another piece of fruit ever again. I'm guessing he'll break that promise when Tummi's Last Stand approaches. Tummi does want some cookies of course since he hasn't eaten all day. Everyone is glad to have him return to normal as we head to the dining room as the Gummi Bears have a toast for Zummi and Gowain as Cubbi does the honors. Everyone cheers of course; but there is one obvious logic break here: Where's Cavin? I could say where is Gusto too; but at least we know where Gusto is most of the time. Zummi looks at the medallion and tells Gowain to swear never to tell anyone of their existence. Gowain does the gentlemen pledge; but still feels bad that he cannot tell Cavin about it. Grammi proclaims that it would not hurt as she and Cubbi wink about that one.
So we head back to the bar as Cavin has magically somehow got out of the closet and joined Gowain as they bare witness to Willowby stuttering and making a general ass out of himself. Everyone laughs their asses off in response as Willowby shakes on a patron's shirt and Gowain blows him off along with Cavin who claims that he has been out in the sun too long. Ironic since he saw them at night actually. Willowby continues to plead his case and getting nowhere fast as two guard grab him and haul his ass out as Gowain gets one parting shot on him on the way out. Gowain tells Cavin that he saw Gummi Bears and their home as we pan up to the babyfaces on the ceiling giggling. Cavin feigns ignorance as he is walked out with Gowain and that ends the episode at 21:17. This was pretty good for the most part; but too many silly contrived spots hurt this one. And Zummi never truly redeemed himself here in spite of the plot claiming that he did. *** ¾ (75%).
THE REVIEW LINE
Okay; so we get another payoff to the Gowain sees Gummi Bears angle which had two good subplots; but a lot of logic breaks that hurt it overall. For example: Why tease Cubbi and Sunni being written out and then bring them back when they could have met Cavin when he visited Gummi Glen and saw the mess. At least that would have made sense. Why did Cavin re-appear out of nowhere with Gowain when he was in the Glen in the previous scene? And why keep Cavin in the closet until the final scene? That just makes the whole last scene confusing since Cavin already knows about the Gummi Bears; and having him appear after the gentlemen's swear would have ended the angle nicely and give us a good payoff. Also; while Zummi did join Gowain to regain the medallion; he didn't do anything to redeem himself and made himself look weaker when Willowby regained the medallion. So in essence; the story was great; with good bumping from Willowby, and seeing Tummi turn into a tree is funny albeit unintentional by the writers. However; these plot holes hurt what should have been an easy thumbs up episode. So next up is Tummi's Last Stand and The Crimson Avenger Strikes Again. Oh goody; two of my favorite things. So......
Thumbs in the middle pointing up for this episode and I'll see you all next time.