Return to 50 Webs
Disclaimer#1: All images, characters and material is (C) 1990/1991 Walt Disney Company and is being used without permission. The webmaster has made sure that no money was made in the creation of this web page and that all material used here is used with the up most affection and respect to the Walt Disney Company and the Tale Spin Team.
Disclaimer#2: The views expressed here are solely the views of the webmaster and no one else. The webmaster has no intentions to change anyone's minds about a particular subject and respects the views of the viewers. Comments about this and other editorial can be E-Mail at gweagle@eastlink.ca or signing the Cloudkicker guestbook.
Road To Ursalia
Reviewed: 08/09/2011
The Road To Gruffi's Redeempation...
Well; we are into the end of the third week of the Gummi Bears marathon and we are into the fifth season already with this epic story. This episode is basically the debuts of Lady Bane and a new Gummi Bear known as Sir Thornberry. It might also be the first episode where Gruffi being a jackass finally goes too far. So how well does it do? Let's rant on and find out shall we....?
This story is done and edited by Rich Fogel and Mark Seidenburg. The animation is done by Walt Disney Animation Japan actually.
We begin this one with a dark and stormy night and it's a piss rain fest on par with yesterday. We see a torrent flood and trees floating as we discover that Zummi is narrating another ancient Gummi story. We then discover that our title city Ursalia castle is also threatened as the guards are wearing similar Gummi armor to what Princess Calla was wearing in A Girl's Knight Out. That some good continuity there as we see a brown old Gummi bear spinning around in the water with Ursalia's version of the Great Book of Gummi and he casts the spell which tames the raging storm that was threatening them; so sezs Zummi. The clouds clear up and we have a rainbow spot as we zoom out to Zummi in an FPS shot reading the book as Cubbi is in awe. He wishes he was there as we see Tummi and Sunni sitting beside him as Tummi thinks they were lucky to have a Great Book around. Zummi then goes over to his Great Book on the pedstal as where it normally is and talks about the Great Book being their inspiration...which is a non-religious way of saying that it's a holy bible. At least they are like the Amish and stay far away from forcing their beliefs on outsiders.
Then we hear banging and the Gummi Bears all conclude that it's Gruffi fixing something again. The angry Gruffi voice gives him away as we head to Gruffi's workshop as he is fixing a....catapult? Is Gruffi a secret double agent for Dukie? I SMELL A FANFIC COMING! Or maybe not. Gruffi gets pressed inside it as Grammi walks in and blows off Gruffi because she needs the weaver for a new table cloth and he's breaking it. Gruffi claims that it's already broken and he's trying to fix it. Tummi suggest the Great Book for answers and Gruffi blows it off. Funny how Gruffi believes in traditions like not trusting humans; but acts like a terrible atheist when it comes to solving little problems like fixing a weaver machine. So Gruffi wants some help getting unstuck and Cubbi comes in along with the rest as everyone pulls. This sounds like nonsense since if they pulled on Gruffi in opposite directions; Gruffi would be racked. Okay; the Gummi's on the right side pull on the device and Gruffi gets popped and flies to a MAN-SIZED bump off-screen and a conveniently placed cuckoo clock lands on Gruffi's head and it goes cuckoo. HAHA! If only Kit got that spot. POW! OUCH! Hey...
The Gummi's offer to help; but Gruffi blows it off and unpops the clock from his head and storm off acting like a jackass. Jeepers; this guy needs to be jettisoned soon. So we then see Gruffi in the book room reading the Great Book of Gummi as he has a candle with him and places it on the book which has got to be the dumbest move I have ever seen. Gruffi then notices that there is something on Gummi weaving machines and praises Tummi outright for it. Of course Tummi never hears it; so Gruffi will likely use weasel words when Tummi is in the same room with him. Gruffi runs out of the book room to fix the weaver; but forgets to take the candle with him which is still on the Great Book as it melts and the flame touches the book. Oh; I think you know what is going to happen next as we segue to Tummi sleeping in his room and there is smoke (AND THAT'S BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH, MOVIE RATING AND BOTCHMANIA YOUTUBE CLIPS!) as Tummi wakes up from the smell. He calls it the smell of burnt cookies. If only Tummi; if only. Tummi opens the door and notices Grammi has opened the door to her room and Grammi blows him off for accusing her of leaving the oven open. Zummi's door opens just as Grammi proclaims that the smoke is coming from the book room and he panics. They all open the door to the book room and the smoke is intense complete with coughing. Zummi swears in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (Great Balls Of Fire! Now THAT is fitting) as the Great Book of Gummi is engulfed in flames. That makes it twice that Gruffi has done great harm to the Gummi's version of the bible. Not even PZ Meyers stoops to that low. Putting ketchup on a wafer sure; but not this.
Zummi runs in for the save as Sunni joins us and Grammi orders some water and Tummi and Sunni bail stage left. Strange coloring mistake: Sunni is wearing white socks just as they run down the hallway as Gruffi notices it and wants to know what is going on. Zummi tries to get his SPELLS OF SATAN out for a dousing spell; but his hat catches on fire. He is now the first DTVA victim of knowing what Backdraft is about. Then this turns into a comedy of errors as Sunni runs in with the bucket of water; but trips and Grammi gets it. HAHA! Grammi gleefully blows her off for it and Sunni apologizes for it. Gruffi notices his handiwork and panics as he grabs Cubbi's bucket and douses Zummi's hat. Gruffi orders more buckets of water and everyone runs panicky like chickens with their heads cut off. Gruffi then yells to restore order and we segue to the human bucket exchange spot to waste some more time as the flames seemly aren't letting up on the book. Then we finally segue some more and everyone seems roasted as the fire is finally out; as the book is completely destroyed. Zummi is in shock as the book is ashes in Zummi's hands.
The Gummi's finally realize that it was Gruffi and Gruffi doesn't have much of a defense for it. Gruffi then proclaims that he will find another book even if he has to go to Ursalia to get it. Cubbi is impressed and so am I. Wow. It took Gruffi making a bone headed mistake to not only admit his guilt for being a jackass; he actually is going to make up for it. I'm guessing the writers finally realized that they had took Gruffi way too far to the jackass point in season four. I just wish he didn't ruin a Crimson Avenger episode in the process; but now he's officially better than Sunni on the diva scale at least. We then see Gruffi walking with his backpack down the steps to the Quick Cars and the Gummi's plead for him not to go as Zummi has a scroll of paper with him. Gruffi grabs it and no sells it because he won't fail....he cannot fail actually. Cubbi actually takes Gruffi's side and wants to go along with him; but Gruffi actually acts nice with him as he gives him his wrench and tells him to take care of the Glen while he is gone. Wow; this is the kind of thing I expect out of TaleSpin; not Gummi Bears. Maybe this is the template that started TaleSpin's pathos thing. It's too bad Gruffi is too much of a jackass to pull it off without making it look contrived and forced; but still I'm impressed that the writers had the stones to do it anyway. Sunni hugs Gruffi and gives him a flower which is awfully sweet of her. Seriously; I mean it too. Gruffi sells it without weaseling it either.
Tummi gives him a sack of cookies and Grammi gives him a vial of roided juice as Gruffi finally thinks this is too much of a fuss. Well; he does have a point there as Gruffi hops into the car and wipes the tears from his eyes saying his goodbye as he rockets the Quick Car away. Zummi and Grammi believe that they could never see Gruffi again as Sunni has more faith in Gruffi. Zummi hopes he does come back as everyone but Cubbi proceeds up the steps. With everyone out of sight; Cubbi throws down the wrench and is pissed off. He wanted to go to Ursalia and miss the adventure of a lifetime. We then segue to Gruffi riding the Quick Tunnels to waste some time and eats some growing vines and a waterfall for good measure. Gruffi notices that no one has used this track in years and that is hammered home when the track is completely broken off as Gruffi covers his head and the Quick Car flies off the track and takes a MAN-SIZED bump into the rocks. Gruffi wonders who knocked off the tracks and then in comes a red dragon lizard like creature from out of the conveniently placed cave as Gruffi had to ask indeed. The thing look like a cross between a dragon, dinosaur, lizard and a turtle (with the shell on it's back) as it chases Gruffi to behind a rock. It chomps on said rock as Gruffi backs away calling it a nice monster. Riiiiiiggggghhhhhttttt Gruffi. As opposed to you in Season Four? AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! POW! OUCH! Ummmm....
More chomping as Gruffi backs away and his back is literally against the stone wall as he thinks he's dead now. However; here comes Quick Car #2 with Cubbi in it as the monster is in the perfect position to get MURDERED by said Quick Car and then entombed with rocks as he hits the wall with a MAN-SIZED bump. Gruffi is in shock as Cubbi pops from the carnage looking googly eyed as Gruffi demands answers to this outrage and Cubbi gives the best answer ever: Aren't you glad I didn't? HA! Then we hear rumbling as the Boulder Biter (so sezs Gruffi) tries to pop out; but Gruffi decides to go topside as somehow they found a trapdoor and we segue to a meadow of chomping daisies. Seriously; that's what they are as Gruffi helps Cubbi out of DA...HOLE (God bless Baby Plucky) allowing him to get in perfect position as one of the daisies bites Gruffi in the ass. HAHA! Now you know how Don Karnage felt when Kit did the same thing in Plunder and Lightning Part One. Gruffi's sell is so over the top; I'm thinking the animators got inspired here. Cubbi gasps and covers his mouth in horror as Gruffi claims that it might be dangerous. Geez; MIGHT BE Gruffi?!
Anyhow; we head to the RIVER OF FIRE (which apparently was lifted for The Idol Rich and Dances With Bigfoot. The former was awesome; the later was agony booth bad) as Gruffi and Cubbi cross a log and Gruffi's shirt is torn I see to sell the chomping daisies bit. Gruffi calls it as thick as Grammi's special surprise stew and just as deadly (death reference #1). However; it only inspires Cubbi more as he sword plays with a bubble which somehow teleports from in front of Cubbi to behind Cubbi when Gruffi runs in to save him; and the bubble pops allowing the power of suggestion to cause Gruffi to lose his balance. He falls; but gets saved by the bubble. Oh; the irony! Gruffi gleefully answers that for one as that bubble pops and he dives like a missile on his head off-screen to a MAN-SIZED bump. Would have been sick if it were on-screen. Cubbi asks if Gruffi is all right and Gruffi answers that the tree broke his fall before groaning.
So we scene change to the mountains AFTER HAPPY HOUR (after dark) as Cubbi and Gruffi as apparently; it's snowing as Gruffi is on top of a mountain with a rope telling Cubbi to hold on. Cubbi hangs onto the rope from below as Cubbi is pulled up and Gruffi drops on his ass because he's tired as hell. However; Cubbi won't let him rest because he promised to find a Great Book as Gruffi teases a no sell; but the flower Sunni gave him drops on the ground (complete with doubled Sunni voiceover) makes him reconsider (even if it kills him for death reference #2) and he stops selling his injuries. Cubbi then notices a cave curved with a symbol of a bear and Cubbi wonders if the ancients did that. Gruffi proclaims that it couldn't have been pixies so they all run into the cave. Cubbi and Gruffi run in the cave for a bit and then we see a clear Gummi head as the exit as both Gummi's exit the cave into a valley and we finally see Ursalia in it's full bloom much to the awe of Gruffi and Cubbi as that ends the segment ten minutes in. I am so feeling this one.
After the commercial break; we see the city in the valley WAY AFTER HAPPY HOUR (sunrise) as there is smoke in one of the chimneys to indicate that there is still signs of life in the city as well. Cubbi and Gruffi walk down the purple rocks towards the entrance as Cubbi asks if there are any Gummi's left living there and Gruffi isn't sure; but he hopes so. Cubbi wants to run in; but Gruffi stops him because something is not right about this place since the ancient Gummi's would never keep the gate open since they have secrets to protect from greedy humans. Gruffi slowly walks in; but Cubbi is so spunky that he runs in and notices that no one is here as we see a swan quick car (didn't I see that in Knights of Gummadoon?) as Cubbi notices it too. Gruffi proclaims that everyone left as Cubbi asks him about the smoke from the chimney (nice catch of continuity there folks) as Gruffi proclaims that there is something as we see some yellow eyes in the shadows as Gruffi and Cubbi look around some more as they are in the perfect position for a set of yellow goblin like hands to tip over a pillar containing a big ass white pearl on top as Cubbi turns around and shoves Gruffi away as it falls; breaks in two pieces and the pearl glass shatters on contact. Heh.
Gruffi thinks someone doesn't want them around as the yellow arm hiding behind another pillar throws small spheres which explode into green smoke on contact as both bear dodge all and bail to the north gate. Then we segue to AFTER HAPPY HOUR (another jump cut?) as we zoom in on behind the bear pillars as we see Gruffi and Cubbi hiding behind them. Or so I thought as Gruffi tries to practice the fine art of not being seen; but Cubbi doesn't follow his lead as he is more concerned about a bronze scale like device. Gruffi takes him away because he wants to find that Great Book. However; he wants to play some mind games with that goblin as he brings out his spare wrench. So we scene change to Gruffi adjusting a key on a wooden Gummi statue which is almost as life like as Butterbear. Almost. Wink! Wink! Nudge! Nudg....UH OH! Butterbear's got her gun again. I better move on as Cubbi wonders if this will work as Gruffi proclaims that he hopes it does as he hears someone (despite not hearing footsteps at all) and both bears bail as a shadow of a panther like Gummi Bear enters the room and Gruffi invokes the ROPE TRIPPER OF DOOM to trip the gray Gummi Bear (wearing Sunni's tunic) down and Cubbi throws the net on him just to overkill the whole point of stopping him.
He is netted as Gruffi and Cubbi stop and realize that he's a Gummi Bear. The bear blows them off because he hasn't seem them in years because he's the last one and Gruffi gleefully answers that one for me. The bear gets dropped down (I see that the animators in a few of the shots forgot that his feet are binded) out of the net as Gruffi steps in and the bear blows him off for touching him. However; the bear does pluck Gruffi's ears realizing that they are not Troggles. Cubbi is as confused as I am as the bear panics and grabs Cubbi and bails stage left. HAHA! This guy is scared of everything; even words. He does the Scooby Doo Run in Straight Lines spot as Cubbi calls him out of his mind. I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. Gruffi gets grabbed and our bear runs like the wind around the room as Cubbi asks for a name and he finally addresses himself as Sir Thornberry in the same fashion Kit did when he introduced himself; minus the odd stopping and dubious expression.
Sir Thornberry is voiced by the late Walker Edmiston (passed away in 2007) and according to the USIMDB: Talented, prolific and versatile voice and character actor Walker Edmiston had a remarkable career in radio, movies and television that spanned over five decades. Walker was born on February 6, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri. Edmiston discovered at an early age that he could perfectly mimic other people's voices; he used to entertain his family with his vocal impression of Lionel Barrymore. After World War II ended Walker went to Los Angeles to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. Edmiston was introduced to animation producer Walter Lantz while performing in a play. This in turn lead to his first steady job doing various incidental voices on the children's show "Time for Beany." In the 50s and 60s he hosted "The Walker Edmiston Show," a children's TV program broadcast in Los Angeles which featured puppets of Edmiston's own creation that included Kingsley the Lion and Ravenswood the Buzzard. Walker worked often for Saturday morning TV series creators Sid and Marty Krofft; he supplied the voices of Sparky the Firefly on "The Bugaloos," Dr. Blinkey and Orson the Vulture on "H.R. Puffnstuf," and Big Daddy Ooze on "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters." Moreover, Edmiston portrayed a crazy old Civil War prospector on "Land of the Lost" and had a recurring role as token benevolent and intelligent Sleestak Enik.
He provided the scary grunts and growls for the ferocious Zuni fetish doll in the final and most frightening segment of the made-for-TV horror anthology "Trilogy of Terror." Walker did the voice of Inferno for the "Transformers" cartoon show. For twenty years Edmiston was the voice of both beloved "nice guy" Tom Riley and the notorious Bart Rathbone on the popular radio program "Adventures in Odyssey." In addition, Walker was the voice of Ernie the Keebler Elf in countless TV commercials for ten years. Among the TV shows he had guest spots on are "Maverick," "Thriller," "The Virginian," "Green Acres," "Get Smart," "Star Trek," "The Wild, Wild West," "Bonanza," "Mission: Impossible," "Gunsmoke," "Fantasy Island," "The Waltons," "Little House on the Prairie," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Falcon Crest," and "Knots Landing." He appeared on several records with Spike Jones, looped actor's voices on numerous films (one of these jobs was doing the off-camera lines for Orson Welles in "Start the Revolution Without Me"), and even supplied many different voices on all five "Planet of the Apes" pictures (he's the voice of the talking baby chimp in "Escape from the Planet of the Apes"). Walker Edmiston died from complications from cancer at age 81 on February 15, 2007. His debut was in 1949 with Time For Beany. Gummi Bears is his DTVA debut and only appearance. In fact; he pretty much retired in 1992 and then returned for Spiderman 1995 edition as Whizzer. Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home For Christmas and Avatar The Last Airbender as Azulon were his final credits. He has 133 credits to his resume; and voice dubbed Gunter Meisner in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory along puppets for Time For Beany; Have Gun Will Travel and wrote the song “There's A Monster In The Surf” in The Beach Girls & The Monster in 1963.
Gruffi and Cubbi get dropped down as Thornberry exchanges notes on the homeland as Cubbi introduces the gang and Cubbi states that they are looking for another Great Book as Thorny is hitting rocks with his sword. Gruffi claims that the previous book was destroyed unintentionally. Sadly; my Safe Communities work is done so I cannot blow him off for saying the word accidentally. Although; it certainly was not intentional on his part. Thorny states that there are lots of books in the library; but he only knows the location and he's not telling because he has Kit's hard to trust function in his brain. Gruffi blows it off; but Thorny no sells because as he whisper yells; there is someone else looking for it and she is Lady Bane. Cubbi and Gruffi are confused on that one as we scene change to Lady Bane's throne room as we discover that the Troggles are actually wolf like creatures wearing clothing similar to what they wore in Alice In Wonderland. As For Lady Bane she wears a purple robe with a gold headband and a black veil. She also is voiced by Tress MacNeille making pretty much her first major appearance ever; if you discount Mrs. Pedigree of course. To be honest; I haven't seen most of season five onwards so it's hard for me to say right now if I ever liked her or not. I'll wait until the end of the series before I have an official verdict on her. Her lackeys seem okay enough.
As for the Troggles; it literally depends on what episode and who was available at the time. Some of the voices include: Billy Barty (last seen in the godawful Ducktales episode: Luck'O'Of The Ducks), Hamilton Camp (Gizmo Duck), Townsend Coleman (I believe this would be his DTVA debut), Gino Conforti (Bezino Gasollini), Barry Dennen (last seen on the awesome episode Sir Gyro De Gearloose), Linda Gary (Ducktales episode), Ed Gilbert (Who would be La Grand Fromage in Once More Crimson Avenger), Allan Melvin (Ducktales), Pat Musick (who would be Ursa according to USIMDB; although New Gumbera claims it might be Tress MacNeille), Hal Smith (Gyro Gearloose, Flintheart Golmgold), Kath Soucie (who goes on to be Morigana on Darkwing Duck), Andre Stojka (we saw a few rants back actually) and Keone Young (We saw in The Magnificant Seven Gummis already). Those are the ones I already know. There are also two voices that I haven't got tributes for: Aeryk Egan and Les Tremayne. Aeryk appears as Milton in Once More Crimson Avenger and Les appears in Toadie The Conqueror as the Guardian Spectres. However; those episodes are in Season Six; so I won't have tributes on them until then. The only new voice is for Buddy at the end of Season Five which is the late Dana Hill (Max in Goof Troop).
One more thing: Dana Hill's death should be an absolute reminder to everyone that diabetes is a more terrible disease than the ADM would like to admit (and use it as just another disgusting excuse to score points for something unrelated). Sure; Nick Jonas' diabetes isn't going to render him a death sentence right now and he will still have a pretty normal adult life; but Nick Jonas is STILL a human being (even if he's a crappy singer) and stuff happens sometimes. It might not be a big deal now; but it will be ten to 15 years down the road. Thankfully; he is not a fatass like me; or it would be much worse for him. That's why on the one hand; I agree with the ADM that Nick Jonas is making way too big of a deal about this as are his fans; but I do understand the fan girls from the perspective that it CAN and usually DOES turn ugly down the road and that diabetes is a concern.
Anyhow; back to the rant as Lady Bane stands up and demands that she needs those books as the two Troggles (one who has a sack for no real reason that I can think of off the bat.) as they have not found them yet. They then show her a book which is basically a coloring book of the ancient Gummi Bears which Lady Bane slaps away. Did I mention that she's holding a drink of white something in a wine glass the whole time? That must be weak sauce wine. Lady Bane wants magic books as she shows a Gummi Medallion out of nowhere. Huh? How did she get that one? So now we have three for this series. Or she stole it from Gowain which would make for an interesting angle. The Troggles get so giddy that Lady Bane spills her drink and ruins her dress and drops her wine glass which doesn't shatter. SOMEONE FIRE THAT WINE GLASS! She is pissed off and invokes the PIXIE DUST OF SATAN which the Troggles somehow get into the perfect position of dancing around and they get bashed into the wall with a MAN-SIZED bump. Okay; here's a logic break: Why need magic books when she already has a decent magic spell already? Those wussy bumps were pretty good as Bane return to her throne musing about growing her magic (okay so she's another greedy human) and becomes the most powerful magic user in the world. The Troggles approve and I only have one thing to say: If she wants to be the most powerful magic user in the world; grow some muscle so you don't die in a sneeze. That's RPG codeword for: improve your physical defense.
Lady Bane walks around and orders the two Troggles to find Sir Thornberry because he knows where the books are; or she'll turn the Troggles into mushrooms. Okay; that is a good threat if you love mushrooms. The Troggles get the point and they bail out and take four extra Troggles outside the throne room with them as they follow. One track minds despite a dozen different voices. Heh. So we segue back to the dark room as Thorny is lifting rocks with his sword as Gruffi states that he should have known that a human was behind it. After all; it's ALWAYS the humans when Gruffi has his tinfoil hat on too tight. They remove the rocks from a conveniently placed small door which seems to be the only way in is to crawl as Throny pushes the brick button on the door and it opens. Thorny also explains that he has been defending the city for months and months; a long time. Geez; this guy sounds like Jack Van Impe sometimes as Cubbi is showing off his shadow sword skills on a suit of Gummi Knight Armor. He's not afraid of any Troggles. Sadly; the wooden sword whacks the suit of armor and it falls down and crashes on the floor allowing the Troggles to hear the noise outside. Thorny is not amused as he pops Cubbi from the suit of armor and runs to the crawling door as the Troggles all run in and Gruffi and Cubbi crawl through the tunnel; but Thorny gets grabbed by the ankles by the Troggles. Ah; I see why he was upset at Cubbi then. The Troggle do the four Troggle strecher spot to take Thorny away as Thorny proclaims that they are asking for trouble as we see Gruffi and Cubbi pop from the door as Gruffi calls it trouble indeed which ends the segment 15 minutes in.
After the commercial break; we return with Sir Thornberry in a cage in the throne room as Lady Bane proclaims that Thorny is a toothless twit whose time has run out. Lady Bane wants to know where the book is; and Thorny goldbricks. Lady Bane calls him out on that and uses her PIXIE DUST OF SATAN to break the chain holding the cage up and the cage crashes onto the floor below. OUCH! Good bump there guys. Lady Bane walks to him and asks him again and Thorny proclaims that his lips are sealed. So Lady Bane decides instead of torturing him; she orders the Troggles to destroy the city stone by stone and when she finds the book; it's bye-bye Gummi Bear as the Troggles dance about. I guess you can only torture one senior citizen per series according to BS&P. We pan up as Gruffi and Cubbi are on the wooden ceiling edge realizing that they need to save the old geezer to get the book; but there are too many Troggles dancing about. So Gruffi wants to fight them the Gummi Way. I think you know where this is going.....
So we head outside (with the Clock Scene Changer. I thought we got that out of our system guys!) as Cubbi is oiling up a Gummi Bear spring while Gruffi is tending to a swan Quick Car. He is ready as Cubbi runs over and Gruffi found a spare Troggle bomb which apparently; still has green liquid inside when he opens it up and pours it into the Quick Car's engine. Gruffi calls it lightening their lives up as Cubbi proclaims that the real fun will begin....with a block pixel scene changer. What the hell is up with the post-production today?! So we return to the throne room as the four Troggles of doom are crackling as Throny is up in mid air due to the PIXIE DUST OF SATAN. Thorny demands that the witch put him down which is the dumbest thing an anthro can ever say since it usually means putting them to sleep and ending their lives like a rabid dog basically. Lady Bane casually decides to make him go up and down like a yo-yo as Thorny is getting pixie tortured. Now THAT's the spirit Bane! We cut to Gruffi and Cubbi at the door as they had enough of this silliness and they both drink their vials of roided juice. IT'S BUTT BOUNCING TIME~!
Sadly; no boing sound effect this time as Lady Bane loves having this much fun in years. So Gruffi and Cubbi bounce in much to Bane's shock as she loses her magic (the ruby flashing off on her head gave that away) as Gruffi grabs Throny and they rebound off the chimney. Heh. He also calls himself an ogre's uncle which I hope the writers would turn into an angle; just for a cheap laugh. So Bane and the Troggles block the exit (with the cheer leading triangle spot? Really?); but the Troggles get MURDERED and Lady Bane gets tackled down in the butt bouncing process to counter. They bail as Bane pops up and orders the Troggles to go after them. The Troggles follow and it's the SCOOBY DOO CHASE SEQUENCE THE BOUNCE EDITION~! Thorny panics because they cannot outrun them forever; but Cubbi goes to the scale machine from earlier and pulls the lever (WRONG LEVER!) to switch it on. Damn; I knew that would get involved somehow. Cubbi then bails as two Troggles are distracted enough that they are in...you know....to watch the complex trap play out as it ends up then being crushed by symbols. One track mind; dullest knives in the drawers (NOT THOSE ONES!). We bail outside as one Troggle misstep and gets sprung and crashes into the wall with a good bump. It must be the late Ed Gilbert doing this Troggle's voice since he invokes the Goofy yell in the air. So Gruffi goes to the convinetly placed Gummi statue of a Gummi Bear holding the globe (which is also purple) as he pushes the label button on it and the globe rolls off and the Troggle gets squashed and flatten. Yeah; Gruffi giving the world, that's really going to happen. NOT!
We then see some of the Troggles with springs on their bodies staggering around as Thorny just talks and then notices that there is one heel left which is Lady Bane herself as she waddles in looking pissed off as usual. Her ruby on her head flashes about five seconds before she casts the spell on the conveniently placed Gummi statue beside her and she lifts it with the PIXIE DUST OF SATAN and throws it at the bears which they bail away easily. Bane proclaims that they will regret crossing her path; so Cubbi mocks her because she cannot catch them. HA! So Cubbi drags Thorny to the front swan Quick Car and throws him in while Thorny protests that these haven't been used in years. So Cubbi pulls the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and we race away. Lady Bane notices the second one (the one Gruffi booby-trapped) and waddles over and sits down claiming that two can play this game. Maybe; if the second one also cheats to win. That allows Gruffi to appear behind the swan and pull the lever (WRONG LEVER!) on the green rocket (what?) as Lady Bane screams and gets rocketed into the air and right out of the episode. Too easy and too silly.
We then see the first swan come back and land as Thorny is impressed. Gruffi blushes as Thorny gets out of the Quick Car and wonders how he can repay them. Cubbi has a suggestion; which is to find the great library. Thorny proclaims that it's just under their noses and Gruffi isn't amused. So Thorny pushes a brick button down with his foot and that slides the fountain away to reveal a staircase. Ironically; that is the first thing Cubbi observed when he entered Ursalia. Nice attention to detail there guys. Cubbi thinks that they are home free as we head to the great book room of doom as we pan over as Cubbi gets in a fitting comment about Zummi and books. Thorny tells them to help themselves as Cubbi runs in and grabs a red book as it's dusty. Cubbi blows on it and the book crumbles to dust. In fact a lot of the book; including the green book is crumbling. Gruffi panics like crazy as he does the Wuzzles spot for a while to waste time as Cubbi walks over and apologizes as Gruffi sulks in defeat as Thorny comes over and gives Gruffi a book mark which Gruffi isn't all that amused. However; Thorny claims that he wrote another chapter while sounding like a southern wrestler. So we cut to outside as Cubbi asks why Thorny doesn't want to join the other Gummi's. Thorny does like a home cooked meal that he hasn't had in years; but he cannot abandon his post which is silly considering that all the books are crumbling and useless anyways. He salutes them as he has Cubbi's oil can ready to counter at a moment's notice as Cubbi and Gruffi walking away waving goodbye.
So we return to Gummi Glen (uh oh! They're going to push the reset button; I just know it) AFTER HAPPY HOUR as everyone is in the book room as Zummi is happy to see Gruffi has returned safe and sound. Cubbi and Sunni have a bonding moment; but Gruffi is still sulking in defeat as Sunni asks about Ursalia and Gruffi states that they made it; but all he could get was a Gummi bookmark. Gruffi goes over to the destroyed Great Book (funny how it was destroyed; but the pedstal is still perfectly intact.) as Gruffi places the bookmark on the ruined book proclaiming that this is the final chapter and that his best wasn't good enough. Then the bookmark glows as Gruffi is forced to bail and after some magical pixie dust; the Great Book of Gummi returns to normal as if nothing had happened. Okay; that is a perfectly acceptable way to push the reset button since the bookmark was probably the spell to create it in the first place. Cubbi gleefully deduces that for me on that one as Gruffi goes over and proclaims that they are Gummi Bears and that tradition will never die (death reference #3) which is funny since tradition means it's already dead; so there's nothing for it to die. So we scene change to Zummi on the podium writing with the feather as he writes Gruffi's name and his deeds to finding Ursalia once again and that ends the episode right there at 21:10. And there's our first perfect episode in Gummi Bears since Knights of Gummadoom and this episode literally saved Gruffi's life as a character. It helps when Cubbi is around too. Thornberry and Lady Bane were good too. ***** (100%).
THE REVIEW LINE
What a perfect way to start Season Five eh?! With an episode that changed Gruffi Gummi from a jackass into a character who does has a heart; but is afraid to show it due to his hatred for humans. This was probably Gruffi's finest hour as a noble character who tried anything to find a book that he destroyed (and admitted his guilt as such without weasel words this time) and we got an epic episode out of it. Of course Cubbi was the main glue that held the episode together; but Gruffi this time held his end very well. Sure; the episode ended with the pushing of the reset button; but it worked in this case; because Gummi's do use magic and it ended up justifying Thornberry's mistrust for anyone early on even though it looked like the whole thing would be rendered pointless due to the crumbling books. Thornberry was all right; but he does get a little annoying with his southern speaking. Lady Bane was actually pretty good with her first impression even though her Troggles did most of the work bumping into her. Also; the finish made sense using the three devices Cubbi found to defeat Lady Bane and Gruffi fixing them to work like magic. A flawless episode in many ways; but a life saver for Gruffi who was on the edge of joining Monty in terms of annoyance with me. Weither this will last remains to be seen; but if you wanted a good Gruffi focused episode; this is the one. Next up is six more shorts for next weekend including Cubbi listening to Gusto's no holds barred attitude. So......
Thumbs way up for this episode and I'll see you all next time.