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Gargoyles: Reawakening

Reviewed: 08/05/2013

Goliath's Rookery Brothers Are Dead?! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~!


Yeah; that is what Goliath said at the end of the last episode. Well; he's about to be put in his place in this season one finale as Demona and Xanatos are teaming up together again. Hopefully; this last episode will be feeling it because most of these episodes after Awakening are just not that memorable compared to Deadly Force outside of Hudson's big origin story and fight with Demona. So let's rant on shall we?!

This episode is written by Brynne Stephens and Michael Reaves. Animation is done by Walt Disney Animation Japan. Backgrounds and additional services are done by Tama Pro and Jade Animation.


We begin this one in NYC in the snow as we pan around and apparently; it's just BEFORE HAPPY HOUR (sunset) as we see a light turn green from red and then head to a general store just outside the window as we see a black man in a green sweater point a gun at an old man at the cash register because this is a robbery see. The old man states that this is the third time this month (wow; bad security much there sir?) as the robber proclaims that these are dangerous times as he takes the money, runs outside and goes into an alleyway. Strangely; the robber is voiced by the same guy who voices Matt Bluestone. Anyhow; before we can do anymore stuff, we HIT THE FLASHBACK~? Huh? So we head to Castle Wyvern in 994 AD in Scotland AFTER HAPPY HOUR (after dark) as we go up a castle stairs towards a doorway as Demona and Goliath are arguing over what should be done with Hackon and the Vikings. So we head up the castle tower to the top as a light blue cyan gargoyles wearing styled red armor asks about the vikings as well and Goliath insists that his decision is the right one. Wait; he wasn't there in Awakening, this makes no sense. Then Magus appears out of nowhere on a stack of crates blowing off the Gargoyles for being so untimely and storms off below. Damn; this is "Bash Goliath's Decisions" day isn't it? Why does this cyan blue gargoyle sound like Commander Worf from Star Trek: The Next Generation? Demona complains about protecting the human castle while the cyan blue gargoyle takes Demona's side because they can live on anywhere they want. Then Hudson interrupts as apparently protecting the castle is like breathing the air. Oh; I see what the writers are doing: They are trying to patch up a huge logic break from the first episode of the series. Good for them; I just wish they didn't wait 13 episodes to pull it off. Goliath is using him for his tracking skills as Goliath tells the cyan blue gargoyle to guard the castle and he's his brother as we shalt find out. He also gently nudges Demona and calls him her love and both Hudson and Goliath leave the castle from the air. Demona is not amused at this....

...and then we return to reality (no, not really) back at the clock tower AFTER HAPPY HOUR as Goliath looks from inside the clock; watching the snow fall as the goofballs of doom are asking Hudson to come along and see a new movie. Hudson is watching television with Bronx again; and proclaims that there is no point in going in the snow and watching a movie that is going to be on cable in a few months. I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. Nowadays; it's even possible to watch the movie BEFORE it even gets released to the theater; much to the dismay and rage of the MPAA. Hudson states that he has to guard the home as Brooklyn asks why bother when they are above a police station. Hudson repeats his assertion on guarding the castle is as important as breathing air. The goofballs repeat it and then dismiss it as something that they have heard too many times before. Goliath doesn't seem amused. The Eliza walks in with a SWANK white scarf and Disney Captions screws up because they first say hi and then say bye before leaving through the door leading to the clock. I should point out that Lex states as a matter of fact; that they do not live in a castle anymore. Broadway asks if they can eat before the screening which is silly because we saw Broadway eating popcorn in the theater during Deadly Force. So Eliza asks about what Goliath is doing and Goliath isn't interested in talking about it. Then we exchange notes on Eliza "protect and serve" motto. So "serve and protect" is trademarked and copyrighted? That's really stupid; not that it really matters since it's the same purpose anyway. Goliath thinks Eliza has a clan of her own; which Eliza claims that they will disown her if she doesn't get to work. Goliath then wants to come along and see how this works. Eliza is being nice about the fact that Matt Bluestone will be along for the ride though. Makes sense since Matt Bluestone is a conspiracy type of guy and gargoyles make up a really good conspiracy theory in the works.

So we head to Xanatos Tower/Castle Wyvern (I'm certain that everyone knows that they are connected in NYC by now) as we see red sparks fly outside a window in a castle tower on the zoom in shot. Then we head inside as Xanatos and Demona are basically playing roles in Frankenstein; only with a combination of "science" and magic. Scare quotes intentional. This is the first time Xanatos and Demona have teamed up together since Awakening Part Four basically. Demona blows off THE PACK~ and the Steel Clan as being useless; while Xanatos blows off Demona's spells. I was hoping for a hexagram or pentagram to show up in this lab; but no dice sadly. Demona has an urn with pink smoke coming out of it as she proclaims that it is time to combine to two. Wait; I don't get how they have failed here?! Goliath is 1-9-2 against you and Xanatos since this show began. Sure; you are 0 for the season in destroying them; but it's not like they have been winning or anything. So Demona orders Xanatos to use his machine after she puts some herbs in the vase claiming that all the forces have aligned. So Xanatos invokes THE W-SWITCH~! Electric sparks and electrical bolts start flying slowly and then increase everytime Xanatos pushes the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and we get the light literally coming out of the urn Demona is using. Okay; who was watching Summerslam 1994? The white light of the spirit embeds into the guy underneath the orange cloth as it shows off a claw on the side and IT'S ALIVE~! ALIVE~! And wouldn't you know it; David Xanatos sezs the exact same thing and always wanted to say that. I died after that. Demona doesn't know if she should be amused or should slap the taste out of Xanatos' mouth for that lame (in a good way) promo. The monster under the cover rises up as the wires break and the cover finally comes off as the monster roars. This is clearly the cyan blue gargoyle from earlier because they want suspense; but the light is ruining the logic of this scene. Goliath's brother looks around with his mech red eye as Demona calls Xanatos his servant. HAHA! Xanatos is not amused and I say; it's for the best Xanatos. You do not want it to be the other way around sir.

So Demona makes some small talk as she explains what they have done and we finally have a name; sort of. He's made of cold stone; so the gargoyle decides to call himself Coldstone for real. Coldstone is voiced by Michael Dorn and according to Wikipedia (DANGER! DANGER!): Dorn has also appeared in various video games, including Emperor: Battle for Dune, a game loosely based on Frank Herbert's Dune novels, as the Duke of House Atreides, Dr. John in Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, Special Agent Frank Horrigan and Marcus the Mutant Sheriff in Fallout 2, as Maero in Saints Row 2, the critically acclaimed Mission Critical as Commander Dana, captain of the spaceship, and Gatatog Uvenk the minor antagonist in Mass Effect 2. Dorn later reprised his role as Marcus in Fallout: New Vegas.[8] He is the voice of the narrator in the 1996 DOS game Vikings, Strategy of Ultimate Conquest!. Dorn has been the spokesman for Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo, and has appeared in a car commercial. Dorn has appeared on Webster and Family Guy as Worf; the latter along with fellow Star Trek: The Next Generation stars in the episodes "Peter's Got Woods" and "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven". Dorn supplied the voice to I.M. Weasel, protagonist of the animated series I Am Weasel. Dorn also supplied the voice of the Martian Centurion Robots in cartoon Duck Dodgers. He provided the voice of Kraven the Hunter in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series and appeared on Martial Law. He voiced Gorgon in Fantastic Four and King Beardbottom in "Here Thar Be Dwarves", the 30th episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. Dorn also reappeared in the DC animated universe as Kalibak, in episodes of Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. He appeared in the Ben 10 episode "The Return" and "Be Afraid of the Dark" as Doctor Vicktor and Ben Vicktor. Dorn appeared as the President of the United States on Volume 4 of Heroes.[9] Dorn also appeared again with Sylvester Stallone in Shade as a high stakes poker player. Michael Dorn has also appeared in SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron as Mutilor the alien antagonist.

He was also the voice of Rufus 3000 in the movie Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time. He also appeared on Without a Trace on November 15, 2007. He voiced the former Great Spirit Mata Nui in the recent film, BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn. Months later, LEGO hired him to return to the voice of Mata Nui in "Mata Nui Saga", a illustrated blog in BIONICLE.com. In 2010 he voiced Tassadar in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. More recently, he voiced the immortal supervillain Kru'll the Eternal in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and, fittingly, Guardship Commander Dorn in Strange Frame: Love & Sax as well as Gork and several minor characters in Adventure Time. He has recently had a recurring role on the television series Castle, playing the therapist of NYPD police detective Kate Beckett.[10] Dorn can currently be seen as "Future Guy" in the Dodge Dart commercials.[11] He also plays the role of Thane in the Castlevania: Hymn of Blood web series. In case you don't know from the start; he's Worf from the Star Trek Series. He started his career in 1976 as Apollo Creed's Bodyguard in the first Rocky movie. Gargoyles is his DTVA debut and he also was Minotaur in Hercules: The Series (fitting since he was Taraus in Gargoyles later on in the series) and Rufus 3000 In Kim Possible: A Stitch In Time. Castle (Carter Burke) and Zombeo & Juliecula as a janitor (!!!) are his most recent credits. He has 135 acting credits, 32 Self, one writing credit (Through The Fire), one producer credit (The Deep Below) and five direction credits (Hope & Faith, Star Trek: Deep Space 9, V.I.P. and Star Trek Enterprise, along with The Deep Below) to his resume. Coldstone is barely able to remember much; but he does remember that he was at the castle guarding it while Goliath was looking for the vikings and then dawn came and then oblivion. Damn; I HATE it when BS&P steps in like that. You cannot say "death" here despite saying die and kill many times before this episode?

So Demona poisons the well (which she and Xanatos do so very well do you not think?) by claiming that Goliath abandoned him for the mercy of the humans (which is actually true) and got seduced by their beliefs (which is actually true) and he turned him into this as she shows him a mirror and we see Coldstone's new form sort of. Other than being more metal based than organic; he doesn't look all that radically changed; but it's enough for Coldstone to roar and smash the mirror with his fist and then we quickly cut to the skies over New York City. We head to outside the general store which was robbed at the beginning of the episode. Eliza's car shows up on the left side as it parks just away from the store and we see Matt in the passenger seat talking about the old man who works there. We even get some background on his past as being born and raised here. Eliza wants to stay at the car to do some thinking; so Matt mocks her for being afraid of her brain overheating if she came inside. Eliza ignores the comment; so Matt shrugs his shoulders and heads inside. Eliza hides behind the car and she has a bug microphone on her sweater collar which is so precise; they don't have to talk loud. We discover on the rooftops that Goliath was listening to her and is amazed by this technology. Goliath asks why after being robbed that he refuses to leave. Eliza explains that the old man doesn't leave because he provides a service to those who cannot afford to go to the big markets who are a considerable distance away; which is a really noble (albeit a bit foolish) of him. Suddenly; her radio is on and it's a code three to Times Square which cannot be good. Matt runs in and they hop into their car and drive way. So we head to Times Square as there are police cars and a flipped over bus with a fire hydrant leaking water everywhere. The red car arrives and Eliza and Matt run in beside Morgan as the guy from the first scene of this series finally is addressed with a name. Morgan has no idea what that thing is; other than it's big and mean.

So Eliza and Matt rush in and hide behind a bus as we see a shadowy figure and it's Coldstone (check the look; I'm not fooled guys!) as Goliath arrives in front of a neon billboard with the bug microphone around his neck. So Eliza and Matt turn to the front as there is water spraying everywhere which cannot be a good thing for the gun since they point at Coldstone and demand that he freeze since he's under arrest. Coldstone no sells and grabs a red car. It cannot be Eliza's car since it looks different from hers; it looks like a more modern car. Coldstone gorilla presses the car as Eliza and Matt shoot bullets with red flashes (damn; it seems only TaleSpin did the system of showing the flashes as a sign of which animation studio did what episode); but Coldstone no sells because he's not a organic gargoyle. He is about to throw the car on Eliza and Matt and that ends the segment almost ten and a half minutes in. Wow; that's the longest segment I have seen in this series for a first act. Very good episode thus far.

After the commercial break; we get a northern pan shot of Coldstone in shadow (why bother? We know who it is guys!) with the red car as Matt and Eliza bail on cue; which has to be difficult due to the icy roads caused by the water from the fire hydrant. Trust me; I know that feeling. Before Coldstone can throw the red car; we see Goliath in shadow swoop down and tackle Coldstone down which causes the car to fly into the air and do about eight rotations before finally hitting the ground and missing Matt and Eliza by about four feet. Yeah. Goliath and Coldstone finger lace each other and Coldstone bashes Goliath so hard that Goliath goes flying into the roof of the bus on-screen without a flash. Boy; doesn't that make DiC look absolutely stupid now? Eliza consoles him as he wonders what the hell this thing is as the police finally put the spotlight on; and damn; Coldstone looks completely different in profile; and the only way I could tell it was Coldstone was his face with the red eye. He's basically a version of Taurus Bulba only more organic and with an even deeper voice and less emotion. Goliath tries to walk over as Coldstone sees Goliath as his rookery brother. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Care to rephrase that "My rookery brothers are all dead" thing Goliath? He thinks Goliath betrayed him and he somehow is stunned when his laser comes out and shoots Goliath in the chest again. I still do not understand why they still think "devilry" is a bad word on DTVA? So Goliath pounces in and they lock up again as Eliza calls for Goliath; but Matt drags her away before the buildings come down. So we continue to fight as the intensity level is to 11 now. AWESOME! Coldstone shoots and some building debris comes crashing down. Goliath then realizes who he is as he calls Coldstone his brother while Coldstone calls Goliath his betrayer. This is so awesome now as we get more explosions and debris (where was this in the first 12 episodes?) as we head to the theater rafters with the goofballs eating popcorn as they feel the rumble. Broadway thinks it's the surround sound; but Lexington disagrees because there are no explosions in Bambi. HAHA!

More rumbling as we head outside with Coldstone shooting some more and I think it directly hit the area where the theater is (so it was in Times Square?) and the debris topples onto Goliath and Goliath appears to be on his belly and out. Coldstone moves in for the kill as he gorilla presses Goliath over his head; but his arms gets clipped by flying hub caps. Not quite; it's Broadway and Lexington throwing hub caps at them like discus. Goliath manages to bail and joins the goofballs as Brooklyn wants to know who he is. Goliath claims that he was one of us; or used to be before he turned into and this is a direct quote from Goliath himself: "It's an abomination.". Nice way to make peace with your former brother now isn't it? Coldstone sees more traitors joining Goliath proclaiming that they will pay. For what? You don't have anything to sell sir! Anyhow we get an FPS shot of Coldstone targeting the babyfaces with his red painted square as we zoom out to a monitor which Xanatos and Demona are watching on. Xanatos does the Gruffi pose proclaiming that Coldstone is having trouble making friends which gets no response from Demona. So we go to a sky shot of the staredown between Coldstone and Goliath (with three goofballs; making it a four on one. Who's the babyface here?) as Goliath demands answers to this outrage. Coldstone proclaims that Goliath betrayed the clan and they got destroyed as Goliath yells that they were all betrayed. And now a laughable logic break: We saw Demona about 25 seconds ago in Castle Wyvern in Xanatos' office? And now 25 seconds later; she appears in the sky and lands with Coldstone. You couldn't just let her talk from a transmitter? And to make matters worse; Red Goliath Xanatos and Steel Clan underling #1 land with Demona on a roof top. Man; this teleporting thing is damn annoying. So Goliath calls Demona out for lying to Coldstone because he lived for the Wyvern Clan which Demona blows him off because they died for him and his corrupted beliefs. Demona proclaims that Coldstone, Red Goliath Xanatos, and the Steel Clan underling #1 are her clan now.

Goliath gleefully blows it off saying that Demona doesn't know the meaning of the word clan. He has a point there Demona; I mean, look at your clan: A half gargoyle/half robot abomination...ZAP! OUCH! Ummmm.... A robot that looks like Goliath and a human wearing armor that makes him look like Goliath. That is some clan you got there Madam. ZAP! OUCH! Ummmmm... Demona is not amused so she order Coldstone to destroy them; but Red Goliath Xanatos tells her not to be hasty since he wants them alive. Yeah; we are replaying Captured again which is better in this case because there is no MacGruffins at stake and thus Demona's lust for death has some justification since this is about revenge as is the main theme of this show and the episodes to come. Compare that to MAVO while they force Teddy to walk the plank despite the fact that killing him is a bad idea because that means they lose out on the crystals since they just want the MacGruffins; not revenge (although if I did a remake; then it would be both actually thus both death and torture would be justified without looking stupid. Although there is still an order to go through). Demona blows him off because they are the true gargoyles. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Irony immunity much there Demona?! Demona claims that they have been corrupted by the humans as Goliath looks at his brother proclaiming that there has been enough death already as there are few of the gargoyles left. And then a blue van with a satellite dish driving in and out comes the camera crew and Travis Marshall. Oh; and this was starting to get really good now since Coldstone was pondering this over too. Eliza speaks over the microphone to tell Goliath to flee because she doesn't want it on the 11 o'clock news. Which is pointless because logic dictates that Travis has already seen what has happened and this story is going to get reported anyway. Damage is done guys! Not to say that fleeing is a bad idea; but still...

So Goliath tells Xanatos that it would be in his best interests to go someplace less fragile and Xanatos agrees with him which pisses off Demona. I give 2:1 odds that Demona will turn on Xanatos for real by the end of this finale. So Coldstone uses the jetpack to fly out of here while Demona joins Red Goliath Xanatos and the underling into the sky much to the shock of the humans on the ground. Eliza I think states on the microphone that she is going to get help as the babyfaces climb halfway up the wall of a building in a nice attention to detail moment and then fly into the sky. Matt is stunned that this is over just like that; but Eliza doubts that is true and this ends the segment 15 minutes in. I am so FEELING this episode today because Goliath's heart has been struck with the lowest blow possible: Using his brother to hate him. It's the classic story; only it's not jealousy, it's thinking that he's betrayed and wants revenge instead. So Coldstone is like Abel rising from the dead to try to kill Goliath playing the unintentional role of Cain. It works really well because Goliath's action did cause the death of his clan; but on the other hand, Goliath made a mistake, but Demona, like Don Karnage did with Baloo in A Bad Reflection On You Part Two; poisoned the well to make Goliath look bad. This is really great stuff and the fighting is great here until Travis showed up to ruin it for us.

After the commercial break; we head to inside the clock tower as Hudson and Bronx are watching television and seeing Travis Marshall proclaim that the city is besieged by monsters as there is some footage of Demona's clan and the Wyvern clan flying into the sky using the most professionally grade shaky cam footage ever made. Hudson nearly loses his white hair on his head in that one; on par with Kit Cloudkicker making his baseball cap disappear when he threw it on the ground in Plunder and Lightning Part Three. Hudson teases going to help Goliath; but then realizes that someone needs to guard the clock tower. Bronx whimpers on cue as Hudson ponders this over. I give 5:1 odds he leaves the clock tower. So we head to the Brooklyn Bridge as the babyfaces land on the top of the suspension tower. So this is Xanatos' idea of a less fragile spot? Why not upstate in an open field? On wait; they vandalized a graveyard in Long Way To Morning, why should I be surprised. Lexington is relieved that they made it first; and then laser fire hits and they fall on their faces in the concussion. Brooklyn proclaims that he wishes he was fashionably late. I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. And here comes the heels including Demona with her laser gun in red eyes pissy boss mode so you know she's SERIOUS BABEE! Another laser shot as Brooklyn is forced to cling onto the face of the tower as Demona flies too low and Brooklyn tackles her from behind and they both free fall to the ground as Brooklyn looked white eyes pissed off. Yeah; Brooklyn finally is going to get some shot in for making him look bad in Temptation! Nice continuity there guys. I know this because Brooklyn asks her if she has any spells left. They bounce onto the icy pavement below and take some really sick bumps as a result; even Demona! Where was this in the earlier episodes? It's not like WD-Japan didn't animate Temptation or anything. Yeah; I realize Demona is the easiest one since she has no armor; but still, it had to be done to allow Brooklyn to get back at Demona in a meaningful way. It's basic storytelling 101 you know. Both are knocked out by the way.

So we have Broadway taking on Red Goliath Xanatos as it shoots lasers at him flying around the bridge along with Lexington with Steel Clan underling #1. Wow; Lexington has been demoted to rabble rouser duty now after being the big hero in the last episode. Sad. Goliath is fighting on the tower with Coldstone as they lock up. Great banter here...Goliath: I don't want to fight you! Coldstone: You already have! I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. Lexington (in white eyes mode) heads for the tower and goes in between the tressles of the tower; and SCU #1 flies into the tower and explodes with ease. Well; when it comes to the Steel Clan; there is nothing new under the sun. Lexington then realizes that Broadway is having trouble with Red Goliath Xanatos as it shoots and breaks the wires keeping the suspension bridge...ummm..suspended and it wraps around Broadway's limbs, tying him up. Broadway panics as Red Goliath swoops down towards him with the cannon arm laser; but Lexington jumps him from behind and forces him down onto the ground with conveniently placed stuff to "soften" the fall. That was so pointless of BS&P because the armor would have protected him anyway; and we know Xanatos is in the armor anyway. And those objects would have done nothing to soften the impact anyway; in fact, it made it worse! BS&P is so whack! So Lexington goes over to revive Brooklyn as apparently; Demona has disappeared. I think. Red Goliath Xanatos seems to be overheating (judging by the steam coming out of him) as he stands up and takes off the helmet to reveal Xanatos for real to the gargoyles; although we the audience all knew it was him so the surprise was muted. And then we get the money shot moment of the episode as Coldstone and Goliath push themselves over the tower's edge and free fall into the icy water below. HOLY CRAP!

The babyfaces are all shocked and horrified by all this as we cut to under the water with Coldstone (Creamry Abel) and Goliath (Cain) as we get one of the best sequences ever in this series: Goliath is almost out as he tries to grab Coldstone's hand while he hears Hudson proclaiming that defending the castle is no more important than breathing the air as it echoes the word protect in his mind. Goliath for a moment manages to grab Coldstone's hand; but in slow motion, the grip slips and it looks like they are separated as Coldstone is still alive and seemly all right; but something snaps in him and he grabs Goliath arm just as the victory flourish commences and we cut back to Lexington and Brooklyn trying to untie Broadway from the suspension bridge wires; and Broadway points to the water and up arises Coldstone with Goliath cradled in his arms as he flies up with the jetpack and lands on the pavement. He gently puts Goliath onto the pavement; proclaiming that he is alive while Xanatos just stands there not seeming to care about this. The babyfaces are happy to see him alive; but Demona is pissed now as she is on the turned over something as she has her laser cannon set to HATE and KILL mode as she thanks Coldstone for saving Goliath which sounds like she's being sarcastic. She threatens to kill him; but Xanatos runs in protesting this outrage as even Coldstone is confused about all this. He wonders if he's here just to live and Demona claims that he is merely there to do so. That is beyond the pale nihilism on Demona's part as Goliath blows her off because Gargoyles are protectors which is their nature which shows how behind Goliath is on science. But still; to merely live is empty, lifeless and corrupt. Which is funny considering that the babyfaces have had to merely live for 13 episodes or so. Coldstone asks who Goliath protects and then Demona has had enough and shoots her laser at Goliath; but Coldstone gets in the way and takes the shot and somehow manages to go over the bridge and free falls into the icy water below. Goliath panics and dives after him as Demona stalks the goofballs with the laser proclaiming that she is going to kill all three of them right here, right now!

So yes; Demona turned on Coldstone despite just wanting a question asked; thus turning Demona into a nihilism type monster heel which we all love to hate. So much so; even Xanatos uses the laser arm cannon in his suit to get the laser gun off her hands as he wants them alive. And then Bronx runs in and tackles Xanatos down like Dino on Fred Flintstone. Yeah; in spite of the fact that Xanatos has basically taken the gargoyles side. Sure; it's not a babyface turn; but he still hasn't gone full heel. Yet. And then Eliza arrives with her gun proclaiming that it is over; but Xanatos counters that he doesn't think so as he uses his jetpack and shakes Bronx off and then grabs Demona before she can see that Eliza is still alive (although she probably heard her anyway; so it's pointless) Xanatos grabs her and flies away out of sight. The babyfaces all look ashamed as Eliza asks where the monster is as Goliath returns looking wet as heck and proclaims that he was not a monster; because he was family. And apparently; Coldstone has died in the icy waters of New York harbor. Wow; just wow. This IS turning into a country song of Goliath's life: He loses 90% of his clan due to being stupid, 1000 years because Magus was stupid, got screwed by Xanatos, screwed by Demona TWICE, almost lost Eliza to Broadway's moronicness, screwed by THE PACK~, lost his brother TWICE, lost Wyvern Castle because of Macbeth (although at least he burned down Macbeth's home; so it was a sort of fair trade.) and we still don't know what Derek's decision was because we never SAW him in this episode so that plot thread is hanging by a thread. And the victory he did get was all due to Hudson (Soft); who actually arrives with Eliza at last (how did Eliza ditch Matt is still up in the air in this episode too?). Goliath does eye contact violence on the goofballs and then sighs and tells them that it's time to go home. So we look over NYC's skyline as we zoom out to see that the gargoyles have not gone home yet. WHY?!

Anyhow; Lexington asks about what Coldstone meant by the question of protection and Hudson claims that they protect the clock tower. Goliath disagrees as he finally decides to accept the role of protecting New York City because it's their castle now and from this day forward, he agrees to protect the city for human and gargoyle alike. He then asks for one more favor: he needs a detective as he is still sounding like he's breaking the word in. Old habits do die hard don't they? So Goliath cradles Eliza in his arms and they swoop down from the bridge into the city as this would be the ending in any other universe, but we still have 45 seconds left as we head to inside the general store as the Matt Bluestone voiced robber has returned as the old man as his hands in the air as if this is routine. He blows him off for robbing him AGAIN; but the robber puts the gun down on the counter and gives the money back from the sack in his sweater and wants the old man to call the police because he's turning himself in since six monsters told him too. Now THAT is funny! So we see it's morning outside as we pan up to a nearby roof as all the babyface gargoyles are sleeping the gargoyle sleep on the roof as Eliza proclaims that the city feels safer already. Sadly; it will get more dangerous as life goes on, but that's for season two as we end the episode, season one and volume one of the Gargoyles DVD set at 21:15. A few stupid mistakes aside; this is the best episode since Deadly Force bar none. So Goliath after 13 episodes is 1-9-3 which is horrible; but this one really stung for him. However; the episode was beautiful with great storytelling; a logic break plugged up, and an epic fight that ended with Demona killing the very creation she created with Xanatos. **** 1/2 (90%).


THE REVIEW LINE

Well; we end season 1 and the first volume DVD set with a bang; or in this case a laser shot. Unlike most of the introductions to new characters; Coldstone was handled with excellent care here as they managed to plug up the logic break from Awakening. I also loved Coldstone's new look; it was more badass than the organic form anyway. The animators still need to get over the fact that we can see through who is in the shadows and sometimes it's best to show it in full bloom so it makes sense. The fight in this one was the best one of the season as shots made contact; and Coldstone got killed in cold blood by Demona who is turning more and more bitter by each passing episode which is the perfect setup for her demise. Goliath just cannot buy a break; but at least he didn't lose this battle this time and didn't screw up. There were some great sequences (the underwater thing to Coldstone's demise was staged perfectly) and the animation for the most part was rock solid. Still; it would have been nice if we knew the answer to Derek Maza's decision to work for Xanatos after Eliza gave him the cassette tape; but they didn't so that annoyed me and I dinged them for that one. But while they didn't have to do the robber returning the money to the old man spot because the episode was awesome enough as it was; it was a nice touch to end the first season which needed a looking up since they are on bottom at this point.

So that finishes season one of Gargoyles and it's 13 episodes. I give it seven thumbs up and six thumbs in the middle; with one episode being *****. It's a really good ratio; but it's not outstanding because I have seen other DVD sets in DTVA with similar ratings; and TaleSpin had 12 thumbs up and one in the middle with four ***** episodes. (#13 on the DVD was Stormy Weather which I gave *****.) I think Gargoyles' main problem is that they are over promising and under delivering because while they did stuff like vandalize a graveyard; blood and some swearing, none of these things are uncommon in your average wrestling show. Sure; Deadly Force was historic and so was the first 30 minutes of Awakening, the last 30 minutes of Awakening, and the Coldstone finale; most of it was just there and I wasn't feeling any of it. Plus; they screwed up Macbeth's debut with terrible animation and a contrived setup (unlike Coldstone where they pulled it off perfectly. Even Dracon was better treated than this.) and they also had fighting that looked second rate. And there is no excuse for it because Demona can defend herself but took the safest bumps in Temptation (although she took better bumps here) and that fight was awfully lame. The overall problem with this is: All I see them doing (and this was apparent when Owen was talking about power ranges in Deadly Force) is trying to rib on Batman and it's not working because the audience they want can see through this jealousy by the Disney staff and it showed when Batman was killing them in the ratings. TaleSpin did take a pot shot at Looney Tunes with El Gato's Warner Brothers free falling spots; but those have been in Disney classic shorts for decades now. So it was to be expected. Sure; this show is far from bad; and in fact it hasn't had a clunker yet (TaleSpin had one which was near the end of it's run), but I'm not feeling it like I do with TaleSpin. I want to care about Goliath and his troubles; but it keeps getting screwed up by his own hand (See Long Way To Morning near the finish). They aren't pulling it off perfectly like TaleSpin did; they are from fine to very good. Which is fine without the context; but the context is that this is supposed to be the TaleSpin killer and the "mature" show of Disney. But other than a few spots which BS&P looked the other way; it feels less dangerous than TaleSpin was. That's the bad thing about it; and it's not a good thing to have when you are making grandiose statements about your products.

So next up is Volume 2, Part One, and hopefully things will get more epic and awesome. Owen's a trickster in disguise! Fox marries David Xanatos! MacBeth and Demona hate each other! Demona turns the city to stone and shoots off the human statues! And we finally find out what happens to Derek! Will I be FEELING this show more often now with those plotlines? I hope so. So....

Thumbs up for this episode and I'll see you all next time.

 

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