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The Adventures Of Teddy Ruxpin: Leekee Lake
Reviewed: 02/16/2019
The Grunges Leak Out A Hermit In This Lake.
Well; it's time to make up for lost time after that major arc as we get the denounment of the Death of Innocence arc and start chipping away at the "Make Up For Lost Time" arc; as Teddy and company try to get the crystals back; and learn more about the Hermit and Leekee Lake. Meanwhile; MAVO is licking their wounds and looking for revenge, like a bunch a gaslit monsters. Oh wait... How does this episode fare? So; let's rant on shall we...?
Episode opens with a shot of Leekee Lake and instantly there is a tease of a stone statue island that pretty much gives away where the Hermit is. Here comes the Airship from the west as Grubby is looking for something in the air and Teddy and Gimmick are still trying to figure out why Gimmick's floaty compass isn't being accurate. Teddy don't care because they drifted towards Leekee Lake anyway and Grubby claims that the water is so clear, you can see to the bottom. Or maybe it's because the water is extremely shallow. Teddy looks at the water and notices the Eclipse in the water and then the Airship lands in said area. And yes; to pad the running time, the Airship spins and lands completely. Scene change to the same spot as Teddy and Gimmick are in their swimming costumes. Gimmick looks like a barefoot farmer in that outfit and Teddy's trunks looks like he skinned an Illiop to make them. That was distressing. Gimmick makes himself look worse than Daddy Pig by awkwardly turning in a direction which assures that he falls back first into the water with Teddy jumping in close behind. Somehow; this splashes Grubby and Grubby hates it; claiming that he's the lifeguard. Geez; a lifeguard who doesn't like water, that enshews zero confidence in him doing his job. The two dive into the water after apologizing to Grubby and Grubby wonders if they know what they are doing. I don't think so; but they know more than you as a lifeguard. Here come the Surf Grunges on their sailing boards mostly, Ginnie and Jenna Lee and this basically ends the search without even trying. So, the two Grunges sail around the Airship while doing the meet and greet. The trio awkwardly get back on the ship as the Grunges think they are doing swimming lessons. Teddy points out that they are trying to get the crystals from the Eclipse. This leads to an ADR error: Jethro is talking in the background, despite not even being shown in the entire scene. In fact; there are no male Grunges in this scene. Then on the far shot; Jethro finally appears out of nowhere. Don't ask me, I didn't book this show. Anyhow; the Surf Grunges think the ship is in way too deep for diving without any diving costumes. Word.
So, the Grunges offer the trio a chance to camp tonight and Gimmick and company accept; because they have to use the Portable Airship House again. Okay then. So we head to the shore of Leekee Lake AFTER HAPPY HOUR (after dark) as Teddy is basically telling them the story of what happened in the last arc, only we get to the point where Teddy hid the crystals. The Grunges are impressed; but are very skeptical about meeting the Hermit because he's too weird. So, Illiops are too weird?! Well, no wonder Teddy was demonized so much by horror movies then. So, the Surf Grunges basically sing the exact same song Leota and Wooly sang in the last episode; only with more visuals to force the point. Of course; Teddy met the Hermit face to face, sort of; so it's a lie. But since Teddy was on dream street during this; he really cannot call them out on that, despite the fact that he really did meet the Hermit. More singing and dancing ensue; this was clearly done to get the audience who hasn't been following the storyline as religiously as I have in 1986, and I have zero problems with that. Of course; nowadays, you don't have to do that anymore since on-demand and streaming means you can go back to an episode and watch it. Back then; if you missed it, you were probably not going to see it since re-runs weren't available when you needed them the most. If Teddy Ruxpin gets rebooted and follows the same sequence of events (I doubt that very much in reality, but I'm just putting it out); the show would be half as long. Oh; and I was wrong because the Surf Grunges put their spin on the song, which is probably part of the full song in the Storybook. I think. The song ends and Teddy declares that the Illiop he saw was not scary. So, we continue talking about the statue island in the middle of the lake and legend has it that the Hermit makes surfers disappear, as in gone, as in dead. This causes Grubby to gulp in fear because there are glowing lights at the island. Now; that I think about it, it feels like Skull Island from Molly Coddled in TaleSpin; only with a lot less room. Grubby tries to call for Teddy; but Teddy is more interested in the description of the island. That was dumb.
So then Grubby finally get everyone's attention and we proceed to do the least convincing selling of fear ever. I have seen Z-Grade movies with more intensity than this. The Surf Grunges assure everyone that the Hermit doesn't do personal appearances and just sits and waits over and over again as Jethro demonstrates. Fade to black and we get one of those continuity moments that makes me laugh: The island is in the middle of the lake on most shots. In the next shot when we return: The island appears to have drifted and appears to be heading for the shoreline. Pan east as we see popping up from the lake is the Hermit in a diving costume. He then starts walking towards the hard camera, looking stiffer than me when walking and breathes. Scene change to beach with Teddy and company looking around. Teddy then looks into a jungle and notices a shadow in the distance. Teddy walks in and notices it's the Hermit picking fruit from the bushes. The Hermit gasps and turns around as they finally meet face to face barely six minutes into the arc. The Hermit gives one wave and then bails because Grubby comes in. Teddy is pleading for the Hermit to come back, but to no avail. Get used to this; the Hermit doesn't mellow out on non-Illiops until basically midway through the Hate Plague Arc. Grubby questions Teddy's health and Teddy claims that he's fine. He's not wrong though. Scene change to more walking on the beach with the babyfaces and they discover the Hermit's diving costume laying in the sand. Grubby thinks it's the Hermit; but the Surf Grunges aren't buying it. Grubby thinks it's Gutang armor and Teddy doesn't buy that notion either. Gimmick tries the diving helmet on and it's too small for his head. Grubby tries on the suit and it's two legger; not six legger. But wait; the helmet structure seems to fit Teddy's smaller head. Teddy tries on the helmet and it fits! So, the diving costume might be an Illiop creation. Teddy tries on the Mickey Mouse gloves and suit and it fits as well. Grubby's not exactly thrilled about this because it might be a trap. There is a long hose attached to the suit as Teddy simply walks into the water, waves and dives. The babyfaces slide in more pipe into the water as the Hermit is hidden poorly behind the bushes and that ends the segment nine minutes in. This is just dull and boring so far.
After the commercial break; we repeat the scene only with much better artwork and animation and then we see Teddy diving in and we get the second TEDDY RUXPIN SONG OF DOOM and this was the point I realized that this is just another filler episode that could have been completed in half of the time if there wasn't so much dead air in between scenes. It's an Underwater World with the most limited; but effective animation ever. Teddy is disturbing water life as we know it with his really bad jumping skills. Teddy is singing while his body is chuckling because he found the cannonball that says Return To Tweeg. How did that thing get into Leekee Lake? I know Tweeg is a terrible cannon shooter; but this is absurd. Teddy searches into caves some more and then walks directly to the Eclipse; and then we cut away to the surface with bubble animation as we head to a road at the surface as we see Quellor, the Troll Nephews and a guy named Rolghoul according to Quellor. He's the brown troll wearing a hood and tunic, and is the member of the MAVO board of directors. Rolghoul claims that this is an important development because Quellor lost the Black Box and therefore, his heat as Surpeme Oppressor is gone, and he's a Lesser Oppressor. Word. Quellor is not amused by this and basically dares him to do a better job; and Rolghoul stands there scared. If this were today; Rolghoul would do a better job than Quellor. The MAVO underlings laugh at Rolghoul's expense. Hey; at least Rolghoul didn't get defeated by popcorn, so; I think he can do better by default. Remember this for a few episodes from now, because it plays into the arc and reveals what the Black Box actually does. Scene change to the Eclipse under the sea as Teddy walks around, and then we return with a shot of Hermit Island and then pan east as Quellor addresses the troops as everyone is in various boats and we row and have a great time annoying each other. Sludge is rowing Quellor's boat by the way. Scene change back to Teddy climbing the Eclipse, dodging a turtle in the process (the same one Teddy almost stomped earlier) and then climbs on the turtle and lands on the Eclipse.
Teddy thanks the turtle and waves back. This is just too boring as we head back to the boats and Rolghoul is forced to look underwater without a diving costume. Yeah; I think Quellor sort of got his heat back here. Trudge is holding him of course. Rolghoul cannot find the ship; so Quellor tells him to keep looking. So far; this little scene is the best thing in this episode and it's such a throwaway spot that I do not care about. So, back to Teddy finding the crystal belt in the demon mouth of the Eclipse, and then he walks to the wheel and finds Quellor's Black Box and takes it. Teddy then proceeds to bail and then we scene change to Rolghoul continuing to be the only source of entertainment for me in this episode. Rolghoul finds the Eclipse and Quellor offers massive incentive to the monsters to get the Black Box back. Considering what happens with Tweeg later on in this arc; this is stupid on Quellor's part. None of the monsters sell this deal; so Rolghoul gets dropped into the water because he's a "natural born leader" according to Quellor. When the #1 heel demonstrates that you are a toxic macho man with lobster courage, you know this heel group is terrible at being heels. Rolghoul dives into the water and tries to swim towards the Eclipse; but he runs out of air and comes up to the surface complaining. Quellor don't care (at least Quellor is trying to salvage this episode; but he's no Tweeg nor Maggotheart nor Iggly); but wait! Sludge has a Krackpotkin Plan: Get Drudge's cousin Dredge. Rolghoul gulps on cue as Trudge claims that Dredge likes it down there and knowing what Dredge looks like, that was more distrubing than the writers had intended. Then Trudge invokes the pointy finger of death as he sees from afar; the AirShip. Uh-oh! Quellor is mad and the urge to kill Illiops are rising. He orders the heels to charge and it's time to row towards the Airship. Jump cut to the Airship as the babyfaces exchange notes on the situation. Teddy takes off the suit and grabs the Black Box as everyone tells him to be careful. Teddy opens the Black Box and it looks like an invention Gimmick made. Now; there an aspect that would probably be revealed if the money didn't run out on the show.
The Black Box contains buttons and a switch; along with a strange shaped crystal with a large crack in the middle. I'm surprised Gimmick wasn't offended by this as Gimmick inspects the crystal with the maginfying lens. He wants everyone to stand back while he twiddles the controls. Okay; there had to be a commercial break in between scenes here because the next scene has Gimmick doing a much more dramatic version of standing back and everyone stands back as Gimmick turns on the Black Box and stands back. The crystal glows...and then stops glowing and nothing....AND THE ROCK SAYS NOTHING happens! Grubby is not impressed and then a big rock nearly hits Grubby in the face before bounces on the Airship. Then an arrow hits the mast and then another rock knocks the Black Box onto the floor. The babyfaces all think the Black Box is dangerous and nonsensical. Teddy is all like "Of course it's nonsensical because here comes MAVO~! So, the Surf Grunges all bail and Jethro is written out by teleport of course. Jenna Lee and Ginne leave together on their sailboard. Grubby takes over the propeller and Gimmick makes the fire this time. The Airship is on the water as we get the Scooby-Doo Chase Sequence the MAVO Waterboat Edition~ to waste some more time. This seems to be the only thing this show does well on a regular basis. One of the monsters throws the anchor on the ship; and this time Teddy sneaks in and throws the anchor away with ease; making Grubby's version Captured look so stupid in hindsight. The monsters on the rope of the anchor splash into the water. Spear hits the mast, turn around time as the blue slug monsters gets scared and thrown into the water when Teddy makes a face. You know you are a horrible heel when you fall for an Illiop scary face. I cannot take Teddy's face making seriously. That face was goofy! Gimmick has got that fire roaring now; too bad MAVO is getting buried further now. Rolghoul grabs onto the Airship; but makes the error of celebrating too soon and gets MURDERED by Ginnie's guitar in the head and it doesn't break. Must be one of those Honky Tonk Man guitars that is real and not breakaway.
He also get the cartoon bump on his head for good measure and falls into the drink. Both sailboards sail in as Jethro tells them to buzz off because they are their friends, man. So why didn't you help them from the very start? Jethro teleports in and out as he bumps into two boats and forces them into the drink. Lavander monster in pink get MURDERED by the guitar before it can throw another spear. And then the Grunge who was originally named Jethro sails in and heads towards Quellor's ship as Quellor's ship I think is about to ram into the Airship; which would only serve to bury MAVO further. So, it' now six on two advantage babyfaces as Ginnie and Jenna Lee split the boat in two and Sludge and Quellor get splashed by the Airship and sunk. A complete and utter burial of MAVO in a span of less than a minute. Time for Tweeg to be the Surpeme Oppressor; but that'll will NEVER happen, am I right?! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~! Teddy thanks the Grunges for the obvious burial of a heel group and the Grunges love it and sail towards the shoreline as Quellor does the Gruffi pose and proclaims that this must be how Tweeg feels and then tries to literally drown himself; but BS&P won't let him of course. The Grunges also proclaims that it's alway an adventure with the babyfaces, which is true. Grubby calls that a close call; which is a total lie and Gimmick calls this not normal. Teddy calls this a perfectly normal day because this stuff happens to them all the time ever since they found the crystals. Yeah; this is their new normal and it's not a pretty sight as the Airship flies away. Teddy proclaims with the Hermit and the diving suit, along with the Black Box, this adventure must continue on, for another 30 episodes or so. That ends the episode at 19:12. This was a really dull episode until the finish and then it turned into another burial of a heel group you are trying to rebuild. ** (40%).
THE REVIEW LINE
Well; this might be the shortest episode rant ever in the series; because this episode for the most part didn't have anything exciting to note. Teddy gets the crystals back BEFORE MAVO even has a chance to do anything and that rendered the episode as boring and dull as Teddy simply went through the motions. The fact that they needed a song in the middle; indicating that they were filling time since Teddy couldn't have easily finish this segment in half of the time. There were a few continuity errors and without Tweeg and LB; MAVO cannot do comedy to save it's life and it shows. When Rolghoul is the most entertaining part of the episode; that's not good. Overall; a dull, boring, heatless episode. Next up is more Hermit madness, The Black Box, and Dredge The Octopus' debut! Yeah; that'll get the show going, because MAVO is pretty much done. So...
Thumbs down for this episode and I'll see you all next time.