Molly Coddled

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Molly Coddled Re-Rant

Reviewed: 09/18/2010
Additional Commentary: 09/27/2021

Molly Cunningham: Ultimate Soccer Kicker!

Original Airdate: 09/17/1990 (Syndication), Episode #10 (TaleSpin DVD Volume 1, Disc 2), Episode #19 (Production Order).

Molly Coddled Notes
Molly Coddled Transcript

(2020 Gregory Weagle Says: Or Molly Cunningham: Ultimate Football Kicker! Works much better and is a lot more inclusive since it covers all types of football like World Football (Soccer), American Football, Aussie Rules Football and even Rugby~!) Yippee! A second straight Molly Cunningham focused episode and it involves one massive kicking fest. (2015 Gregory Weagle Says: That's an understatement to say the least.) It's also nice for me because I get to rant on a really fun episode instead of a really awesome; but draining emotion wise one after the last two episodes I re-ranted. (That's a problem in this show: The show tries too hard to make you care about the characters and their deeds; that it becomes too much and thus we all just want comedy. On the other hand; at least it knows how to have fun. I sadly cannot say the same for Gargoyles. Just because these ideas are new doesn't mean that they are good ideas. The plot of this episode is that a creepy crook tries to get away from the crooks who want a wooden doll by having an affair with Rebecca, which Molly sees right through (Apparently Kit does too; but is too polite to say anything.); causing her to steal the wooden doll from the crook. Rebecca decides to accept crook because she wants romance and adventure you see.) So does it still hold up? Let's rant on shall we...?!

This episode is written by Alan Burnett and Eric Lewald. (I wonder if the Owen Burnett from Gargoyles is a homage or a rib on Alan now.) The story is edited by the late Bruce Talkington. The animation is done by Sunwoo Animation, so expect blown spots. (The backpack/white sack thing is so bad that it makes Polly Wants A Treasure look good in terms of spot blowing.)

We begin this one at the docks AFTER HAPPY HOUR (After dark) as Sunwoo animates a bouy in the water. Remember when Rescue Rangers had so many stiff STOCK FOOTAGES OF DOOM?! I certainly do; I just wish other fans would. (Funny how TaleSpin got over on sheer force of will; and the one that suffered the most was Rescue Rangers, whom Disney spent even less money on. However; Disney markets Rescue Rangers like mad anyway and managed to cultaive a cult following in the years after it's release, even though the show suffered more animation issues than TaleSpin ever did. (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: Or maybe it's because Gadget Hackwrench was a character much more people wanted to see in spite of everything else being a downgrade.)) We pan up to see soft snoring from the seagulls, and that is ruined by two speedboats speeding around the bend as we get the SCOOBY DOO CHASE SEQUENCE THE SPEEDBOAT EDITION~ barely thirty seconds in. (In one of the storyboards produced by Robert Lamb (Whom by the way did not work on TaleSpin); there was a much bigger focus on Baloo in the hammock at the Higher For Hire docks than the chase itself. I should note that the storyboard was designed to try to get Robert Lamb a job for Darkwing Duck; so it might not be the approved final storyboard from the actual episode. I just want readers to keep that in mind.) We then cut to the chasers as there are two crooks (One badger and one raccoon who looks like a corrupted version of Baloo with black eye makeup.); one in a brown gangster suit and one in a blue sailor's top with a red sweater and a sailor cap. (The suit gangster looks like Dick Tracey and the other one actually has a first name: Arnold; which I use to call "Arnold The Sailor Crook". That was really stupid of me. I don't know who the Dick Tracey crook's name is; but I reckon that it has a name, like Finance Minister Erwin LaFong (Evident in the Whistlestop Jackson, Legend storyboard Tim Val Hal released on eBay recently.) has a first name.) I reckon that these are the TWO CROOKS DE JOUR as they proclaims that he's not getting away this time.

Dick Tracey Badger is voiced by the late Ron Feinberg whom passed away in 2005 (So after seeing Tony Jay, Ed Gilbert and Lorenzo Music have since passed away; we now have the death count at four now.) Arnold is voiced by Jerry Houser. Jerry Houser is well known for being in what is considered the best hockey movie ever (Until Score: The Hockey Musical gets released of course.) in Slap Shot as Dave "Killer" Carlson and the television hockey movie Miracle On Ice as Les Auge. So, Dick Tracey Badger pulls the lever (JESUS~!) on the speedboat and the chase resumes with search lights on. We cut to the back shot of the white speedboat as we see a creepy jaguar furry in a black suit and bad brown toupee driving. I know this because it nearly falls off and he swears in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (blast!). He also as an English accent and brown whiskers on the side of the snout. I'm guessing he's our lead character Covington (Voiced by Jim Cummings. (Trust me; he doesn't overload on voices as much as Rescue Rangers but still...)) so he twirls the lever (JESUS~!) and we go over the ramp and race some more underneath the docks as we also get a closeup shot of Convington's backpack with a golden belt (I guess). Convington is looking for a hiding place and sees the perfect place for it: Inside the SeaDuck at the docks of Higher...for...Hire. So Covington scoots around the docks, throws the backpack over Baloo's head and it somehow manages to land in the tailsection of the plane despite the tailsection being on the opposite side. Yeap; that's logic break number one for the episode barely a minute in as it plops onto the junk. (Actually; this is not the logic break. The logic break is that the SeaDuck was missing completely; but the backpack would have landed in the back of the SeaDuck anyway since the tailsection door was open. So the throw made sense; it was Sunwoo not adding the SeaDuck that made it not work out.) So we then cut to a shot of the bushes near the entrance of Cape Suzette as a tugboat arrives from the bushes and it conveniently blocks the entrance; forcing Covington to swear in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (drat!) and both speedboats turn around widely to miss the tugboat and speed away some more and than they meet side by side.

The Dick Tracey Badger orders Covington (he addresses him here) to hand it over right now; and Covington blows it off because he wasted too much wealth on that McGruffin ...ERRRRR...I mean tailsman. Although to be honest; this is only the second McGruffin in the series thus far. (Actually; it did have one use: Opening the cave leading to the Cara Stone; which was in fact a McGruffin in the end.) Arnold proclaims that if Covington refuses they are going to waste him. So; they are going to MURDER him with excessive alcohol?! Okay; that would be a pretty uncreative way to die; but at least it's a way. (Alcohol poisoning everyone; although it's difficult to use that in an actual homicide.) However; Covington calls it sweet deliverance because there is a conveniently placed police officer inside a police car driving on the docks. So he drives the speedboat off the ramp; up the stairs and it plops right onto the top of the speedboat with a nasty thud and causes little damage whatsoever. That is one tough police car there. I guess it's proper safety protocol for the officer to flee from the police car; so no logic break there, just a little pointless. Or not as the officer is still in the car and the car actually does take a certain amount of damage as the pig police officer (Whom I call Officer Malarkay who is voiced by Jim Cummings and appears in another episode to come. (That would be Bringing Down Babyface by the way.)) uncovers his eyes and some good shadowing by the animators there. Covington jumps and pleads for forgiveness on his stupidity and even grabs the handcuffs and arrests himself. HAHA! Again; great character, bad voice. (Not really; but someone else could have done this voice. Then again; how many voices were willing to work on this show and like it? Not many.) Officer Malarkay is completely clueless on that one as the speedboat with the crooks drives away and the Dick Tracy wannabe proclaims that there will be a next time. So we go to morning at the docks of Higher...For...Hire as we see the white speedboat in the harbour and Covington climbs up and practices the fine art of not being seen on a sleeping Baloo who is still in his white hammock like the lazy fatass that he is. (I guess the speedboat came with the deal after Covington paid the fines or something.)

Covington looks at the tailsection of the plane (Well; they are keeping the logic break constant; I'll give Sunwoo THAT much. (Not really; because the throw didn't break logic, the lack of a SeaDuck was the logic break.)) as he swears in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (blast) because the backpack is under a tomb of junk and could take hours to find. Convington walks in and blows off Baloo's lack of hygeine skills, of course. Then he hears Kit's voice (R.J. Williams; Pretty much from now on until For A Fuel Dollars More.) as he looks out and sees Kit trying to wake up Baloo. See; Kit has recently found out that Rebecca is having a surprise inspection of the SeaDuck. Kit folds his arms and looks sharp because Rebecca will be here at anytime (Assuming Molly doesn't make her life harder of course; because she is supposed to not only be in the story; but for the most part is the focus character of the episode. Geez; after Mommy For A Day, this is truly a tough act to follow.) as a clean plane is an efficient plane. (Which is in fact true.) Baloo gets out of the hammock and Covington is forced to hide behind the cargo. The bears go into the airplane and start taking out the trash and putting it into every place they can think of. Ummm; don't these bears know about a trash can?! At least Kit is trying to get the stuff OUT of the plane instead of just putting into some place where Rebecca cannot see it. (Because he's more responsible than Baloo is; although that still doesn't explain why he was sweeping trash under the rug.) Anyhow, Baloo asks how Kit knew about this inspection and Kit states that he "accidentally" read it on her calender as some trash drops onto the plane floor. ("Accidentally", Kit?! Riiiiggggghhhtttt...) Baloo is amazed because apparently Rebecca's has a private "Trespassers Will Be Shot" calendar. I guess Rebecca is a Beetles hater. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! POW! OUCH! Ummmm...Baloo proclaims that he loves that boy which is a little too disturbing to the bigots of the world. (Because you see; if you love males and you are a male; that's considered an admission that you are gay. It's bigotry because it's often not the case. Kit is twelve years old for goodness sakes!)

Baloo throws the rest of the trash into the trash closet as they walk away from the plane and we see Convington pop up from the crates looking around. He sees the side door and then he jumps out. Okay; I get the point of the scene, but this looks a little too much like that incident of an air liner employee getting so upset at customers that he jumped out of the plane bound for takeoff that got national attention. Needless to say; after hearing the facts, I side with the customers here. (I don't even remember who did this or when it happened, other than it happened in 2010 and I just wrote it as an example. Very dated.) So, we get the scene changer as Kit is inside sweeping up the trash some more. This is the last of the trash and all they need to do with it is to get rid of it. However, Rebecca's voice beckons and they are seriously screwed. So they stuff it into the empty closet which is logic break number two for the episode since that closet was already full when they started dumping trash into it. (Not really; they could have taken it out and emptied it and then brought it back to fill it up again. There are worse logic breaks than the first two of this episode and those ones annoy me a lot more than these early examples.) Rebecca enters the tailsection of the duck with Molly skipping to her lou in her Danger Woman outfit for the second time in the series. (I think Molly is almost as good as Ultra-Cool Sidekick Toadie in that spot. Almost. Besides; Molly's great without trying to copy Toadwart anyway.) Baloo is guarding the trash closet smiling like a weasel, sort of....Rebecca cannot believe that they got the place cleaned. She should be not believing that Kit got into her calendar and Baloo actually cleaning up after himself. Molly addresses Baloo and they have an embrace as Molly is no more as she is Danger Woman today. At least she isn't speaking in the third person. Yet. She is here to inspect her secret headquarters. See, Rebecca decided to bring her to work today because it's the only way to get her away from that silly program. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Projection much there Rebecca Cunningham; business major?! Molly looks around and notices that all the pretty garbage is gone (How did she know about the garbage in the plane? (I'm guessing that Molly knows Baloo's messy habits better than Rebecca; or Molly caused this mess and Rebecca didn't notice. I hope it's both actually.)).

Rebecca is pleased to see Baloo running a ship-shape ship. Molly then notices a piece on the floor (Which disappears sometimes in between shots. Sunwoo is really green as an overseas animator at this point; which is sad because the animation here is good otherwise.) and Baloo is seriously screwed as Rebecca realizes that Baloo is NOT being upfront about his cleaning habits. Baloo; realizing that he's screwed, decides to get it over with and pick up the piece (Because if Kit does it; then Rebecca KNOWS Baloo isn't being honest here. (No; it's because we have to do a comedy scene to remind everyone that TaleSpin isn't just about pathos. Personally; I'm perfectly fine with spots like this. Sure; the show should focus on pathos, but still have comedy and adventure built around it so it appeals to the biggest audience possible without stooping to the lowest common denominator in the process. If only Gargoyles had the same forethought in the first half of it's run...)) and that allows the trash closet to open and the trash gets spread around really thick. HAHA! Everyone pops from the carnage as Molly likes it now. HEE HEE! Baloo gets his paper as the trash tomb seems to gain about three times as much BEFORE they put it into the closet. (A trait found in Brain Freeze from Fanboy & Chum Chum; only in TaleSpin, it makes more sense.) Rebecca surprisely doesn't invoke the WRAITH OF BECKEY on Baloo and acts more frustrated than anything else. She went into this business for romance and excitement. Now the harsh reality has set in for her. Molly tells her not to worry as she does her pose because there is clamor (confused noise) and incitement when Danger Woman is on the job. Wow; that was too funny to watch (and listen, too). Rebecca proclaims that she wouldn't trade her or Danger Woman for anything. They hug and then Molly is set back on the ground as Rebecca wants some charm with culture and a real man of the "fantasy" world. Okay; I made the fantasy word part up. Then we hear Covington as he is on the speedboat asking for Ms. Rebecca Cunningham and he is wearing naval gear now. HA! Covington comes forward as Rebecca is instantly charmed as she addresses her.

Needless to say; Molly is not instantly amused by this and I agree with her. Covington just screams "You are room feed!" (So says Debra DiGiovanni from Video on Trial. (How did 2010 me get that name wrong originally? I watched that show for a long time and knew her name; but somehow confused her with the former WWE Diva (Whom's name is Joy.). How?)) as he walks into the plane and calls Rebecca name royalty which I have to say that's almost true. A royal business lady indeed. (They said royalty because they couldn't say "biblical" since the name Rebecca is an English translated word for the wife of Issac from the Book Of Genesis. So; 2010 Me was true as long as you understand the BS&P context and origin of the name.) Rebecca blushes as Covington tips his hat and addresses himself. He bows and then kisses Rebecca's hand. Baloo just shakes his head in disgust as Molly calls Covington one of the guys Danger Woman is always beating up. (Fun pointless fact of the day: Danger Woman is the name of a 1946 drama movie from Universal.) Covington then starts buttering up Baloo and shakes his hand and Baloo doesn't know quite what to make of it as he admits that he had a scrape of three. (Notice that Covington never addresses Kit at all during this scene? It's like he didn't even exist. Yeah. Kit could have just left the scene right there and it wouldn't have changed the plot any since outside of cleaning up the SeaDuck, he doesn't do anything, but say a few words. He's just there. It's not like they couldn't have written him out either since Feminine Air wrote him out midway through the episode. It would also have helped R.J. Williams' raspy voice in later episodes.) Then Covington starts petting on the colander of Molly's helmet. You...do...not...touch...Danger...Woman's...helmet...buster! He calls Molly "cute" which is even WORSE! Molly yells at Covington to say away from her mommy and invokes the most awesome form of violence in DTVA: MOLLY VIOLENCE~! ALL HAIL~! Yeah; the joke comes from a space alien joke from This Hour Has 22 Minutes; so shoot me! Rick Mercer version rocked my world of course. (Rick Mercer: The first guy in history to expose former president George W. Bush for the idiot that he is. Please; for the love of god, have our next prime minister of Canada agree to change his name to Poutine. Please; I'm begging you. We need a pay off NOW! )

Molly Violence is a kick to the shins and sadly Covington doesn't sell it well. BOO! HISS! (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: Probably the same way Mike Graham would sell a kick to the shins from Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.) Rebecca is mortified as she blows Molly off for being not nice at him. Molly just walks out and towards the conveniently placed backpack with what looks to be a wooden animal doll. Baloo continues with his stories on the SeaDuck as the adults (And adult in child's body along with child in man's body...) walk away and Molly cuddles with her wooden animal toy as Covginton walks over to Molly and asks for it back. Molly responds: "No!" *PUNT*~! ALL HAIL MOLLY VIOLENCE~! ALL HAIL~! Covington sells the kick much better now as Rebecca is mortified again. This episode is like shooting fish in a barrel; or better still, kicking Covington in the shins. Both ways. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Molly refuses to give the doll back and Baloo proclaims that she can have it too as Rebecca doesn't know what has gotten into the child. Why don't you ask Kit about it?! She seems to have the "Cynical Kit" mode on today. Covington has this forgotten and he prefers informalities too. (Not forgiven, because as you will see; Covington is allergic to pain and suffering.) He wants to be friends with Rebecca and Molly isn't liking this one bit as Rebecca is charmed and agrees to it as we fade to black to allow Eisner to be turned on a little more than eight minutes in. So we return in a park BEFORE HAPPY HOUR (sunset) as the blue birds fly and the swan swims on the lake and there is a little red medicine wagon in the background as we see in the background near a tree with Rebecca, Covington and Molly walking towards the wagon. Needless to say; Covington steals a rose from the wagon and puts it behind his back and offers it to Rebecca and then walks away without paying (And we accuse the New Disney of such things?! Heck; in The Adventures Of Teddy Ruxpin, in the episode "The Lemonade Stand", I saw a number of times where we never saw anyone pay for the lemonade and at least in that one, there were a few times where they actually got paid. Memo to Covington: Pay for that rose~! You wish you were Donald Trump...) as Molly is not amused and follows.

The music is so sweet though as we scene change to under the umbrella tree table with Covington, Rebecca and Molly sitting. Rebecca and Covington sit down and have eyes for each other. Molly watches, not amused at all. Molly shoves Covington's tea cup off the table and the tea cup shatter. Rebecca blows her off without any words out of her mouth. Ah; this is a color slient movie we are watching. Would have been more effective with slient movie captions and the scenes being in Greyscale. I guess Sunwoo has no idea what those are. (Captions aren't a problem because the characters don't really talk in this scene other than the blowoff. It's the fact that it's in color that is a problem. I realize children don't like B&W much; but it fits for the scene that they were shooting for. Otherwise, it's just makes the critics feel that this is just a cheap scene to waste time. (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: Sunwoo hadn't figured this out, but Walt Disney Japan did in Whistlestop Jackson, Legend.)) Molly feels bad and then gets sneaky and evil. So, we return to Rebecca's apartment as Rebecca is hanging her sweater on the coat hook and we pan left to Covington trying to give Molly the big ass teddy bear behind his back while Molly sits on the green sofa with the wooden doll. So Covington is trying the exchange promotions at Build A Bear, I see. Molly naturally no sells and gives Covington another Grade S raspberry for good measure. This is like the slient episode of Fairly Oddparents; except the characters are actually LIKABLE! (And it only goes on for about two minutes tops. TaleSpin has done the "use the music as sound effects" spots on other episodes; like in one scene in A Bad Reflection On You Part One with Baloo and the tricycle. It's cheap in a way; but in this case, it works out rather well because it's supposed to be a silent movie like scene.) Covington is angry and so we head to a dancing hall which looks like something out of Cinderella; but with dancing animals. At least it's apporos here as there are bears, pigs, dogs (The dancing makeup is the characters would dance with the same member of their spieces; except for Rebecca and Convington which is mixed.) dancing together.

Rebecca and Covington's dance surpasses all as Molly sits in a pink chair as the spoiled little princess with a pink dress and a pink ribbon in her hair. If this were Gosalyn; both Covington and Rebecca would be dead, done, toe-tagged before they even got here. Molly can stand dresses; Gosalyn cannot of course. (Because dresses are sexist you see, (and will still be until males start wearing them and not complaining about it) and Gosalyn is Gosalyn of course.) Then we end the whole evening AFTER HAPPY HOUR with a canoe boat ride with Covington rowing, Rebecca holding the umbrella and Molly getting more pissed off by the second in her own personal little end boat. We row east and end to black with a shot of the moon light. Now; it's an okay scene; but could have been a lot better if they had it in B&W if they were going to do a slient movie sequence. I'm just saying. (Yeah; one easy color change was all this scene needed; but Sunwoo clearly has no idea how to do greyscale properly at this point. I refuse to believe that this is because kids hate B&W since Whistlestop Jackson, Legend used flashbacks and such in greyscale. This is an animation issue; but a "exec word is law" issue.) So, we head to a shot of Rebecca's apartment outside and then we head into the bedroom as Rebecca is talking to Molly on the bed as Rebecca explains to her that Covington is very special to her now. Molly thinks Covington is creepy and her dolls Milly and Kara (My notes are Cara and Millie; but Millie Vanderbucks is taken so I'll accept Disney Captions on Milly. Kara on the other hand, not so much. (Now if I discover in script that it's Kara, I'll accept Disney Captions name then.)). Rebecca nicely tells her that she wants to be happy and Molly decides to accept it while sighing. Considering It Came From Beneath The SeaDuck; I know she's already lying about being nice to Covington. Rebecca thanks her and kisses her on the cheek and then walks out of the room. As Rebecca is out of sight she proclaims that Molly won't and speaks in the third person for the first time as Covington won't get Cara or Rebecca, if SHE helps it. Told you she would lie. (Well; you can only be subtle for so long.)

So we go to the outside shot of Rebecca's apartment AFTER HAPPY HOUR as we head inside the living room which has been turned into a makeshift dining room with two long candles on the sides in the middle of the flowers. Covington asks about Molly herself. Rebecca giggles as she talked "Danger Woman" into spending the evening with her dolls. Sadly; it clearly didn't work as we see Danger Woman underneath the table tying Covington's shoe laces together. (Ah; so that's why many characters in this series are barefoot. Or maybe not.) Covington then becomes an idiot as he wants to say hello to Molly and so he stands up and tries to walk; but he trips and takes a sick MAN-SIZED bump onto the floor. HAHA! Rebecca panics wondering if Convington is all right as she goes over to console him. That's enough of a distraction for Molly to place a fork (Pointy side up, of course) onto Covington's seat. Rebecca offers Covington a seat and naturally Covington places his ass right on the pointy ends of the fork and Covington flies into the sky about nine feet into the air and takes a really sick bump into the flowers and destroys the glass vase on the table. (But the table somehow doesn't break. I AM THE TABLE!) He's no Vanderbucks; but he is still damn close enough. We see Molly pulling up the cloth as the brown toupee falls onto the floor and Molly giggles a wee bit too loudly on that as Rebecca manages to hear her muffled giggles. Needless to say; Danger Woman is so BUSTED as Rebecca drags Molly and her arm into the next room stage left to have the talk again. So we return to Covington grabbing his toupee and puts it on his head again as he has had enough of this. He's getting the doll tonight and in my words; he'll die trying. Considering Molly; we might have a death off-screen tonight. (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: Wow, that prediction was almost nailed as the one with the Arcade Archives being on a Nintendo Direct! Spooky~!) Covington notices the phone and notepad and decides to hatch a Krackpotkin Plan as he heads to the door.

So, we head to Molly's bedroom as Rebecca cannot understand what is wrong with Molly tonight. But before Molly can respond; we hear Covington yelling to Rebecca that Baloo just called her and there is a robbery at the office. Rebecca is in a panic as Covington holds her hands and wants to be counted on so he'll babysit Molly Cunningham in place of Kit. He wants to steal...ERR...protect Cara...ERRRRRR...Molly for Rebecca see as Rebecca agrees to it and calls Covington an angel. Nice to see that we can still not act like 4Kids Entertainment tonight. (I'm always dumbfounded as to why people think is so squeaky-clean. I mean; after watching 4Kids for as long as I have; you would think that people would realize how outdated their Moral Guardian handbooks are. Then again; with MG's, it's all about them. Even John Enter isn't this overbearing, and that guy is overbearing to watch at times.) Rebecca embraces and Molly wants to come with her mother and Rebecca blows her off for being such a jerk tonight. I see the projection of guillable is on full blast tonight as she walks out. We scene change to Covington kissing Rebecca's hand again at the door as Covington tells her that he has everything well at hand as he closes the door and locks it from the inside. Everything will be fine as he stalks Molly and wants Cara which officially ends the segment 11 and a half minutes in. Now we are cooking after that sloppy start. (This is a really fun episode; but if you don't like Molly, this was just there. I don't have much to say about this episode so far; because it's not a groundbreaking episode. It's an episode that is simply about Rebecca trying to get some adventure in her life against the harsh reality of owning a shipping business; only the guy she sees is a criminal. Already saw it in A Touch Of Glass.)

After the commercial break; we see Covington in his stalking pose as he wants Molly to give him the doll right now; or she will not. (And what are you going to do to her if she chooses "not". Oh wait; I know the answer...) Molly chooses not and it's ALL HAIL MOLLY VIOLENCE~! ALL HAIL~! Covington really sells it this time around (good for him) and the chase is on as she closes the door from her unlit bedroom and barricades it with a wooden chair. The poor girls' lock of course. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (Oh; that was terrible 2010 Me; and shame on 2015 Me not noticing it.) Convington bangs on the door, threatening to break it down as Molly packs the backpack with Cara. Tells her doll Milly that Cara has to run away from Mr. Creepface. Okay; I made up the last part; but it's true. Molly decides to take Milly anyway (Geez; that was awkward.) as Covington blitzes; and so Molly opens the door. Covington trips on the conveniently placed alphabet blocks, taking an off-screen MAN-SIZED bump onto Molly's bed and the bed collapses to boot! Molly runs to the door and her moronic levels click in since she should have clearly seen Covington lock the door earlier and needless to say; it's locked. (I just love how the show reminds us that kids are naive; but not stupid, and reminds us that there is a difference between the two. Modern cartoons don't think there is a difference; or just don't see it; or just don't care because exec junk science claims...you guessed it.) Covington returns tossing the steel key in his hand and calling her naughty. Covington calls her a wretch (Which is one step away from wench and two from bitch.) and demands the dolls because it's worth MONEY, MONEY, YEAH, YEAH (or millions. Either way...). Molly refuses because mommy needs it more than him. Covington pleads for her not to do more Molly Violence; but Molly no sells and it's ALL HAIL MOLLY VIOLENCE~! ALL HAIL~! That would be number fourfor those who are not counting at this point. Molly even uses the handle of the umbrella (from the conveniently place umbrella rack in the background, of course) and trips Covington with it for good measure. I guess Covington isn't selling well enough for her. Her standards must be higher than mine. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! POW! OUCH! Ummmm. (They are; and you should raise your standards more 2010 Me! Molly Violence is awesome! Covington is not, however.)

Molly runs away stage right and goes up outside the kitchen area and goes towards the power poles and uses the handle of the umbrella to slide down after seeing the view from below. I guess the handle is made of wood; since she doesn't fry as a result. As long as she doesn't touch the wires outright; the logic is safe. She slides down squealing before Convington can catch her and so Covington commits logic break number three for the episode by grabbing onto the wires with his bare hands and sliding down. What?! He couldn't find a non-metallic object to slide down with? Like a wooden handle from an umbrella?! (Amazing how the writers manage with Molly to not break logic with the power wires; and then break logic with Covington. I'm guessing BS&P didn't want Covington to be shocked and decided the safer spot would be to then take a huge bump into the power pole seconds later. Which is silly considering all the shock spots in this series, including From Here To Machinery with the Auto Aviator.) Needless to say; his hands burn up from the friction and he takes a MAN-SIZED bump into the power pole. OUCH! (I'll give the writers this: Even if they treated the wire as a rope; they still managed to do the friction spot anyway. Inconsistent this show can be in it's logic sometimes.) He slides down the pole and lands on his face in a dizzy daze as Molly is on the street blowing him off and runs off stage right. (I love how Molly says "Just wait until I tell my mommy!"; even though she has no evidence of Covington doing anything wrong to her. Lucky for us; we don't get that spot of her telling her Mommy at all considering that this would make Rebecca look more like a jerk. Plus; her saying that is too cute anyway that it's hard to take her seriously doing that.) Covington recovers and asks if six year olds ever get tired? Answer: yes; if squids are involved. AHHAHAHAHAHAHA! PUNT! OUCH! ALL HAIL MOLLY VIOLENCE~! ALL HAIL~! (She has a point in punting you there 2010 Me! She stopped being tired after Kit was about to give the hot red pepper Frosti Pep bucket; so the answer is "not really".)

So we head to a shot of Higher...For...Hire as Baloo insists for the eighth time that Baloo didn't call her to begin with. Kit proclaims that it's true and Rebecca doesn't like this one bit. Hey; it's Baloo crank calling, how can Rebecca trust Baloo? See Time Bandit. (Besides; claiming that Higher For Hire was robbed and then saying that you didn't call them to begin with would make anyone question their morals. I can understand Rebecca being difficult here, considering how she is dealing with on a regular basis.) Anyhow; everyone climbs into the black car (with Kit going in last) and the car speeds away just as Molly runs towards it and cannot catch up. Molly pleads for Baloo and Rebecca; but no dice as Convington catches up as this chase must continue and then we fade to black. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! That's the worst fade to black I have ever seen. (Either this was designed for the non-Disney Afternoon commercial breaks; or someone in post production is a moron. I honestly don't know which is worse.) So we head to Rebecca's apartment again as we head to the door and it opens (I guess Rebecca has the spare key; or Convington unlocked it.) as the bears enter and Kit thinks they went to Higher...For...Hire and missed them (As much as Disney Captions is missing dialog right and left.). So they head out again and we go to the sky shot of the docks of Higher For Hire as Molly runs away into the tailsection of the SeaDuck and she shh's Cara and hides behind the edge of the door. Covington notices her inside; so Molly takes Cara (The wooden cat doll) and sees the conveniently placed first aid box. It also has the Red Cross symbol on it. Sure it doesn't count as a religious symbol (per se); but copyright issues still exist with the Red Cross though. (I think this falls under the WWE/WWF archive deal too. Otherwise; Disney would have recolored it for DVD release, which they didn't. (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: Anyone know if they recolored the symbol or removed it in the Disney+ release? Because I'm not buying Disney+, just to check on minor things. Unless it comes to Nintendo Switch, then I might change my mind.)).

So we see Covington go into the tailsection of the SeaDuck and stalks Molly as she backs up. He wants the doll and he'll allow her to go home if she does. However; the car honks and he's screwed again. So, we see the car on the docks as Rebecca tells Baloo to check the SeaDuck and she'll check the office. Covington swears in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (blast) and goes after Molly again; but Molly runs into the cockpit and slams the door right in his kisser allowing Covington to take yet another MAN-SIZED bump. We then see Molly unhook the clothesline of clothes (Including some Kit Cloudkicker colored socks which is funny since Kit doesn't wear any.) and swings like Tarzan and lands safely onto the docks. (I see the influence of Kit Cloudkicker has infected Molly in this episode.) Covington manages to get the door open and grabs the clothesline and swings; but his weight carries him into the water and he takes another off-screen MAN-SIZED bump right into the dock structure. Wow; he IS Miss Vanderbucks Lite. It's also another Warner Brothers spot as he slides into the water and struggles to swim. We head inside the SeaDuck as Baloo asks Kit if he heard something and Kit gleefully states that he doesn't. (HA! Covington is going to die if the crooks don't find him and kill him first. Covington's bumps are really sick at this point.) So we have, Molly running in a dark alleyway (Oh boy! You can hear BS&P panicking now... (Well; not really. However; this is a prime example of TaleSpin's attention to detail because no one outside of Gargoyles would have the guts to show the wrong part of town so to speak.)) as she turns around the bend and we have a dead end. Covington has her cornered good now as Covington grabs the backpack and Molly counters with....you guess it...ALL HAIL MOLLY VIOLENCE~! ALL HAIL~! Another good sell job from Covington as he is hating it now that he has got it five times by himself. Covington proclaims that the fun is over and Cara is for his hands only. Sadly; for Covington, Arnold grabs him and Dick Tracey Badger steals the backpack. HAHA! The Dick Tracy reject recalls Covington delivering the doll to them and Covington calls it prespective. HAHA!

Arnold throws him away and Covington takes another off-screen MAN-SIZED bump into a sea of trash in the corner of the alleyway. Dick Tracey Badger addresses the sailor reject from some French/Beligum/German cartoon that I cannot lay my finger on at this time (That would be the German educational series segment Captain Bluebear from The Program With The Mouse starting in the 1970's. Arnold looks nothing like Bluebear though; so what is 2010 Me blabbering about? I realize that there was some connection to TaleSpin with the German version in terms of marketing for that country; but they are two completely different shows.) as Arnold. Dick Tracey Badger calls this the stuff dreams are made off. We get a shot of Molly concerned and Covington in the trash recovering from the bump he took. Dick Tracey Badger then pull up the stuff that dreams are made of and it all comes together in one sound:

Milly: Mama!

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh boy! BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That was just too funny as Convington is seriously screwed. (I have no idea who did the voice of Milly; but it was funny. Although I do have a question: Since when did dolls talk in the 1930's?! I don't think the talking bear thing existed until Teddy Ruxpin in the mid 1980's. However; if you believe Mentalfloss; talking dolls would exist as early as the 1880's. I answered my own question and the writers knew what they were talking about.) Dick Tracey Badger throws the doll away and both crooks stalk Covington. Covington backs away and he has a sure fire way to get the doll as Molly realizes she has been had and tries to run away. However; Covington grabs her and Molly looks like a symbolic bear doll in front of the crooks as she has been officially kidnapped (A huge no-no in children's cartoons nowadays. I think.). Molly looks frightened and that ends the segment nearly fifteen and a half minutes in. Now this is getting good. (About the Dick Tracey Badger for a minute. I think I know why we didn't hear his real name. Either his name is Dick or Tracey and BS&P wouldn't allow it for Crap Past The Radar or copyright reasons. I'm guessing it's the former; because the latter is also one walking copyright infringment in it's own right. Now; the real kicking begins.)

After the commercial break; we head back to Higher...For...Hire as we head into the office with Rebecca at her desk on the phone with the police about a missing Danger Woman as Kit is sitting down on a chair and Baloo is pacing around. Kit is hoping Molly is all right as Rebecca gets irritated at the police officer on the phone about Danger Woman. Well; you cannot blame her since her daughter is missing (And in reality; KIDNAPPED~!). Then the door slams as Baloo and Kit notices that it came from the SeaDuck as we go to the outside side shot of the SeaDuck and hear some crashing and smashing in the background. We then go into the SeaDuck as Covington is getting angry as he smashes things and then notices the conveniently placed first aid kit and opens it to reveal Cara. Covington grabs the doll; but here comes Baloo and Rebecca as Baloo gets in his face asking about having to babysit Molly with Rebecca trying to restrain him. Covington backs away and then he goes all melodramtic on us since Molly has been kidnapped (Which is a half truth when you really think about it...) as Baloo shakes him some more. Rebecca then tells Baloo to quit it because she want to yell at him (And shake him; thus proving that Baloo and Rebecca are equal jerks and it's sexism that prevents the male audience from making that connection.) as Covington tells her that she is on Skull Island. The ransom is of course the doll and Baloo has zero reservations giving it to them as Covington continues the drama tactics with this gem:

Covington: If only I wasn't allergic to pain!

I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. Covington even wants to deliever it himself as he tries to leave; but Baloo stops him at the pass because apparently Covington has been sniffing at the doll too. UH OH! Covington blows him off because he has no notion on what he means. He wants to be responsible for Molly's safety and that's all (a lie). Rebecca proclaims that they are all going because Covington doesn't have to do it by himself. Covington thanks her for that; sort of. So, that logically leads to Skull Island (Which has a Skull head for a mountain. Dr. Wily would have made this a hideout if Mega Man 12 existed.) as we pan south and we see a small cabin and it's ALL HAIL MOLLY VIOLENCE~! ALL HAIL FOR EVERYONE~! Excellent selling from the crooks as they cannot grab her and Molly runs away. I think we are up to eight or nine in the Molly Violence department now and it's time to sign her up as a striker for Toronto FC. (Once she kicks someone in the nuts; then she is definite soccer kicking material. Yeah; this is the main reason I love this episode, so shoot me! (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: Maturity?! What's that?!)) Dick Tracey Badger wants to pop Covington like a balloon as they stalk Molly who backs up against a wall (Below a life preserver, too; how ironic...). So, we head to the SeaDuck in the air as Baloo asks why they want the Cara doll and Convington thinks it has sentamental value. Rebecca doesn't care nor know what's going on (you certainly don't Miz Cunningham!) because she wants Molly back safe and soon as she looks out the side airplane window. We get a shot of Rebecca looking outside as she wanted romance and adventure and it may have lost her daughter in the process. Even in romance; a single parent is screwed stiff. Nice movement of the SeaDuck by Sunwoo though as I haven't said anything back about them since the second logic break. (Ah! But the worse is yet to come for the animators.) So, we get a far shot of the SeaDuck flying towards the SeaDuck and there's more ALL HAIL MOLLY VIOLENCE~! ALL HAIL TO EVERYONE~! Molly kicks their shins four more times on screen to bring it up to twelve or so acts of violence by shin kicking in this episode alone!

If you think this is bad; wait until Barely Alive and see an exercise in mocking BS&P! (Yeah; because if you say die in any context; BS&P thinks it's a legit death threat. On a fictional show. Even the police know better than this; and yet no one in BS&P does.) So, we head into the cabin as Arnold stuffs Molly into the BARREL OF LAUGHS and Dick Tracey Badger seals the top on it. Sadly; they forgot to seal the bottom beforehand as they are carrying it out because Molly is STILL on the floor and they do not suspect a thing. BOO! HISS! They want to give up kidnapping and after that display; I cannot blame them. (Yeah; they had the foresight to lock the top of the barrel; but not the bottom of the barrel which would have done the most good. They suck as kidnappers, even more so than DX~!) Arnold proclaims that she doesn't weigh much as Molly scampers stage left. We get another scene changer as we are outside the docks of Skull Island as the SeaDuck has already landed, everyone gets out of the SeaDuck and notices the crooks right away with the barrel. Covington gives Baloo the backpack of doom and Baloo thanks him. Covington then walks away towards the rope bridge and away from them (Can you smell the full heel turn; or do I have to spell it out for you?). Rebecca wants Molly first (while the crooks want the doll first) and the crooks decide to agree anyway (anything to save their shins, these thugs are in a way smarter than your average crooks in DTVA at least.) as they unseal the top. Oh, there is nothing...AND THE ROCK SAYS NOTHING~! The crooks are screwed; so they blitz Baloo and headbutt him good in the chest. Baloo goes flying off-screen with the weakest bump of the entire episode as the crook drop on their ass and grab the backpack. Rebecca and Kit go over to console Baloo and we have our fourth logic break of the episode as the backpack turns into a white sack. (Sunwoo messing up bumps is nothing compared to this logic break; however, there is a logic break in this episode to come that isn't Sunwoo's fault.) Well; there goes the full monty right there as I expected; but it's Milly doing the "Mama" voice again. HAHA! Well; they made up for it somewhat.

Baloo gets up and asks Covington about the wrong doll; but Covington is long gone now. Now Baloo's PISSED as the crooks call Covington a dirty double-crosser who switched the dolls on the bears (Thus the crooks turn babyface! Man; you know the BS&P notes came from this show when THAT happens. (Geez; I am watching Impact; only this episode still makes sense for the most part because only the crooks have changed aliment.)). Rebecca wants Molly; and the babyface crooks want Covington's head (and ass) and so we have a pact as the Dick Tracy wannabe asks everyone to follow him and all do. So, now we get another shot of Skull Island on a closeup as Covington runs into the jungle with "Cara The Wooden Doll" as he hears some branches snapping. He runs away from the camera as Molly shows up proclaiming that old creepyface has got her doll, Cara. Molly follows as we stop at a stone door with a spot to place Cara in as Covington stops and looks around and notices nothing of course. Molly hides behind the bushes as Cara is inserted feet first into the lock and he give it a twist. Now, that is more disturbing than Eric Lewald had intended; but then again this is a writer who thought wetting the bed was such a good quote for YTV to use in their promos when Knights of the Zodiac was on television here. (I saw Eric Lewald's name on the credits of the English dub of Knights Of The Zodiac; but I'm unsure if that is the same guy.) It opens slowly, much to Molly's amazement. Covington sees riches beyond amazement and he runs inside, leaving Cara behind. I'm guessing she is going to be forgotten for the rest of the episode. (The wooden version of Cara is forgotten; but at least it proves that the wooden doll was not a McGruffin.) We continue running into the Skull Island as there is that same green hellish goop we saw in The Idol Rich! Covington looks around the cave as he can sense the treasure being near. He needs a sign and he panics as he is forced to dodge a giant ass middle eastern sword which slices down near him. Covington pops up and wipes his head with a cloth as Molly practices the fine art of not being seen perfectly from behind. HAHA! Then, Molly screws him good by running away tripping up the floor panel as it springs down. Oh no; she didn't do that on purpose at all, no siree!

Covington hears some whirring and then panics as the floor is separating from his feet ala Golden Suns episode five; the one where Scrooge gets drunk on gold fever! (The animation here was fine; it just didn't have the epic feel Treasure Of The Golden Suns had; but it was never intented to be that episode anyway.) Covington isn't so lucky as he grabs onto the conveniently placed vine...ERRR...I mean snake in time, swings like Tarzan, stops right in the middle and gets off this gem:

Covington: I hope someone somewhere is enjoying all this.

.Yes Covington; I am sure damn enjoying seeing you get your ass handed to you and there is more to come. (Yup; we got a fourth wall break in a 1990 cartoon which would critics would scream bloody murder if modern cartoons tried that crap.) He then get the LIGHT BULB OF BLOODY CLARITY as he panics; but dodges the snake bite and swings back and then falls into the orange goo moat and as seen is harmless. So it wasn't the Simpsons that did that mock in that Japanese reality television episode that started it. Covington pops up just in perfect position to be a stepping stone as Molly stomps on his head. Now you know how Kit Cloudkicker feels when HE'S babysitting, sir. Covington wades out of the orange goo and plops on the shoreline pleading for no more abuse. (I betcha Arnold Armadillo from Bubsy is regretting ever not auditioning for this show to boot.) Then, there is a huge glowing red and Covington sees the Cara Stone (Which is the same wooden doll; but in ruby flavor this time and is the one true McGruffin.) sitting on a stone ring pillar. Covington grabs it (And on that shot the spike top is gone; bad form Sunwoo) and it doesn't shock him sadly which would be funny as he proclaims that he has the largest ruby in the world. He does the standard no one can stop him now speech which allows Molly to jump in and naturally give him the "ALL HAIL MOLLY VIOLENCE~! ALL HAIL~!" for the sixth and final time (for him as we are up to fifteen plus overall). Like I didn't see that one coming a mile away?! I still love it, just the same. (I am disappointed that the final shot wasn't in the groin like the one where Happy Jack kicked Burger in the groin despite Wang Films' spot was supposed to be in the chest.) Molly steals the Cara Stone away from him as Covington sells the shot one more time and we have chase number four of this episode. Molly slides across the narrow path inbetween the green hellish lakes and tries to run away; but Convington jumps in front of him as he calls her a rug rat. I think the Beagle Boys would like to have a word with him about rug rats. So, Molly runs stage right and into DA...HOLE (slurp!) as she squeezes in and backs away towards the far wall.

Covington makes it to DA...HOLE as he demands the dolly and Molly no sells it. Then, she smiles as Rebecca, Baloo and Kit have arrived just in time right behind Covington. Covington is so screwed now; it isn't funny. So, Molly decides to play with Covington a bit as she accuses Covington of never loving her mommy. Covington then makes the fatal mistake all sneaky heels make at this point: Tell the truth right in front of the babyface without the heel knowing the babyface is there. (Also know as the "Give someone enough rope to hang himself" tactic. Always works on cocky scumbags who think women are stupid. Ask Baloo about it since it happened to him in It Came From Beneath The SeaDuck.) Covington grabs the Cara Stone as they do a tug of war as Molly plays with him some more and really, she can release anytime she wants now; since Covington is so seriously done for. Covington gets the doll and it's WRAITH OF BECKEY TIME~! And it's completely justified on her part to boot. Memo to Covington: run now; or you are room feed! To whom? Does it really matter now? Covington instead tries to reason with her; but no dice as Arnold and Dick Tracy Wannabe blitz him from the right side and the Cara Stone bounces out of Covington's hands and into the hellish green lake gone forever. Covington tries to defend himself and calls it a joke. He asks if they can take a joke as Dick Tracy wannabe asks if Covington can take it and both crook drag Covington out and they disappear forever; never to be seen again. (Here's the problem with this: The Dick Tracey Badger never asked the question. He was supposed to; but Arnold said the line instead despite using Dick Tracey Badger's character. That is Hanna Barbera-equse and really unprofessional. Why this wasn't fixed in post-production is beyond me. The lines themselves are good; but still...) If that's the case; Cinema 101 proclaims Covington is basically raped and killed by the two crooks turning them heel again. (We never saw any of these characters again in the entire series; so Covington is pretty much dead and might have been sexually assaulted in some way. It's not like McSweats from Pickle & Peanut who teased getting killed by scorpions in 90's Adventure Bear and then reappear in another episode months later.)

Covington also lose his toupee in the process as Baloo grabs it and proclaims that toupee don't come with brains. Nor heart and soul either. (Pretty much another sign that Covington was killed, methinks.) Rebecca kneels down and she and Molly embrace again as Rebecca rubs her back. So, we head into the SeaDuck as sunrise is approaching. We see Baloo piloting in the cockpit and Rebecca and Molly are sitting on a box exchanging notes as Danger Woman always wins. She also apologizes for not getting the millions from the sunk Cara Stone as Baloo apologizes for Covington being a cat who is a dirty low down dog. (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: In Memphis wrestling, it is a rite of passage to call someone an yellow bellied, egg-sucking dog. It's pretty much the standard heel talk in those parts.) Rebecca thanks them both, but she has what she always wanted; a daughter who knows when someone is taking advantage of her. Sadly; she wasn't around for William Stansbury the ghost in Her Chance to Dream in person. (However; her ribbon was around and when that happened; the male portion of the audience went full sexist, moronic, yellow bellied, egg-sucking dog.) Molly is all the romance and adventure Rebecca needs as Molly cuts a live action Batman promo in Danger Woman mode. HA! Rebecca proclaims that she wouldn't miss it for the world as the SeaDuck flies away towards the sun to end the episode at 21:15. Despite the logic breaks; this is still one hell of a fun TaleSpin episode. Sometimes, the old DTVA is all you need mixed in with a little nasty girl kicking violence. **** (80%). (Most of the logic breaks were due to technical issues than the actual storyline; because the storyline was fun. This had what a good episode should have: A conflict, a beginning, some twists to make it interesting, a story that makes sense, good animation (Sunwoo's biggest problems were continuity based), and a good story with a finish. Much of the rating is on Molly Cunningham being awesome and without the shin kicking, it's more in the *** range. Molly Violence made this episode great because it was fun seeing the heel get it's just desserts from the babyface whom he thinks is hapless.)

THE REVIEW LINE

After two emotional episodes and a pilot movie filled with awesomeness; it was nice to watch something fun and exciting. Yeah; this episode wasn't ground breaking and it makes Rebecca look a bit weak, it was fun to watch Molly literally kick shins and figurally kick ass. It wasn't perfect as there were quite a few Sunwoo mistakes and a few logic breaks. Plus, I still don't like it when Jim Cummings voices heels and time restraints prevented the consequences of Covington's exit. (Jim Cummings is a wonderful voice actor (and a horrible human being in hindsight); but he was overused in TaleSpin. Then again; people were bashing TaleSpin (including me) back then, so I can see why they went with the diverse voice range of Jim. Also; considering what those consequences would probably be, it was for the best.) Plus; I wish that they handled the silent movie sequence with Convington and Rebecca love better by having it in grayscale and with silent movie caption which would have been awesome for the time period used here. (Again; you cannot blame it on "kids hate B&W" because Whistlestop Jackson, Legend had flashbacks in greyscale. This is on Sunwoo Animation.) On the other hand; the story was excellent, Covington was a riot as a heel and Molly made him even more so by basically doing her one shin kick move. (All Hail~!) Kit and Baloo were themselves and Rebecca did sound a bit more jerky than usual (but still justified); but not over the top like in the earlier episodes with her. So next up is Polly Wants A Treasure; and we get to hear R.J. Williams at his peak acting wise in my humble opinion. Sadly; it also was a low point for DTVA in the animation department and more so Sunwoo Animation. (Although the scene spot blowing in question was beyond the pale hilarious.) So...

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

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