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Post by cloudmonet on Feb 24, 2007 22:30:28 GMT -5
What's Up, Shego?
Okay, as of the end of "So the Drama," I thought I understood Shego pretty well. But she's already put in three major appearances, "Car Alarm," "The Big Job," and now "Mad Dogs and Aliens," that seem to falsify my earlier interpretation. Yeah, okay, the episode's hilarious, love the K/R shipping, but what the heck is going on?
Okay, first of all, Drakken's about to suck all the atmosphere away with Warmonga's machine and Ron can't leave the football game? This is the kind of situation that in the past would lead to her getting captured. Kim seems even better than she was. Fine, why not? You learn from experience. But actually, she's pretty much saved by Shego.
And there comes the quandary— what is motivating Shego here? Yeah, if we take her at her word, she wants to be the one to take Kim out— the only trouble is, this isn't exactly consistent with her behavior earlier in the episode, let alone in "The Big Job"— Shego seemed to be trying to avoid Kim an episode ago, and, for that matter, at the Greek resort.
So what does Shego want?
Is it all about her relationship with Drakken? Well, she's not busting him out of jail, which wasn't a very D/S shippy thing for her not to do, but maybe it's some other kind of relationship thing. Why did she go to his Caribbean lair to check up on him? Why was there graffiti on the wall that said "Shego Rocks"? (What's next? A Japanese flower shop called "The Lotus Bloom"?) What? Fa Zhou, you didn't notice the reference?
So Shego and Warmonga fight. Drakken's mad at Shego because she didn't bust him out of jail. Fine, he makes perfect sense here. Warmonga's a weapons geek, not particularly skilled at martial arts, and seems a bit lacking in brainpower, to put it mildly.
Sure, it's very funny to watch Shego try to teach Warmonga how to taunt Drakken, but why exactly is she doing this? It's almost seeming like being able to taunt and find amusement at Drakken's failures was a big part of Shego's motivation for working for him.
That, and she enjoys fighting Kim. Only not so much anymore. Maybe. Ambiguous information. Regardless of whether what she told Kim was true or not, that's what she'd say.
The fact remains that technically, Shego saved the world this time. She foiled Drakken, and Warmonga, and helped Kim. Why am I not especially believing her threats? Because Kim has whupped Shego almost everytime they've ever fought (with one or two exceptions)— and seriously, is Shego as much in denial about her inability to beat Kim in a fight as Drakken is about his inability to conquer the world? Or is she just saving face?
Or— and truly, friends, I'm not possessed by the spirits of Rinacat, Allaine, or Clayton— but this time there really did seem to be some kind of sexually-charged undercurrent to Shego's use of "Kimmie" and "Cupcake" while attempting to explain herself at the end. If I wanted to be witty, I'd say I blame the mud wrestling. And I don't know what to make of Kim's reaction either, though I imagine the Kigo shippers will have a field day with this one. Kim did let her go, but then Shego did just save the world, and Kim usually only busts foes if they're presently being bad.
Okay, sure, why not make up an episode that in some way acknowledges Kigo shipping, as well as "Shego Rocks"? Kim's got Ron, and seems unusually enthusistic about him this time around. Is this just to counterbalance the Kigo hints? Or are Kim and Ron getting hotter? Now that Ron's on the team, Kim's cheers are getting, uh, well, when has she ever done the splits on top of a pyramid before? Ashley, your theories are looking more likely with each passing episode.
As for Shego, she's got Midas, the same sort of hunk she usually goes for while on vacation. Anybody wanna ship Shego/Midas? It could be canon, at least this episode. He's got the Midas touch.
Erik was right. Kim is extreme steam.
Oh yeah, Motor Ed's air guitar is back!
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Post by Lady Naomi on Feb 24, 2007 22:32:12 GMT -5
At the risk of lots of personal messages flaming me, I'll say that I have two problems with this episode. 1. This is the third episode to involve the twins as major characters. This is getting annoying. They're okay as casual characters; but not major characters. Yeah, I know that Ron is passing the torch to a new generation of Mad Dogs. Do we need to see Kim and Ron interacting with Jim and Tim in every single episode of the fourth season? 2. Since when is it okay for a football game to be more important than saving the world from Drakken? It didn't matter if Kim has a new and improved supersuit. Ron should have been there for Kim and not for the team. Okay, start sending me the hate messages. The rest of the episode was good. I won't flame ya.. I don't exactly agree with the first point. With the second one that was I thinking when I watched that! Why is football more important then helping his gf? Then i thought about it for a bit. Coach Barkin would fry Ron's behind if he walked out of the game. Ron has responsibility to the team he's on and to Kim. So sometimes things need to take a backseat. This was a situation that Kim was the backseat because I think she seemed to 'nudge' to stay. Or at least it was to me... Was that a flame? ....I hope not.
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ronson
Yellow Trout
Posts: 103
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Post by ronson on Feb 24, 2007 22:33:07 GMT -5
This is the second most episode I've been looking forward to! It was great! It was so funny when Shego replied to Warmonga throwing her and then fainted. I thought Shego would join back with Drakken though. Looks like they both dislike each other for now.
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Post by surforst on Feb 24, 2007 22:45:59 GMT -5
Well good eps and I'll get into this discussion before it grows to 20+ pages. Anyway I find Cloud's points the most interesting right now. I'll agree that this eps had no real D/S hints but more shows Shego's prideful side. Its one thing to let Drakken rot in prison but a whole different thing to let him replace her. The checking up on Drakken was probably nothing more then Shego being curious about who sprung him but as soon as Drakken started taunting her about being replaced she went right in there with the insults. Of course the initial fight with Warmonga is more 'I'm angry cause she threw me' then anything else but when Kimmie's in danger Shego's next fight is a spirited one. Why though? Is it because of Kim? Doubt it since Shego has never showed any sort of caring about Kim. Is it more along with what I said originally? I say yes considering Shego got ticked off when Drakken basically told her Warmonga was her better. That won't stand and the only way to get back at Drakken is to make him lose. Save the hero and the world does that nicely. That's my take at least. Nothing Kigo shippy but more Shego's pride coming out. Now the mud wrestling was just the creators showing their frat boy side in my book. Men.
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GnuHopper
Yellow Trout
"I've got mad 'fu skills!"
Posts: 131
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Post by GnuHopper on Feb 24, 2007 23:28:03 GMT -5
Let's go out in the midday sun and take a look at "Mad Dogs and Aliens".
Life is moving on for both our heroes and villains. Ron's new position on the Middletown football team means he has to surrender his duties as mascot--duties which are assumed by Jim and Tim, to Ron's displeasure. The Ron Man is having trouble letting go and accepting being replaced, even with Kim's assurance that he's now the one being cheered for.
Meanwhile Drakken is broken out of prison by Warmonga, KP's first outright alien villain. A series which was once devoted to parodies of spy thrillers and action films has now crossed the line into outright science fiction. Our Amazon Woman from (Beyond) the Moon believes him to be the "Great Blue", the prophesized leader of her race. In short ordershe sets him up a new lair and manages to defeat Shego fairly easily in single combat. Drakken sees his chance to finish off Kim for good and decides to force Shego to watch as punishment for failing to break him out of prison. And for once, Kim truly seems to be up agaist a foe who is her physical superior.
MD&A is about accepting change, letting go of the past and accepting a new status quo. One one hand Ron resents Jim and Tim replacing him as mascot even though he knows his time as the Mad Dog as passed. Shego has been in no hurry to bust Drakken out, but she resents another sidekick taking her place.
In the end Ron finally accepts the new status quo and is able to work with J&T to save Kim from Warmonga. OTOH, Shego is so unwilling to let the past go that she actually passes up a chance to be rid of Kim for good in order to have anothe shot at her in the future. OF COURSE you'll beat Kim someday Shego (rolls eyes). And so the heroes who accept change and embrace teamwork once again triumph over the villains who can't let go of old grudges or work together effectively. Yay Team Possible.
Some other thoughts:
* The first major Drakken episode of the season finds the old megalomaniac having learned nothing from "So The Drama". I had half expected he would finally realize Ron's importance in Kim's successes and try to neutralize him. But if anything Dr. D seems even denser than before. Maybe a few months listening to Frugal Lucre will do that to you.
* But poor Lucre, stuck with Motor Ed as his new roommate. But look at the bright side -- it could've been Senor Senior Jr. (Imagine being seranaded nightly by him!)
* Shego in a bathing suit. Rowr!
* TPTB seem intent on expanding the tweebs' role this season -- first as Kim's mechanics, then becoming freshmen, and now as the "Pep Pups". I wonder if we'll see any shipping with them before the end of the season...?
* One thing the episode leaves unanswered --- *is* Drakken the Great Blue of prophesy? Warmonga seems to think he should know it if he is, but predictions have a way of working out other than expected. I know one person had theorized that Hego would turn out to be the actual Blue One, but Warmonga's description of Big Blue being a ruthless military conquerer would seem to rule him out. Will she get tired of waiting on Pluto and realize her mistake? (Considering Warmonga's apparent intelligence, I'd say Drakken has a long wait ahead of him)
* On the shipping front -- it appears Ron had the right idea in joining the football team after all. Kim does seem to be particularly enthusiastic and about her fella when she gets to cheer for him. How does that old song go? "You have to be a football hero to get along with the beautiful girls"
*Finally, are we to assume that Drakken escaped at the end? The climax leaves much in doubt...especially the Drakken/Shego relationship. Are they through with each other? Is Shego just wanting a vacation rather than permanent seperation? Or does she simply see Drakken as her quickest path to getting to Kim, with mocking him as a fringe benefit? Will Drakken swallow his pride and beg for her to come back? As I've said before, the state of D/S seems to be a reverse mirror image of K/R -- as our heroes get closer, our villains grow further apart. OR will it just be swept under the rug and Drakken & Shego back to the status quo by their next major episode. (BTW, what *is* their next featured ep? I approve of using them a bit more sparingly this season, but I'd never want the series to do without them altogether.)
Overall, a good episode which promises more twists to come. I, for one, look forward to the inevitable return of Warmonga. (I wonder what she looks like in a bathing suit...?)
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Post by Avenger on Feb 24, 2007 23:33:47 GMT -5
“No you didn’t…”
Might as well get this out of the way right at the top: I’m not too keen on this whole alien idea. I’m a Star Wars fan. And I always enjoyed the X-Files. (Even through its unnecessary final two seasons.) But, when it comes to Kim Possible, I find the whole concept of interplanetary visitors, well… gorchy! Despite that, I still found elements of this episode to be quite good and it presented some interesting new developments.
Ron decides it is time to retire the Middleton Mad Dog, his long running mascot persona. Being that he is actually participating on a sports team now, it is hard for him to cheer and play at the same time. Enter the Tweebs to take over mascot duties for him. Naturally, there is some uneasiness on Ron’s part with this. Meanwhile, Drakken is finally broken out of prison. Not by Shego, but by a mysterious alien woman named Warmonga. (Shego is actually on vacation.) Warmonga is tricked into helping Drakken, Drakken lures Kim Possible in an attempt to destroy her, and an unlikely albeit very temporary alliance is formed.
Acting is again strong in this episode. Christy Carlson Romano as Kim and Will Friedle as Ron give their always perfectly in character performances. John Dimaggio gets his first lengthy Drakken performance this season and brings with it his usual quirkiness, with some added malice this time around. Kerri Kenney returns, not as the Bebe bots, but as the alien character Warmonga. (Who is actually more loyal towards Drakken than his robotic creations.) Kenney is always a welcome addition to the cast, producing in Warmonga an appropriately militant and literal minded character. And her war cry, although ferocious, is simultaneously laugh-inducing. Also, one of the funniest characters I’ve seen so far is the very minor character presented in this episode. I’m not sure who provided the voice work, but the Old Jewish Man in the sauna was a laugh riot, even with just two lines. I hope we get to see more of him this season. This episode’s stand-out performance goes to Nicole Sullivan. Shego’s normal level of sarcasm is kicked up a notch in this episode. And the beautiful deconstruction of Drakken and Shego’s relationship, with Shego attempting (under duress) to school Warmonga in the ways of the sidekick, was smartly acted by Sullivan. And, what I can only describe as a “sweet” moment between Kim and Shego was also expertly played.
Animation was a mixed bag this time around, unfortunately. The fight scenes were very tight and very exciting. A well choreographed and staged fight between Kim and Shego at a spa was a lot of fun to watch. And the battle against Warmonga had the right level of intensity, a lot of well animated attacks and dodges set against a rather impressive background. There were a few off-model shots and other animation mistakes in this episode, though. Quite glaring ones, too. Most notably, a scene in which Drakken is taunting Kim through a two-way video monitor. Drakken’s proportions are all wrong. For a good portion of the scene, his head is way over-sized. And then, it very noticeably shrinks and expands, attempting to return to its correct size in relation to his body. It never fully achieves this during the scene and becomes quite a distraction to the flow of the animation and the story.
And speaking of the story, this is probably the biggest issue I had with the episode. As I stated at the beginning, I’m not keen on the alien concept. I was really hoping that this episode would be able to prove otherwise to me. Although it did not turn out as bad as it could have, it still did not turn out good enough for me to embrace it. As much as I’ve enjoyed Brian Swenlin’s episodes in the past, and most of the episodes he has written have been the best the series has to offer, I’m afraid this time out he failed to impress me. I wish I could say otherwise. I think the character of Warmonga was well created, I’m just not down with the concept of her character. “Kimmie’s Adventures in Space” just does not appeal to me. Although there are a few high points of the episode, such as Ron trying to coach the Tweebs, Shego’s aforementioned “lessons” in side-kickery, and a very fitting call back to “Lather, Rinse, Obey” (Drakken’s brainwashing shampoo), they are not enough to outweigh the negative aspects brought about by the introduction of Warmonga. We have another unnecessarily interrupted Kim and Ron moment. I understand the idea of playing this up for laughs, and not getting too mushy with the series. But, why even tease this. Just don’t have them kiss. (Again, I think the out of order airing of this after “Cupid Effect” affects this scene. If this had been the first time they were interrupted, it would have been funnier and more acceptable.) Drakken flying around in space again seemed a bit out of place and Warmonga’s technology is far too advanced and potent. Although Kim does manage to foil the plan du jour, it all still seems a bit too far-fetched and unrealistic, even for a cartoon. One very positive aspect of this episode, however, is the interesting new direction that Shego’s personality is taking. A moment between her and Kim shows that perhaps Shego still retains a bit of morality and honor, even as (self-proclaimed) evil as she is. This was a well-written and much needed addition to the episode, and it will be interesting to see where this character arc will develop from here.
Although certainly not the worst episode of Kim Possible, “Mad Dogs and Aliens” fails to achieve the heights set by “Ill-Suited” and many of the other fourth season outings. This was, in my mind, a proof of concept episode. That concept being that the introduction of off-planet visitors would create a new and exciting direction for the show, culminating in the season finale. Unfortunately, that concept has not been proven.
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Post by wallaceb on Feb 24, 2007 23:34:10 GMT -5
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Post by Ron Stoppable on Feb 24, 2007 23:45:41 GMT -5
With the second one that was I thinking when I watched that! Why is football more important then helping his gf? Then i thought about it for a bit. Coach Barkin would fry Ron's behind if he walked out of the game. Ron has responsibility to the team he's on and to Kim. So sometimes things need to take a backseat. This was a situation that Kim was the backseat because I think she seemed to 'nudge' to stay. Or at least it was to me... Was that a flame? ....I hope not. Yeah... she was cool with it and all. I mean, its only Dr. D... ya really need the backup with a smart bad guy, but Drakken? Not so much. Course, if I knew what Alien babe could do, that mighta made it a tougher choice.
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Post by Ashfangirl20 on Feb 24, 2007 23:51:20 GMT -5
I enjoyed the episode, not one of my favorites but I guess I enjoyed it...
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Post by nabusan on Feb 24, 2007 23:53:43 GMT -5
MUST. SEE. THIS. NOW. ;D Jebus, Ron's stripped off twice in under six episodes! And he actually looks ripped in that cap.
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Post by Ashfangirl20 on Feb 24, 2007 23:54:19 GMT -5
HA I have that as my avatarXD
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Post by Scoutcraft Piratess on Feb 24, 2007 23:56:39 GMT -5
5/5 from me, folks. This is the KP I like to see!
For one thing, it had Drakken back in action (sort of). It was hysterically funny (Warmonga is my hero!) Characterization was totally par, and I loved the relationship between Kim and Shego in it. I don't personally see the whole Kigo thing, but I could so see those two girls going out on a shopping trip together. Ron's jealousy over the Tweebs becoming Pep Puppies (have you seen anything more adorable? Come on, have you?) was delightful... honestly, what I think made this episode work for me was the character chemistry. And it was romantic. The hand-holding, those glances... *dies*
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Post by surforst on Feb 24, 2007 23:56:57 GMT -5
He's got a face on his chest...odd...
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Post by rd on Feb 24, 2007 23:58:48 GMT -5
I just want to say That I really loved this episode. So much fuel in this one that it'll keep the KP philosophers busy for weeks if not months, or, hopefully, years.
Ashley hinted at it, but I have to concur, Warmonga has QUITE the figure, even though she looks to be over 10 feet tall as seen from the long shots.
All in all, one of the best written and produced eppies of all time.
I wonder how I'd get a ride to Pluto? In the cosmic scheme of things, it's really not that far.
I hope she realizes how the tweebs duped her, and comes back with a vengeance.
Hmmm... anybody thinking of the finale? If she DOES return, it would take EVERYBODY, heroes AND Villains to do a team-up to take HER out.
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Post by nabusan on Feb 24, 2007 23:59:13 GMT -5
Hahahaha! I suppose his niplets and pecs do kinda resemble a face.
And yes dpc, I saw your avatar - and used the image.
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Post by surforst on Feb 25, 2007 0:00:56 GMT -5
One of the best parts of the eps was when Kim made a comment about Ron being her 'cute boyfriend'. The creators must love us K/R fans. ;D
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Post by Ashfangirl20 on Feb 25, 2007 0:01:30 GMT -5
Hahahaha! I suppose his niplets and pecs do kinda resemble a face. And yes dpc, I saw your avatar - and used the image. Its my favorite image of Ron yet ;D
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Post by kingcrab on Feb 25, 2007 0:01:36 GMT -5
Ashley hinted at it, but I have to concur, Warmonga has QUITE the figure, even though she looks to be over 10 feet tall as seen from the long shots. Warmonga IS 10-feet tall. TPTB said so. And I agree that she does have quite the figure. Hubba, hubba...
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Post by dracko19 on Feb 25, 2007 0:01:45 GMT -5
If you are a Kigo shipper, this ep is going to be the cornerstone of your existance for years to come. MudWrestling? Shego saves Kimmie? Cupcake? I thought they were gonna kiss in the end there. Wow!
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Post by Ashfangirl20 on Feb 25, 2007 0:03:30 GMT -5
If you are a Kigo shipper, this ep is going to be the cornerstone of your existance for years to come. MudWrestling? Shego saves Kimmie? Cupcake? I thought they were gonna kiss in the end there. Wow! HA Yah an episode some what for Kigo shippers and an episode some what for Ron fan girls intresting ;D
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