Of all things, this third-to-last episode makes me think of the 90’s SPIDER-MAN show. One specific aspect of it, anyway.
See, that show started running right after MORTAL KOMBAT knocked down a long line of senatorial dominos pertaining to the appropriateness or inappropriateness of “boys entertainment.” That iteration of Spidey might’ve suffered the most, because he was saddled with so many network “Standards & Practices” restrictions that he literally wasn’t allowed to punch any of his bad guys for fear of it setting a poor example. Consequently, basically every one of the villains on that show weren’t ever defeated by force, but by reconciling them with their estranged wives, girlfriends or daughters.
In other words, their weakness was to Dr. Phil’s “Love Smart.”
So, on one level - - a cold, intellectual one, perhaps - - Dominic and Anemone’s skydiving reconciliation feels like a cop-out of the stripe of what was on that show. The little bubbly hearts floating around their heads seem to pop once you remember that she’s been a blood thirsty speed demon up until this point.
But... there’s no denying the effect of that other level, the one that hits emotionally. And, I’m big enough to admit that I was moved. The show reached some new emotional crescendos here. Also, if we say that Anemone was mind controlled by that evil strawberry jam, we can probably excuse her crimes in the same way we let Eureka off the hook for hers.
Thus, we can feel all gooey inside without guilty hesitations!
As all the lovey-dovey stuff took up most of this episode’s run time, I’m going to use the rest of the space here to make a prediction or two. First, Dewey’s going down next episode. Hard. Second, the rainbow power will save the day at the start of the last episode, leaving us with about 20 minutes of denoument. It’d be appropriate for Eureka and Renton to kiss, then, but we know that Standards & Practices bans cooties in the same way they once banned Spidey’s punches, so I won't expect it.
Watch this episode, "Ballet Mechanique” here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here. Follow him on Twitter: @tompinchuk
