Hamster & Gretel

From the co-creator of Phineas and Ferb and Milo Murphy's Law, Hamster and Gretel is a rather enjoyable new show from Dan Povenmire. While starting a little rough with a hard to follow pilot episode, the show has since found its footing with subsequent episodes. The premise of aliens giving superpowers to a little girl and her pet hamster to fight villians that sometimes have powers that are just so random makes it quite amusing to watch. These random powers almost gives a sense of parody of the superhero genre in this show. It is also quite clear that there is a storyline to be explored with the aliens as they are playing a bigger role than just giving the title characters superpowers. The art style is fine in my opinion as it uses the same style of animation that the two shows previously mentioned above did.

I find Hamster and Gretel to be quite an interesting show. The premise of a little girl and her hamster getting super-powers from an alien whilst their brother Kevin gets nothing except to drive them around in the family mini-van. Their adventures make up the show, but there is so much more there than a simple children's show.

The musical numbers are good in their own right. The music is played as if it is a serious song, but when you listen to the words you realize it is actually very witty. Plenty of references that will go over the heads of kids, but with meaning for adults. Nothing spicy, just modern references that are funny in their song usage.

The main character actors do a wonderful job. Both Hamster and Fred with their dry humor are hilarious. Gretel is caught up as a little girl with super-powers, but she still wants to do little kid things. Kevin has the usual challenges of a teenager trying to get a date, but at the same time watching out for his super-powered little sister. PThe characters and their struggles to be good or bad are played for the humor. Listen to the voices as there are many famous actors playing characters in different episodes.

I found it an enjoyable way to spend some time watching a show that does was done simply to entertain. Hopefully others find it as much fun as I did.

The Good 1) Kevin Grant-Gomez is a great character 2) The Danny Phantom style superhero parody nature of the show 3) The banter between Kevin and Gretel and Hamster 4) The Phineas and Ferb Easter Eggs 5) The over the top villains 6) The songs (like Phineas and Ferb, there's one essentially every episode.) 7) Even though I didn't like Meli Povenmire as Gretel at the beginning, her voice for the character grew on me 8) The continuing storyline The Bad 1)I really didn't like the episode where Winifred meets Frederick (not one bit) 2) Dave Grant can be funny at times but when he's not, that's painfully the case The Ugly 1) I understand why they did it, the writers didn't want the show to live in Phineas and Ferb's shadow (the way Milo Murphy's Law did) but it's sort of disappointing that it never got a Phineas and Ferb crossover. (I know the creator has said if Phineas and Ferb's revival is a success then it's likely to get a third season which could incorporate such a crossover.) 2) The aliens who gave Hamster and Gretel their powers are honestly my least favourite characters

All in all, it's a pretty good show.

The show, whilst not living up to Phineas and Ferb, is rather enjoyable. Still, the basic plot is not really drawing my attention, but it's the details and incredibly smart puns. I don't care about Gretel or Hamster all that much, because they aren't charismatic and don't have an interesting character development. Hamster overall seems like an attempt to recreate Ferb vibes, while Gretel is pretty average I guess. Though I have to admit, Kevin is my favourite. I can really root for him, because his character is so relatable and genuinly empathic.

I find it odd that Povenmire didn't continue his typical two-plot system, where there's two major events occuring simultaniously. For example Doof and Perry or Cavendish and Dakota. I think it adds a lot to the show and I love it when both plots come to influence each others events, as when Doof fails his plans and his Inator vanishes the boys' inventions. I miss that, I really do. Also there is lack of side characters, which for me is a plus point. Why? Well, I think they tried to make the show more focused towards Kevin and this should highlight his lack of friends. I like it, I'm kind of a loner myself and this was exactly me at some point.

Basic Plot - Jokes ++ Kevin ++

Hamster and Gretel is a show created by Dan Povenmire that by this time already has an easy-to-detect identity seal, in the same way as other animators like Matt Groening or Craig McCracken.

On this occasion Dan, he gives us a series of superheroes now more than ever that is fashionable, but manages to have his own identity. This time we have two of the most peculiar heroes being a 9 year old girl and her pet hamster.

What makes the show interesting is that it knows how to use all its elements to its advantage: the intelligent humor that has characterized Dan Povenmire's series (Phineas and Ferb, Milo Murphy Law) but now satirizing the topics and elements of the series, movies and comics.

The secondary characters are memorable and endearing, they have elements that make them stand out and not be a mere walking cliche, with a brilliant musical section and references that the most adults will understand and the little ones will enjoy even if they never saw Adam West's batman or the references to silver age comics.

I hope more episodes in the future.