TheLittleSongbird

'The Pink Panther' "Pinkcome Tax" (1968)

Opening thoughts: 'Pinkcome Tax' is the last 1968 Pink Panther cartoon and is a worthy way to end what was overall a solid year for the series. It falls short of being great and is a little disappointing after following on from one of the series' best 'The Pink Package Plot'. Most of 'Pinkcome Tax' actually is great, but if only the final third was as good as the rest. It is still a lot of fun with all that being said and a good representation of why Pink is wholly deserving of his iconic status and why his theatrical series is the most highly regarded and best known of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' theatrical series. Which is true of most of the series' early cartoons.

Bad things: It is on the routine side story-wise.

Aside from the clever ending touch, the final third underwhelms due to going too overboard on the silliness. It could have been much funnier if paced a little less hectically and not reading of one big dumb chase sequence, which is how it turned out.

Good things: However, the animation is bright and elegant, while maintaining the minimal simplicity that has always been part of the Pink Panther cartoons' charm. The jazzy scoring also appeals as is the theme tune, as said so many times one of those theme tunes that you can't get enough of even when heard so many times you lose count.

The pace is generally brisk while not too rushed and for the first two thirds of 'Pinkcome Tax' the gags are clever and a joy to watch really.

Closing thoughts: All in all, a very good cartoon, if it weren't for the ever so slightly lacking final third it would have been a great one.

8/10.

'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' "The Only Way Out is Through" (2021)

Opening thoughts: "The Only Way Out is Through" was one of the Season 22 episodes that this viewer was in all honesty was most apprehensive for. The season with the previous few episodes showed signs of improvement, but 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' episodes that have more than one case in has been known to come over as disjointed and over-stuffed. Even reading the synopsis already gave me a strong feeling it was going to be that way. The focus on Tamin also sent alarm bells, being someone who never warmed to her to put it lightly.

Watching "The Only Way Out is Through", it was like the improvement seen with the previous few episodes had not happened. Here we are back to the underwhelmingly patchy start seen in the first three episodes of the season and it was exactly what was feared. While not a complete mess, "The Only Way Out is Through" is a real disappointment and possibly the worst episode since "Guardians and Gladiators". Some good ideas here but the episode tries far too hard which affects the execution badly.

Good things: Of course there are redeeming merits. Photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed.

Most of the acting is fine, with only one real exception. The story of the two sisters is very powerful and the only storyline that remotely works. Really liked Fin, who makes a lot of sense in this episode and is spot on in his advice to Carisi.

Bad things: However, "The Only Way Out is Through" fails in a lot of areas. Despite it having things that worked very well indeed and would have loved to have given the episode a higher score, but the way the storytelling is executed is near disastrous outside of one plotline and pretty much all the problems stem from this aspect. Must agree with everybody that says that the episode tries to cram in too much. It would have been better off having just one case and sticking with just that, rather than the three cases (the two sisters, Tamin's cousin and Fin) and a subplot that is crammed in. Of those plots, only the one with the sisters has any degree of depth or staying power and would have worked as an episode of its own.

In fact, all three of the cases would have worked better as their own episode each, it just feels too much when in the same episode and especially when they are not related to each other, meaning that the episode felt disjointed. As well as hard to follow, because of the constant back and forth structure which had an increasingly dizzying see saw effect. Didn't care for most of the supporting characters as one doesn't get to know most of them, the sisters were rootable but Tamin's cousin was a cipher and gave off the sense of not knowing whether she's telling the truth or not and Fin's case is too rushed through and underused for anything to resonate.

Did not like Tamin at all here, she has always been annoyingly impulsive but she is also here incredibly disrespectful for no reason. Especially towards Carisi, who does nothing to deserve it. Tamin's subplot comes off worst, Tamin's character writing played a big part in why but it also felt rushed and the controlled meet was too quick a decision and like they'd jumped ahead a few steps. Most of the dialogue is awkward, particularly in Tamin's subplot, and Jamie Gray Hyder shows no real personality in her acting. The direction is workmanlike at best and there is no tension or suspense.

Closing thoughts: Overall, really disappointing.

4/10.

'Be Cool Scooby Doo' "Fright of Hand" (2017)

Opening thoughts: 'Be Cool Scooby Doo' really did not appeal to me on paper at first, having been put off by the animation style. Like has been said before though, this reviewer is glad that she gave it a chance as a big fan of the Scooby Doo franchise, as despite taking a bit of time to find its feet and with no episode being perfect it for me is quite a lot of fun with plenty to like about most of the episodes. Did like the premise for "Fright of Hand" quite a bit, which is always a big interest point for me watching anything.

Season 2 was a much more settled season than the first, and "Fright of Hand" is a very strong example of that. As far aa Season 2 goes, it is one of the better episodes, as well as one of the most atmospheric and most entertaining. For what it may lack in originality (somewhat), the atmosphere, humour and character moments (some of the show's best) more than make up for that. So a very good and very enjoyable episode that just falls short of greatness.

Bad things: Not unexpectedly, the animation is not to my taste. Some of the Season 2 episodes did actually did see a vast improvement, but here it is back to the psychedelic, rushed looking and off model eyesore quality seen in most episodes. Only the villain's design is appealing.

With the referencing to 'What's New Scooby Doo's' "The Vampire Strikes Back" (also a good episode) and a strong influence of that, maybe it is a little on the predictable side.

Good things: However, there is so much that is good. What immediately stands out is the humour, the episode is full of it and every joke lands to never less than very funny and often hilarious effect. All the gang have plenty to do and all of them shine, all also in character. There are so many great character moments, like Velma speaking Portugese, Fred's role at the end, the clever and funny revealing of the tricks, Shaggy and Scooby's scientific logic rant and Daphne's do to list.

As well as one of the show's best and most intense chase scenes. Not to mention a very scary villain that also has a fascinating backstory (one of the most frightening villain backstories of the franchise). The writing is funny and smart, with some endearing goofiness, and while the story may lack originality that is more than made up for by the spooky atmosphere and fast and furious energy. The reveal is a surprise. The music is suitably groovy and can't fault the voice acting.

Closing thoughts: Overall, very well done.

8/10.