In 1996 we got a Flash Gordon cartoon where Flash and most of the cast were teens who rode hover boards. In 1993 we got Mighty Max that was based on a toy that was the male gendered version of Polly Pocket. In 1997 we got the Extreme Ghostbusters. These were all cartoons that had disqualifying tropes mandated by corporations with faulty market research. But despite these tropes that make you say no before seeing your first second of animation, the people making the cartoons turned out highly entertaining cartoons. (I watched Flash Gordon and Mighty Max new but didn't see Extreme Ghostbusters until I bought season 1 on DVD from Australia.)
Hasbro hit big with G.I. Joe and Transformers because writers at Marvel created endearing/enduring characters out of Hasbro's toy mess. But as a general rule Hasbro doesn't understand this and thinks they can make hits with every toy line.
Forgetting all of this, when I tried the first episode of this cartoon based on a so/so Kenner toy from my childhood that I knew a couple people who had one, involving teens, I didn't get very far in before deciding this wasn't for me.
But when season 2 launched I saw Wil Wheaton and others talking about their show with love and reverence on Twitter in a way I had not really seen before. So I decided to give it another try.
This is definitely a show, like Flash Gordon, Mighty Max and Extreme Ghostbusters, that rewards you for watching, the farther in you get. Unlike shows of the 70's, 80's and 90's, you don't get a strong sense from the show that some parents group is mandating content rules. There are some stories where bad decisions lead to consequences, but most of the episodes advance the overall storyline.
The cast is great, does a great job, and is filled with well known names. The theme song is catchy. The show is an all around good time.
