As the review summary indicates, Season 3's "Flea for Your Life" is a follow up of Season 1's "Starting from Scratch", which is majorly influenced by Don Bluth's 'An American Tail'. While a long way from being one of the best episodes of 'Tiny Toon Adventures' (am very fond of the show despite some episodes being not so great), that episode was surprisingly very good. "Flea for Your Life" also has an 'An American Tail' influence (if not quite as much).
While preferring "Starting from Scratch" as an episode, "Flea for Your Life" is also not a bad outing at all, is a worthy continuation and is much better than expected. Was worried that it would be too cutesy and bland, as the plot did not sound particularly interesting, but it is investable and charming enough and the supporting characters are not near as personality-free as feared. "Flea for Your Life" is a long way from being one of the best 'Tiny Toon Adventures' episodes, but not so high expectations were exceeded.
"Flea for Your Life" isn't perfect. Like "Starting from Scratch", it does feel a little too short and could have had more breathing space, which was a consequence of trying to cram in a lot in a short running time. Wouldn't have said no to more razor sharp wit and freshness in the material.
Didn't really see much point to Furrball, he's pleasant enough here though the flea family's personalities are a good deal stronger and the episode doesn't do an awful lot with him.
However, "Flea for Your Life" does have the same good things that "Starting from Scratch" has. The animation has bright colourful backgrounds, beautiful colours and well drawn characters. The music is as good as that for prime-Looney Tunes, in being characterful and adding to the action, if not quite enhancing it in the same way. It always helps to have a memorable theme tune, and the one for 'Tiny Toon Adventures' is suitably hip and very catchy. Nice use of Schubert's "Der Erlkonig", one of the greatest Lied songs ever written (as well as one of the most difficult ones).
Moreover, much of the writing is smart, amusing and not too cute, kids will not find it hard to understand and older viewers will find it digestible. Very interesting to see a rare chance to hear 'On Golden Pond' referenced. The story is charming and the journey aspect is heartfelt and heart-warming without being too sentimental. The Tiny Toon characters, or the ones present, are lively enough. The flea family are a lot more compelling in personality as one would think and Itchy's predicament is rootable. The voice acting is very good from all.
On the whole, not great but good. 7/10.
