'Toon Reviews 18: Rocko's Modern Life Season 1 Episode 3: Jet Scream/Dirty Dog

Jet Scream

Everyone has their own way of travel, so travelling a different way can understandably make them feel uneasy.  Also, even if some people are used to a certain form of travel, things can still go wrong in accordance with the nature of life.  That’s the topic for this cartoon. 

Rocko gets two plane tickets to a comic book convention and invites Heffer to come along.  From the start, the flight is perceived in two different ways.  Heffer, who has never been on a plane before, is nervous, while Rocko is much more optimistic about the whole thing claiming flight to be one of the safest ways of travel.  Both perspectives are natural for both the inexperienced and experienced respectively, and nicely start off the flight where the tables are turned somewhat regarding how it goes for both Rocko and Heffer. 

As it is one of the show’s specialties, comedic exaggerations highlight any sort of inconvenience or challenge that comes from modern life, and travelling is no exception.  There’s flight attendants being careless with Rocko and Heffer’s bags by sending them to space, Rocko getting busted by the metal detector which picks up even the smallest metal things, coach passengers only getting peanuts for dinner instead of exquisite meals like first class passengers, and Rocko dealing with bratty little kid passengers.  Other exaggerations don’t connect to the challenges of flight, but stand out for adding onto the sensations of the motions of a flight.  There’s the intensity of the takeoff, Rocko freezing and melting based on the overhead buttons Heffer pushes, and the plane taking a very sharp decent after Rocko flushes paper down the toilet.  The things Rocko and Heffer are put through also offer a balance of their earlier thoughts on flight.  Heffer who feared flight sees its benefits, and Rocko, in his usual fashion, started off confident about flight, but it turned out to not be as safe as he thought. Heffer adjusts well to the plane environment, especially since he successfully sneaks into first class, while Rocko mostly gets the short end of the stick.  

Regarding Rocko, him only facing the hardships work for how no one seems to actively try and make life difficult.  It’s just things simply not working out the way he wants them to which is relatable to anyone.  The only time it feels like the plane is trying to make life difficult for Rocko is when he’s shocked while entering first class, and Heffer improbably gets in without trouble.  Other than that, things like getting held up at the metal detector and getting bothered by the kid are more believable, with the latter standing out with Rocko retaliating against the kid and everyone cheers for him.  The flight ends with an exciting climax with another exaggeration with the landing which comes with creative flash-and-pan reactions of Rocko and Heffer as it comes down, followed by a reminder that all transportation has its misfortunes after Rocko decides to take the bus the rest of the way. 

All in all, you end up with an exciting, relatable flight with interesting takes on its common mishaps.

A

 

Dirty Dog

Most creative interpretations of life’s many challenges featured on this show are a collection of things going wrong for Rocko.  This cartoon has a bit of a distinction in which it’s not just things going wrong, but mainly a depiction of the inside source oh the problem. 

The featured task Rocko is put up against is giving his dog, Spunky, a bath after getting convinced of the potential hazards of letting him stay dirty.  While most cartoons of the show would have the actual bathing process as a focus, the real focus is a unique turn of events that helps the whole cartoon stand out better. 

It brings a creative interpretation on how bugs and parasites that crawl on mammals are living creatures trying to survive and live their lives like any of us would, even if they are unhealthy for creatures like dogs to live with.  On Spunky’s back live two parasites, a tick named Bloaty and a ringworm named Squirmy, and the cartoon gives them an interesting edge by portraying them as characters in a sitcom.  It’s certainly not what you’d expect out of insects who only exist to feed off bigger creatures, but as an animated product, any little thing is opened up to any creative interpretation.  They also take full advantage of the sitcom format with a laugh track, a stock plot about Bloaty needing to prepare dinner for his boss to keep his job and become vice president, and even its own theme song that’s sure to stick in your head.  Even if what Bloaty and Squirmy get up to is as basic as a sitcom plot as you can conceive, the fact that it comes from parasites automatically gives it some distinction for taking the time to explore what they’re thinking instead of just treating them as a hindrance you want to groom away. 

Out of it all, there’s some nice chemistry between both Bloaty and Squirmy which shows how good a team they make when they need each other and how they’re confident enough to help each other out even when they mess up or when things go wrong beyond their control.  Regarding the things beyond their control, they enhance their task at hand.  Bloaty and Squirmy may be portrayed as characters living their own normal lives, but they’re still parasites others would want to dispose of.  As a result, the tiny vermin are put at the mercy of the many ways Rocko tries to clean Spunky such as having to run for cover when Spunky is brushed, and hanging by the fur when Spunky tries to hide from taking a bath.  These are the kind of things that are bound to happen when you’re really tiny and living on a much larger creature, and the cartoon does an amusing job of bringing the antics that come from the setup to life. 

They’re also an entertaining way to bring on the ending to the boss dinner plot when everything involved in Spunky’s grooming that got in the way of the dinner actually impresses Bloaty’s boss, even though he gives the vice president position to the true mastermind, Squirmy.  The creativity doesn’t stop there though when one last part of grooming produces a big wave from a bath for Spunky that moves Bloaty and Squirmy onto Rocko for a new island-based sitcom plot, while another sitcom occurs on the actual parasites. 

The creative takes on the bugs we need to clean off of our pets make the cartoon truly stand out as something entertaining, for even if what they do is typical for sitcoms, it’s still an amusing take on bugs in general.

A

The Ranking

1. Who Gives a Buck?
2. Dirty Dog
3. Jet Scream
4. No Pain No Gain
5. Bedfellows
6. Leap Frogs

The next Rocko's Modern Life review covers one of Ed Bighead's nastiest moves as he plans to repossess Rocko's house for petty reasons, and Rocko putting up with the challenges of driving school when he's sent there over a missing gas cap.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is more of Steven Universe with "Too Far."

If you want to stay updated for more reviews, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter.

If you would like to check out other Rocko's Modern Life reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

'Toon Reviews 15: Steven Universe Season 2 Episode 20: Back to the Barn

Back to the Barn

Our heroes now have another big task to protect Earth.  They have an unlikely Gem joining them, Peridot, and even base much of the operation at a location that was only used once before. 

Stopping the Cluster means they need a machine to take them to the center of the Earth, so a decision is made to make something out of materials stored at the old barn.  Before, the barn was only used in “Space Race” in which Pearl headlined the building of a spaceship.  With the barn now being used for something major, it’s now more relevant since all cartoons for the rest of this season take place here, and it’s continually revisited afterwards.  For now, just as drill production begins, conflicts arise and get in the way.  Fortunately, it’s an insightful conflict with character development. 

After Pearl shows the materials in the barn for the drill, Peridot expects her to leave, bringing on welcome background on Pearl which includes information on what Pearls are like on Homeworld.  They’re created to do menial tasks for more powerful Gems as opposed to major ones like machine construction.  From this description, the Crystal Gem Pearl really stands out.  She’s smart, she’s been shown to build and fix things, and she's a skilled fighter.  However, what’s learned about common Pearls does give some relevance to certain traits we’ve seen from her such as her obsessive cleanliness and her lack of faith in her own strength revealed in “Friend Ship.”  As if we didn’t need more reasons to make her the most in-depth Crystal Gem, the ways this Pearl differs from the majority add on even more depth, which makes her more appealing and fascinating.  Now, as is common with anyone conditioned to believe certain customs, Peridot won’t see any value in a Pearl, and production on the drill is halted before it can even begin. 

Eventually, it’s decided that they should see who’s better at building robots, competing the right to headline the drill.  The competition mostly consists of comedic antics from Pearl’s tall, skinny wheeled robot and Peridot’s shorter, buffer robot.  They’re all in the name of fun, and they are enjoyable as they are, but they don’t hide that they’re spending too much time on something petty instead of something important to save the world.  However, there’s a significant character moment.  When the contest ends in a tie, Peridot picks a robot fight as a tiebreaker, refusing to accept that this Pearl is not like all the others.   Pearl willingly takes on Peridot alone, at one point coming full circle with her prior anxieties by showing pride in herself while punching Peridot.  Peridot wins the fight though, but Pearl gets the most praise for attempting to fight her which only proves that she really is much better than all the other Pearls. What’s even better about this is that Peridot grows to accept this and warm up to Pearl, while further realizing the truths behind Earth .  This isn’t even the last time Peridot ends up on good terms with a Crystal Gem as we’ll soon see, which makes this resolution even better. 

This cartoon may spend too much time on frivolous matters when something serious is occurring, but for what it does for the characters involved, it has merit. 9.5/10

The Ranking

1. Sworn to the Sword
2. Keystone Motel
3. When it Rains
4. Friend Ship
5. Nightmare Hospital
6. Chille Tid
7. Cry for Help
8. Keeping it Together
9. Full Disclosure
10. Catch and Release
11. Back to the Barn
12. We Need to Talk
13. Reformed
14. Historical Friction
15. Joy Ride
16. Say Uncle
17. Onion Friend
18. Rising Tides, Crashing Skies
19. Sadie’s Song
20. Love Letters

The next Steven Universe review features Peridot warming up to Amethyst which also gives an example of what happens when playful teasing goes too far.

Next time on MC 'Toon Reviews is another Rocko's Modern Life review covering "Jet Scream" and "Dirty Dog."


If you want to stay updated for more reviews, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter.

If you would like to check out other Steven Universe reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

'Toon Reviews 18: Rocko's Modern Life Season 1 Episode 2: Leap Frogs/Bedfellows

Leap Frogs

This cartoon has an interesting broadcast history.  Sometime after it first aired, it was banned from the air for years due to the suggestive content.  Honestly, it kind of make sense that it got pulled.  While the story itself isn’t that bad, it can be pretty disturbing and uncomfortable. 

The cartoon features the first starring role of Ed and Bev Bighead.  They both have a differing opinion on their neighbor with Ed being scornful over Rocko’s mere existence and Bev being much more hospitable and friendly with him.  Here however, her good nature towards Rocko we’ll end up seeing later on is instead seen as lust for him.  At least there’s somewhat of a good reason for Bev’s behavior.  Ed is engrossed in his work and a total grump.  His behavior goes so far that he doesn’t give any attention to his wife nor does it feel like he truly loves her.  This is even creatively shown through a pig Cupid shooting arrows at Ed as he sleeps, and unlike most times someone would be struck by such an arrow, Ed is completely unaffected. 

For the lengths of Ed’s neglect, Bev is sympathetic claiming that she wants nothing more than to be loved.  The smart things to do would be for her to just talk to Ed or leave him to form a healthier relationship, but being from a show that rarely utilizes continuity, you can guess that probably isn’t going to happen.  What does happen is not exactly the best thing to be done morally or entertainment-wise.  Bev’s desire to be loved turns her to Rocko who she seems to admire a little too much as she watches him do his chores.  She has him do odd jobs around the house and the discomfort begins. 

Every time Rocko is tasked to do a chore, Bev summons him in a seductive way not helped by the raspy tone and masculinity of her voice (this being due to being voiced by Charlie Adler, the same man who does her husband), and I usually like her voice fine.  She also sets Rocko up to do something that bring to mind her wanting to win him over, and most of her attempts fail to be subtle.  Having him watch a video where a female toad says she doesn’t want to be near a male toad eying her is a basic showing of harassment, and Bev is clearly happy she’s naked in front of Rocko after getting him to try and fail to unzip her dress.  The cartoon knows what it’s doing, and making it this easy for the audience to see costs it appeal as well as Bev’s prior sympathy. 

Fortunately, the disturbing factor is lightened by funny physical gags like Bev being rewound in a VCR and blended by flies she seasoned Rocko’s lemonade with.  Also, it is nice that when Rocko calls Ed, unmoved by his wife kissing the wallaby in front of him, out for his neglect, he regrets his behavior leading to one last scene of the Bigheads pleasuring themselves as a couple.  If that’s not enough, while Ed is still predominantly a grump for the whole of the series, he seems to learn from this experience through acting more loving towards his wife. 

In all, even if this cartoon does creatively show the effects of dysfunctional marriages and a few nice and funny moments, the disturbing and unsubtle drive for the story do not make it one I’m willing to watch a lot of.

C-

Bedfellows

A common plot in most TV shows involve two friends living together and one or both of them getting on each other’s nerves.  This cartoon follows this plotline and displays what most would expect a civil everyman like Rocko and a fat slobby dunce like Heffer would be like together.  It’s actually impressive how much someone so calm and collected can get along with someone so difficult like Heffer as the majority of the series portrays.  However, their moments of getting along are when they just hang out together as friends, and this cartoon teaches the valued life lesson that hanging out with a friend isn’t always the same as living with a friend. 

Heffer is driven to move in with Rocko after his wolf dad is let go from work and the family has to make sacrifices in order to get by, and the family’s idea for Heffer’s sacrifice is renting out his room.  Now since Rocko is the good-natured guy he is, he allows Heffer to stay with him not seeing any problems with the setup at first.  However, Heffer thinks it’s all right to do whatever he wants to make himself comfortable especially when the couch Rocko offers him comes to life and runs away.  That’s a rare antic from the show I can’t figure out what it stands for.  Anyway, Heffer’s home habits which Rocko is not used to become dominant and they are a significant mixed bag.  Some of them are the unpleasant kind of habits you’d expect from a slob such as snoring really loud and leaving a big mess in the bathroom just as Rocko’s ready to use it with a lot of details on how disgusting it is.  Watching Rocko have to put up with Heffer’s actions doesn’t have anything fun to it, and you end up feeling for him and being disgusted by what he’s up against. 

Heffer may not be intelligent, and I have been positive towards dumb cartoon characters in the past, but honestly, these are not very good moments from a dumb character.  Even if characters are stupid, they can still be considerate and loyal friends, but these moments of Heffer don’t present him as such.  Fortunately there are some moments to show off Heffer’s good side like when he’s nice enough to make dinner for him and Rocko even if the ingredients are questionable, and even if he causes a riot, he has good intentions of sharing fun with parties he throws with others including Rocko.  One of them is part of a vast collection of risqué moments which is attended by nudists and there’s a montage of clever ways they cover their private parts even though they’re all animals.  Basically, Heffer living with Rocko is a perfect showing of how he both works and doesn’t work as a dumb cartoon character. 

This is even shown in the end when he ignores Rocko finally getting firm with him, and blames Rocko for being difficult to live with despite the fact that it’s clearly the other way around.  However, Heffer himself also claims that no matter who’s the real slob, they can always be friends thus keeping him likable as he moves back home. 

On the whole, this cartoon is a decent play on the common difficult house guest plot.  True, you end up with moments that don’t do justice for certain characters, some of which can get disturbing (not to the extent of “Leap Frogs” though), but the funny and good-hearted parts are still worth pointing out and enjoying.

C

The Ranking

1. Who Gives a Buck?
2. No Pain No Gain
3. Bedfellows
4. Leap Frogs

The next Rocko's Modern Life review covers antics Rocko and Heffer come across as they travel by plane, and Rocko's attempt to wash Spunky leads to a sitcom starring a tick and tape worm on the dog's back.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is a Steven Universe episode that takes us "Back to the Barn."

If you want to stay updated for more reviews, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter.

If you would like to check out other Rocko's Modern Life reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

'Toon Reviews 15: Steven Universe Season 2 Episode 19: When it Rains

When it Rains

Her previous appearance showed off her lack of understanding on Earth, mostly to humorous effect.  However, in this cartoon, this side of Peridot’s character is shown for more than just humor’s sake which makes her far more endearing. 

She continues to lock herself in Steven’s bathroom, refusing to talk about the Cluster as shown through humorous moments of her trying the patience of the Crystal Gems.  Since she's warmed up to Steven, she’s not only more open to talk to him, but it also brings her endearment.  There’s a storm outside and Peridot is frightened by the rain and thunder, particularly thinking that it’s the Cluster emerging.  Through all her fears, Steven reassures her that rain and storms are natural and nothing to be scared of.  It’s honestly interesting for a young kid like Steven acting as a teacher figure who knows what he’s talking about to a seemingly knowledgeable Gem who actually has a lot to learn.  It develops Steven and further shows the layers of Peridot. Peridot stepping out into the rain, realizing it’s harmless after all brings out great heart, and that it’s not as bad as she thinks.  It’s also silent, so you can better take in how big of a moment it is for her character. 

Regarding the Cluster, the simple gesture of Steven teaching her about rain gets Peridot to talk about the potentially destruction to Earth.  They go to the Kindergarten where all of Peridot’s logs on the Cluster are stored.  Its background is just like that of those strange Gem mutants we’ve already seen twice.  They were experiments done by Homeworld, whose leaders were plotting to make a geo-weapon to destroy Earth.  After countless forced artificial fusions of Gem shards, a singular gigantic artificial fusion with millions of shards was made and placed under the Earth’s crust to incubate.  Now, it’s close to emerging if the random smaller mutants emerging are any indication, and it will be so huge that it will destroy the planet when it does.  The forced fusions have already had a big scare factor, but now their threat is even bigger with an immeasurable one that can destroy the world, setting up something big to look forward to later. 

As for how the reveal is presented, it further works in the heart of Peridot’s character where little instances of her needing Steven’s help in accessing the logs foreshadow what happens.  Her lack of understanding of Earth is accounted for when she assumes that Steven will know how to stop the Cluster just because he taught her about rain, even though Steven actually does not have the answers to everything.  This is only further proven true when they’re attacked by more Gem mutants and Steven’s powers aren’t enough to stop them.  They’re stopped when the Crystal Gems show up just in time to truly finish them off.  All these instances together bring about one major change in Peridot when at the very end of the cartoon, she agrees to tell them all about the Cluster after her constant refusal to do so. 

This is only the beginning of her big change in attitude towards the group as a whole that will span through cartoons to come.  Even here, everything Peridot gets up to through learning about Earth and forming meaningful relationships amount to a great development and major boost in character appeal.  For that, this is another high-tier season highlight. 10/10

 

 

The Ranking

1. Sworn to the Sword
2. Keystone Motel
3. When it Rains
4. Friend Ship
5. Nightmare Hospital
6. Chille Tid
7. Cry for Help
8. Keeping it Together
9. Full Disclosure
10. Catch and Release
11. We Need to Talk
12. Reformed
13. Historical Friction
14. Joy Ride
15. Say Uncle
16. Onion Friend
17. Rising Tides, Crashing Skies
18. Sadie’s Song
19. Love Letters

The next Steven Universe review takes us back to the barn where as plans to stop the Cluster finally convince, we get more background on Pearl, a robot-building detour, and a chance for Peridot to bond with her.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is more excitement from Rocko's Modern Life with "Leap Frogs" and "Bedfellows."

If you want to stay updated for more reviews, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter.

If you would like to check out other Steven Universe reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

'Toon Reviews 18: Rocko's Modern Life Season 1 Episode 1: No Pain No Gain/Who Gives a Buck?

We’re adding another Nicktoon to the review repertoire today which is one of the most bizarre yet highly creative and ingenious looks at everyday life:

Rocko’s Modern Life (Season 1)

Basic Premise

When it comes to animated TV shows, some of my favorites are those that depict relatable moments of everyday life, and those that allow creators to stretch their imaginations and bring to life humorous scenarios that can’t be expressed in any other medium.  This classic animated series from Nickelodeon is somewhat of a combination of the two types of series.  With it turning 25 this year and set to be rebooted with a TV movie called “Static Cling” in the near future, I’m pleased to start doing reviews of Rocko’s Modern Life.

The premise of the show is one we all can relate to where every little thing we do in life is hardly ever easy with challenges stemming around every corner.  However, it stands out through not just interpreting the activity, but also letting loose highly creative mindsets through exaggerating the challenges that come with them resulting in hilariously memorable antics throughout the runtime.  At the center of all these attempts at getting through life is a basic yet likable protagonist, Rocko himself.  He’s an Australian wallaby whose only goal is to live a happy, healthy, and productive life, which is made near-impossible when he’s constantly seeing how difficult the tasks he sets out to do really are.  Making Rocko’s attempts at living a good life even more interesting are the distinct characters he runs into, like his cute yet incident-prone dog Spunky, his gluttonous yet well-meaning steer friend Heffer, the neurotic turtle Filburt, and his easily irritated next-door neighbors, the Bigheads.  Even if the challenges are exaggerated, you can easily see yourself as Rocko and connect with the basic difficulty of the craziness he endures, making for an experience that’s both hilarious and relatable.  We’ll get a first taste of this setup at work in this look at the first season of this show. 

It should be noted that the order the cartoons will be reviewed in will not be in the production order, so there will be some continuity errors.  Unlike another Nicktoon I review on this blog, I can’t find a website with the proper order, so the airing order is all I have to follow . 

Also, I've recently decided that scoring the cartoons with numbers makes my reviews feel a little too objective which can be a problem should people not agree with my opinion, especially things I rate a 10/10.  What seems like perfection to me could be highly problematic for others, basically.  What I need is a rating system that ties into how I feel about something, but also be considerate of people who might not fully agree, much like my recommendation ratings I give to reviews of specials.  This is why, starting with this set of reviews, I'm going to add in a new rating  system akin to grades you'd get on a test with A+ being the highest (with the exception of the rare A++) and F- being the lowest.  This is just a change I thought I'd share.

With all that said, let’s begin while also remembering that review day can be a very “dangerous” day.

Now on with the reviews:

No Pain No Gain

Unlike most shows I’ve reviewed whose first episodes usually devote themselves to giving thorough introductions to the characters we follow through the series, this one begins with a standard cartoon that more or less follows the premise of the series.  It’s a bit of a random entry to start on and one that can be viewed out of order without missing anything, but despite its traits applying to most cartoons of this show, it’s still a commendable way to show what you get out of this series. 

The relatable topic here is Rocko and Heffer feeling out of shape which prompts them to join a health club called Flambé le Flab run by classy business owners who pop up a lot in various occupations, the Chameleon Brothers.  All throughout Rocko and Heffer’s weight loss attempts, the basic yet identifiable hardships that come from exercising shine through the cartoonish exaggerations of the states of being.  It’s even shown right at the start to illustrate how in desperate need of Rocko and Heffer to get into better shape, especially a gag of Heffer breaking through the doorframe and falling through the floor due to his weight.  As to be expected though, the most effective use of exaggerations come from the health club itself.  The antics are mostly a result of Rocko’s inexperience with exercise equipment and generally not being as fit as everyone else, and Heffer either focusing more on eating something than actually working out. 

It’s astounding how much creativity the cartoon gets out of a concept as simple as the difficulties of exercising.  We have Rocko being unable to keep up with fast-paced stretches that he ends up being bounced around like a ball, getting comically crushed by a barbells that seem light enough for him, getting unbelievably stretched out even in the eyes by the all too advanced Anatomizer, and more.  What Rocko’s put through may be extremely exaggerated, but it’s still easy to identify yourself in his place since exercising in real life is hardly as easy as some people make it out to be.  This is what keeps the cartoon entertaining despite Rocko constantly getting beaten around through his feeble attempts.  Even Heffer slacking off of the exercising to eat can be seen as identifiable.  It does make him lazy especially when he makes weak excuses to justify adding on weight he’s meant to lose, but Heffer’s role ties into a common behavior expressed when you don’t feel like working out even though you have to. 

As will be the case throughout much of the series, there’s an undeniable charm to Heffer’s character in which it really feels like he values Rocko as a friend through civil conversations and both of them enjoying each other’s company regardless of whether they’re both on the same page.  That’s why the ending scene when Rocko turns down the offer to become a full-fledged member of the health club to be with his friend is a well-done way of bringing in some heart to the cartoon.  There’s not really a sense of accomplishment though since it’s not convincing that Rocko and Heffer truly got into shape like they set out to do, so the whole thing does feel empty and lacking in value. 

Still, it astounds for its genuine relatability through its cartoonish depictions of living life, and this is only the first instance of the show working these strengths.

A-

Who Gives a Buck?

We all want to find the best way possible to get a lot of money, and it’s challenging to find out how to use your money well once you get it.  As a show that uses exaggerations to make its point on life’s relatable problems, the money problem makes the resulting cartoon pretty impactful.

Rocko is in need of some new things for his house especially a new dog bowl for Spunky.  When a credit card arrives in the mail, Rocko is pushed by Heffer to use it to shop at the mall.  While it’s really predictable that Heffer’s advice won’t lead to any good given how dim-witted he is, just from the look of Rocko’s empty and messy home, there’s good to his idea. 

At first, any misfortunes they do run into are out of both his and Rocko’s control when they first drive to the mall.  Some antics play with expectations like when they try to find a parking space while following a man, but the man turns out to think like a child since he’s been looking for his mom’s car for years.  Others rely on crazy visuals like when they go up a maze of roads for a parking space, ending at the highest level in space.  Admittedly, these antics go on a bit too long and don’t fit with the main shopping spree, but at least they’re enjoyable on their own. 

As for the actual shopping, the ordeal is approached with a lot of edge and entertainment as a humble citizen like Rocko meets a shady store owner who’s clearly doing whatever he can to get the first-time credit card user to purchase his most expensive yet creatively designed dog bowl.  In a strong show of morality, Rocko conflicts over buying it knowing it’s expensive even though he can pay later.  He ends up buying the bowl which at least fulfills the need for his beloved dog, but in a combination of peer pressure from Heffer and genuinely wanting to buy more nice-looking things, his first purchase leads to many more.  The creative interpretation of the credit card looking burnt out from how much Rocko uses it is a small one yet still effective for what it shows.  

Eventually, the problem of credit cards comes when Rocko has to pay for all the stuff he bought, and he can’t afford to do so. The magnitude of the trouble is felt through angry phone calls and random messages thrown through the window.  It even continues into his dreams where imagination goes all out to depict Rocko’s psyche reacting to his inability to pay up when bits of the credit card he chopped up earlier come to life to throw him in a debt version of Hell.  It’s imaginative and frightful for sure, but its impact doesn’t lead up to anything too huge when the conflict resolves itself.

Everything Rocko bought is repurposed, though it does leave Rocko and Spunky with nothing.  However, we still end on a good note with Heffer making up for running out when things got really bad earlier by buying Spunky another one of the special dog dishes which continues to show how good a friend he can be in spite of his major faults.  It’s also a plus that it gives relevance to an earlier scene that could easily be written off as random. 

This is only the second cartoon of the first episode and already the show’s great talents are made clear.  With a universally relatable premise helped by exaggerated yet fitting antics and likable characters to follow, this show is really starting to prove itself to be worth more than money can buy.

A

The Ranking

1. Who Gives a Buck?
2. No Pain No Gain

The next Rocko's Modern Life review covers a rarely-seen cartoon where Bev Bighead gets the hots for Rocko, and the problematic side of Heffer's faults are revealed when he moves in with Rocko.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is the Steven Universe episode, "When it Rains."

If you want to stay updated for more reviews, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter.

If you would like to check out other Rocko's Modern Life reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.