'Toon Reviews 19: OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Season 1 Episode 21: You Have to Care

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You Have to Care

It’s easy to assume that characters are just born a certain way for no rhyme or reason.  However, when something looks into a character’s past, an outlook on them can change drastically. 

Enid wants to be left alone as much as possible and does not seem to care when socializing.  Despite this, we’ve seen that Enid is more complex than this.  She can be friendly and caring around friendly people. She has limits to her introverting. She has learned not to be put off by unreasonable customers from her boss. She's self-conscious about the aspects of her character.  The root of her uncaring mannerisms is revealed here. 

A hero from P.O.I.N.T. Prep Academy, an esteemed school for heroes in training, named Elodie, comes to Lakewood Plaza Turbo.  With a grand entrance and flamboyance, it makes sense that everyone is so impressed.  As for Enid, she wants nothing to do with Elodie, which is far more extreme than her usual tendencies to not care. Through trying to be apathetic, Enid strongly hints that she’s hurt by Elodie’s presence.  Being very caring himself, K.O. investigates Enid’s problem, and learns the reasons for the tension. 

It turns out that Enid used to be best friends with Elodie. Their first meeting seems like a great place to start having only seen each other in passing prior, and being impressed by little things like each other’s moves.  A subsequent montage of little moments of them having fun further sells them legitimately loving being together.  However, things changed when they learned P.O.I.N.T. Prep was looking for potential students. This meant Enid and Elodie would have to compete against each other to get in.  Because of how endearing her friendship with Elodie seemed to be, it’s believable that Enid would have it in high regard, offering Elodie a necklace to show how much she meant to her. The symbolism stood out when Enid held back from fighting Elodie during the combat portion of the entrance exam.  That’s why there’s such a huge sting when after Elodie wins the exam, she tells Enid their friendship was a ruse to get into the school. 

With so many great moments between her and Elodie, it’s heartbreaking for Enid to hear this.  It speaks volumes about her not socializing with most people now to avoid disappointment.  In the present, actual endearment leads Enid to do something about her built up turmoil, made all the more touching that it comes from little K.O.  Enid takes a chance and cares about all the matter of Elodie, facing her in a sparring match in hopes to work things out.  With a great display of her powers showing she’s come a long way, Enid settles her animosity with her supposed old friend by winning the match.  It’s too bad the crowd is really dense, showing more concern for Elodie losing just because she’s popular. 

Despite this drawback, the conclusion is well done and big on humanity.  In addition to Enid feeling better about her past, there are a few hints that work in Elodie’s favor.  Enid realizes Elodie learned about the contest after they became friends, and Elodie still has the friendship necklace.  Her limo driver even says a line suggesting Elodie only came to the plaza to see her old friend.  It’s not clear, but it’s a strong possibility that their old friendship was genuine after all.  It’s an engaging topic worth looking into in the future and offers hope that Elodie has more depth than she lets on.  This leaves the whole cartoon as an amazing display of emotion and character moments.

A+

The Ranking

1. Face Your Fears
2. You Have to Care
3. Legends of Mr. Gar
4. We’ve Got Pests
5. I Am Dendy
6. You Get Me
7. Let’s Be Heroes
8. You’re Everybody’s Sidekick
9. Jethro’s All Yours
10. Know Your Mom
11. Everybody Likes Rad?
12. We’re Captured
13. My Dad Can Beat up Your Dad
14. Let’s Be Friends
15. We Messed Up
16. Presenting Joe Cuppa
17. Sibling Rivalry
18. Just Be a Pebble
19. Do You Have Any More in the Back?
20. You’re Level 100
21. You Are Rad

The next OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode features Rad host a party for the entire plaza which is held back by sticking too much to the rules.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is the Star vs the Forces of Evil episode "Bon Bon the Birthday Clown."

If you would like to check out other OK K.O.! reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.