Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The Emperor Scorpion Strikes Back (Xiaolin Showdown Season 2 Episode 14) - 'Toon Reviews 35

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The Emperor Scorpion Strikes Back

 
There’s a lot riding on this episode to make it one of the show’s grandest experiences.  We got the return of one of its most creative forces of destruction, the reveal of a powerful Shen Gong Wu to stop it, and another threat of the end of the world.  For the most part, the episode lives up to the greatness, but doesn’t feel like more than a standard episode to teach the Xiaolin Warriors about teamwork. 
There’s a planetary alignment that attracts all of the Shen Gong Wu, although somehow the vehicle Shen Gong Wu and those belonging to Jack get a free pass.  This phenomena is an omen of the formation of Mala Mala Jong, who as you may remember is a demon warrior comprised of Shen Gong Wu.  This is a bigger deal than his first appearance because way more Shen Gong Wu have been revealed in this time and will therefore make him more powerful.  In addition, his threat will increase if able to become a four-person group known as the Fearsome Four and there’s only one Shen Gong Wu that will make that happen. 
Jack’s moments in the episode mostly feature him goofing around with the duplicating Shen Gong Wu, the Ring of the Nine Dragons.  It’s funny to see all the random variations of Jack at his disposal, but how are they all competent?  Isn’t the Ring supposed to divide the user’s maturity to infantile degrees?  Anyway, their competence and Omi insisting he doesn’t need help lead to Mala Mala Jong’s new formation, the fight with Jack turning out to be a distraction.  Mala Mala Jong later takes the ring and is instantly the Fearsome Four, apparently a big sign of the end of the world.  Honestly though you’d never guess the end is near without everyone saying it is. 
There is hope to stop the Fearsome Four with the reveal of the Emperor Scorpion, which can control all Shen Gong Wu.  As interesting as this sounds, its power is a guarantee we won’t see much of it after this episode given that it’s too much of an easy win for the users.  The Warriors go after the Emperor Scorpion in the center of the Earth, but their lack of teamwork through each Warrior going after one Mala Mala Jong is their downfall.  Not only do they not beat the Fearsome Four, but Jack nabs the Emperor Scorpion and controls them all.  Once again, this isn’t exactly the best way to foreshadow the end of the world given how Jack approaches being evil. 
One thing I will say is that it is nice that no one blames anyone for their lack of teamwork.  They lament on it together and even bring up logical points when Omi blames himself for Mala Mala Jong forming in the first place.  They soon realize working together also involves doing what they do best to contribute to a bigger situation, and they do so by using their natural elements when necessary.  This puts up a strong fight against Mala Mala Jong, especially when they enter a Xiaolin Showdown for the Emperor Scorpion.  It’s a uniquely staged one where it’s mostly dark as the Warriors and the Fearsome Four hang from ropes.  Through hiding all beacons shining at them, giving directions, and finding a way to light things up, this may be the Warriors’ best use of teamwork to date.  They win the Showdown and become more enlightened as a result, but not without having some fun by making the Fearsome Four use Jack as a basketball. 
Despite a few contradictions and the staging not matching descriptions, this is a great episode to give the Xiaolin Warriors’ dynamic welcome development.
A

The Ranking

1.      Citadel of Doom

2.      The Evil Within

3.      Enter the Dragon

4.      The Deep Freeze

5.      Days Past

6.      PandaTown

7.      The Emperor Scorpion Strikes Back

8.      The Sands of Time

9.      Master Monk Guan

10.  Crystal Glasses

11.  Dreamscape

12.  The Shard of Lightning

13.  Hear Some Evil, See Some Evil

14.  Sizing Up Omi

 
 
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where Clay meets up with his disturbingly jealous younger sister.

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

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