Sunday, November 3, 2019

The Return of PandaBubba (Xiaolin Showdown Season 2 Episode 17) - 'Toon Reviews 35

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The Return of PandaBubba


When a former villain returns to the spotlight, the experience is either exactly the same as the first time, or a further way of showing how threatening that antagonist can be.  This villain return is kind of in the middle but really stands out for how it brings interesting background to one of our heroes. 
It all begins when the Xiaolin Warriors set off for Japan to get an interesting Shen Gong Wu called the Zing Zom Bone, which has the power to turn anyone into one’s zombie slave.  Such power and creative descriptions bring a lot of potential to build up anticipation for its use, and it makes itself known further into the main conflict.  After it seems like neither the Warriors or their enemies obtained the Shen Gong Wu, they stop in on the main attraction. 
There’s a video game and technology company run by Kimiko’s father, and it’s a most fascinating place for the rest of the action to unfold.  There’s a fresh imagination in the inner workings of the factory as seen in the elaborate security system, conveyor belt floors, and toys like robots that take the form of the user.  Kimiko’s father is also a joy.  It’s clear that all his innovations are driven not by corporate greed, but from his childlike drive for fun to share with the world.  Plus, even though this is the first time he’s seen, his relationship with his daughter is pure and genuine from their few interactions. 
Things get suspicious though when it’s discovered that he’s hired the nefarious PandaBubba to work for his company.  As for PandaBubba’s role, it at first functions similarly to his previous one.  He uses Shen Gong Wu brought to him by Jack, in this case the Zing Zom Bone, to carry out his crimes, and offers new robots in return.  The only thing that makes this role really stand out is that it involves getting other people to steal things for industry instead of doing it himself which is kind of intriguing.  Kimiko’s father fortunately is quick to recognize this and reveals that he hired PandaBubba because he didn’t know who he was.  However, he’s soon turning into a zombie and even though we know the truth, Kimiko breaking down as her father forces her and her friends to leave is quite emotional. 
Following this, the earlier scene of the mini self-reflecting robots plays a relevant role in the plot by revealing the truth to the Warriors.  As they go after the real criminal mastermind as a result, Kimiko ends up having to face PandaBubba in a Xiaolin Showdown to decide the company’s fate.  The actual showdown is an interesting break from the norm for taking place in a video game, the often mentioned Goo Zombies to be exact.  Liberties are taken through taking place in a handheld console where someone has to press start for the Showdown to begin and both opponents are pixilated.  The aesthetic shows a lot of what the game is like through needing to take out zombies sometimes with a mere cap and dodge goo to increase one’s health bar.  It’s kind of forced that PandaBubba is way in the lead, but then suddenly breaks down so Kimiko can go ahead and face the final boss though.  Even so, the heart of her getting back her father and saving the company is impossible to ignore, not to mention the humor of one last use of the Zing Zom bone one the bad guys.  It’s best to revel in its use because like most powerful Shen Gong Wu, you won’t see much of it after its introduction episode. 
Though this return of PandaBubba isn’t too far from what was seen before, it stands out with character development and appealing aesthetic.
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 Return of PandaBubba

9.      The Sands of Time

10.  Master Monk Guan

11.  Screams of the Siren

12.  Crystal Glasses

13.  Dreamscape

14.  The Shard of Lightning

15.  Hear Some Evil, See Some Evil

16.  Sizing Up Omi

17.  The Black Vipers

 
 
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where Raiumundo turns into a big monstrous mess of Shen Gong Wu after saving his hometown from a volcano at a time when no Shen Gong Wu are to be used.

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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