Sidekick Scouts
Usually in shows, kid characters start out brash, rowdy, and unaware of the true magnitude of tasks at hand, but given the right choices, they mature the more the show goes on. K.O. is basically no different in this regard, and it shows in this cartoon where he ends up getting a younger version of himself.
Everything he goes through here is a result of understandable betrayal as he reflects over his inspirational heroes, eventually remembering what he learned about Chip Damage. K.O.’s spent so much time believing Chip was a great hero, but now that he knows he’s a total fake, he’s moved to destroy all stuff relating to him. Even more pressing is how he feels bad about pursuing becoming a solo hero, which Chip Damage inspired the most. With endearing support from Carol, K.O. then decides to take up a path different from being a solo hero, in this case, a sidekick.
There just happens to be a scout troop where young heroes can learn to become sidekicks, and there K.O., and by extension the audience, finds something interesting. It seems that the best way K.O. knows how to help other heroes is by fighting lots of bad guys alongside them. Tasks like this are deemed far too advanced for sidekicks and it soon becomes agreed that he’s over-qualified to be among other sidekicks. One of these potential sidekicks in the troop is a little cyborg called Combo Breaker. His gimmick is being hyperactive around everyone he meets, trying to help people, but seems to just get in the way and talks too much. Just to further play up his status as a little kid, he has a major speech impediment where he always pronounces his Ls as Ws.
He’s easily impressed with K.O.’s capabilities, and wanting to be a sidekick so badly, Combo declares himself as K.O.’s sidekick. He follows K.O. around to do his bidding during his daily life, particularly his job at Gar’s Bodega. Now, K.O. is already getting visibly annoyed by Combo’s hyperactive attitude, but here is where Combo really starts crossing the line for him. K.O. just tries to do his job as normal like cleaning floors, handling registers, and setting up displays, but Combo keeps shoving into his business without an idea of what to do. He’s basically just a little kid who keeps getting in the way, and for that, it’s understandable that K.O. would be led to snap at him.
It’s only when danger shows up at the plaza in the form of usually weaker Boxmore robots, Ernesto and Jethro, equipped with upgrades, especially Jethro’s new sound system. K.O. needs help, but when calling his co-workers for it, they remind him of his sidekick and how he’s not much different from when K.O. first started working at the bodega. That right there is reflective of how character development works as K.O. understands that despite all mess-ups, Combo really did have good intentions to help. He makes up for his angst, and Combo’s utility belt powers offer much needed assistance against the Boxmore robots.
This could be a good opportunity
for Combo to become K.O.’s sidekick full time, but K.O. decides to just keep on
being a hero in training. Combo instead
goes on to be a sidekick to another hero, Neil, leaving K.O. confused. At best this is a solid way to help K.O.
reconcile with his betrayal over Chip Damage, but the events of this cartoon
still aren’t big or impactful as they could be.
Still, the insight it does bring regarding character growth is big on
charm and merit.
A-
Season 2
Rankings
1. Your World is an Illusion
2. T.K.O.’s House
3. Final Exams
4. CarolQuest
5. All in the Villainy
6. Dendy’s Power
7. Crossover Nexus
8. Lord Cowboy Darrell
9. Bittersweet Rivals
10. Red Action to the Future
11. My Fair Carol
12. Are You Ready for Some Megafootball?!
13. Boxman Crashes
14. Wisdom Strength and Charisma
15. Mystery Sleepover
16. Super Black Friday
17. Point to the Plaza
18. Special Delivery
19. Seasons Change
20. The So-Bad-Ical
21. Monster Party
22. Sidekick Scouts
23. Plaza Film Festival
24. Let’s Watch the Boxmore Show
25. Be a Team
26. Plaza Alone
27. Soda Genie
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