If you ask me, no matter what, cartoons about K.O. and Dendy’s friendship are practically guaranteed successes. Whether they’re investigating underlying plot points or just hanging out, their chemistry offers pleasing results and charm from just seeing two likable kids together. In the case of this cartoon, these principles apply as they also reflect on how their status has changed at this point.
For K.O., amongst the kids in his class, he’s basically living his ultimate dream of being a renowned hero, getting worship for his exciting moves and being given top secret missions. As for Dendy, she continues to perform her role as the tech expert and intelligence report of all top secret missions. In fact, one is assigned to K.O. the moment the power goes out in their classroom, so that’s good timing on this cartoon’s part. Besides the mission, another conflict for this cartoon comes from the class’ fickle perception of K.O. and Dendy’s hero roles. They shower K.O. with great praise for his physical hero skills, claiming him to be the real hero, but refuse to give Dendy any credit as she leaves for the mission with K.O. It’s an unfortunate showing of a very flawed stigma that only those who are physically active by solving their problems with punches and weapons are considered strong.
While the other kids’ remarks are majorly condescending, K.O. means well and invites Dendy to personally join him on the mission. That said, he too unknowingly perpetuates the flawed idea of being strong, giving Dendy complicated fighting instructions for when they find the villain responsible for the blackout. The thing is, she’s unable to go along with that way of thinking since, despite having some experience with it, physical fighting is not one of her strengths. Through her struggles of going with the lingo, it’s at least admirable that K.O. never loses patience with Dendy and continues to be a good friend to her.
However, everything picks up for her when K.O. ends up captured by the bratty half pint villain, Small Calf Demon, leaving her to finish the mission alone. It’s here where it’s made very clear that what makes a character strong is not limited to physical skills. It’s all about how they get by with the traits and talents that come naturally. That’s how Dendy is able to solve everything while going after K.O. and Small Calf Demon. Faced with an intricate maze of tunnels, Dendy uses her technical skills to point out where she’s been and find everyone. She also gets Small Calf Demon to admit that his causing the blackout was over something selfish and unreasonable, and beats him by confusing him with holograms. To an extent this counts as showing strength with a fight, but Dendy still put her own spin on expectations and never had to throw any punches. Ultimately, I say her approach to fighting makes her a very credible and valuable hero. This even gets her the praise she wants from the class, though it’s hard to accept since now they leave K.O. out.
Nevertheless, a healthier option is taken as
Dendy decides she feels nothing from the praise, and the meaningful compliments
and support come from people who care for her.
Unsurprisingly yet endearingly, K.O. is one of those people. On a side note, the last scene even gives
background to her new beret as it covers a pond on her head, a sign that she’s
now a grown-up kappa. It’s a bit strange
to see it here, but it is very interesting and ties to one of her earlier
teases. Despite unfolding in a clearly
flawed atmosphere, strong friendships once again benefit the appeal of the
series here.
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. Dark Plaza
7. GarQuest
8. Dendy’s Power
9. Crossover Nexus
10. Lord Cowboy Darrell
11. Bittersweet Rivals
12. Beach Episode
13. Red Action to the Future
14. My Fair Carol
15. K.O.’s Health Week
16. Are You Ready for Some Megafootball?!
17. Boxman Crashes
18. Wisdom Strength and Charisma
19. Gar Trains Punching Judy
20. I Am Jethro
21. Mystery Sleepover
22. Super Black Friday
23. Point to the Plaza
24. Project Ray Way
25. Special Delivery
26. Seasons Change
27. The So-Bad-Ical
28. Monster Party
29. Sidekick Scouts
30. Whacky Jaxxyz
31. Rad’s Alien Sickness
32. Plaza Film Festival
33. OK A.U.! Alternate Universe
34. Let’s Watch the Boxmore Show
35. Be a Team
36. Plaza Alone
37. Soda Genie
Season 3
Ranking
1. Big Reveal
2. Let’s Get Shadowy
3. T.K.O. Rules
4. K.O. vs Fink
5. Whatever Happened to Rippy Roo?
6. Chip’s Damage
7. The K.O. Trap
8. We Are Heroes
9. Let’s Meet Sonic
10. You’re a Good Friend K.O.
11. Radical Rescue
12. Planet X
13. Deep Space Vacation
14. K.O., Rad, and Enid!
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode, the culmination of Red Action's role in the series as well as interesting reveals on her relationship with Enid.
If you would like to check out other OK K.O.! reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
No comments:
Post a Comment