The Life and Times of Hannibal Roy
Bean
On the surface, one would not see that strong a connection between this episode and the previous one, so how well they go together is somewhat impressive. All their events together build up to introduce a new villain for the season, one who’s said to be the most threatening force of evil of all. However, it’s debatable if the ultimate reveal is truly satisfying.
The episode starts off back to the typical series formula with our established heroes and villains going after a newly revealed Shen Gong Wu. Rather than taking up the entire episode, finding it all happens in the first act. There are failed attempts at beating the humanized Wuya, an exciting Xiaolin Showdown where she and Kimiko evade meteors to get the Wu, and use of the Ying Yang Yo-Yo. The latter point continues to boggle about what it means to change moralities though as if personalities are never complex, a total load of malarkey.
Anyway, just when it looks like the Xiaolin Warriors win, a bird comes and steals everyone’s Shen Gong Wu, and it’s the very parrot Jack obtained in the last episode. You honestly wouldn’t think much of a smart-talking little bird who doesn’t seem threatening, but he turns out to be very calculative and seems like a loyal ally to Jack. That’s not even all, as the parrot form isn’t even the true form. The parrot is actually a more threatening looking bird who comes from the Ying Yang World and brings all the Shen Gong Wu there with Jack in tow. This is apparently an omen for the previously mentioned force of ultimate evil being near, one Hannibal Bean, though this is the first time he’s ever mentioned.
It feels like in addition to getting back the stolen Shen Gong Wu, our heroes just have another big threat sprung on them. Even when Jack comes to Hannibal’s layer, him saying that he’s his evil hero doesn’t feel too genuine. An encounter with the good version of him points out he used to say the same about Chase Young. As for Hannibal’s actual reveal, it’s perfectly fine and does its part to introduce him as well as showcase the idea of things not always being as they seem. He’s first seen as a knighted figure who looks like he used to rule like a tyrant, and seems to know a lot about Jack just from looking at him. Then it turns out that Hannibal Bean is actually a tiny sentient bean with an attitude. This leaves a mixed impression as it fits the main theme well, but it’s still hard to take seriously that this is the force of all evil. Can you even suspend disbelief that someone so tiny could even accomplish that many dark things? His personality isn’t that impressive either. It’s just a standard mean demeanor with no real depth or charisma to make it stand out, so he’s not exactly a ‘love to hate’ character like this show’s other villains.
The fact that he later turns out to be the one who convinced Chase Young to go evil also doesn’t feel deserved or big enough to take seriously. All he did was take advantage of his lust for power, apparent back when Chase was good, and after he changed him, he was easily overpowered and imprisoned in the Ying Yang World. He’s only able to get out now because he has that new Shen Gong Wu, the Moby Morpher, which can allow him to take the form of anyone. With that, he’s able to trick his way out of his prison, mess with the Warriors’ to make them fight each other, and has them keep Chase from ending him. For that, the episode ends with the ultimate guilt of them unleashing ultimate evil onto the world. This guilt would be a lot more powerful if it was considered that the one Shen Gong Wu was the source of Hannibal getting anywhere. However, throughout the season, no one ever considers that.
On
the whole, this is a good way of introducing a new villain, but his sudden
introduction and inability for the audience to take seriously hold it back.
B+
The Ranking
1. Bird of Paradise
2. Finding Omi
3. The Life and Times of Hannibal Roy
Bean
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