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Beaglemania
For good works of media to really stand the test of time, it’s best that they don’t include anything dated, such as trends that are set to be popular for a certain amount of time. A common popular trend is different styles of music, mainly rock n roll or pop, which seems to vary from decade to decade. This trendy subject is a major factor in this particular episode with the rock n roll style feeling like it simply cannot exist anywhere but the 80s. Dated as the overall episode ends up feeling as a result, it ultimately comes together in a solid yet flawed final result.
After having the subject of popular music set itself up as a key story element in an opening scene with Scrooge and the kids, it works its way into the main plot with the Beagle family. In yet another one of their schemes to riches, Ma Beagle and the Beagle Boys discover a robbing opportunity via a televised music competition with a million-dollar prize. The flashy scenery, exuberant host, and just about every attempt from everyone to sound hip throughout the competition sell the feel of this music style of the era. The Beagle Boys are quick to get caught up in the whole thing when their attempt at robbing the cash prize is exposed live on stage.
Instead of being arrested, they’re believed to be contestants, and Ma Beagle is quick to indulge the façade by reminding the boys of a song they apparently have. The result is “Boogie Beagle Blues,” and for all its dated feels, it’s pretty catchy and fun as a song by itself. In the episode’s context, the song is so good that the Beagle Boys are unanimously named the contest winners with no other entry even bothering to challenge them.
From here, things suddenly take a turn for the Beagle Boys as they take on new ways to make money. As now popular singers, it becomes their new main profession, though they don’t immediately figure that they have to keep working at it instead of just enjoying the money right away. Through it all, Ma Beagle becomes domineering of how they go about their music gigs, making choices on their routines and how much effort they put into their trade. One can’t help but feel that this isn’t like a family that’s meant to go the criminal route to get what they want. What Ma Beagle is implementing for her boys is strict, but totally honest and what’s usually expected from real music acts. Speaking of her strictness, her regiment and dominance over the Beagle Boys eventually gets Ma Beagle fired, showing her boys having a more expected amorality to them.
However, it’s at this moment when Ma Beagle’s motives start getting confusing. During a meeting of mothers of criminal children, she shows regret for her boys now earning money an honest way with their music. The problem is that she’s the one who encouraged them to keep up the musical act in the first place, and was genuine about it. Now, her believing that they should stop doing this and go back to acting like true criminals is just too sudden and doesn’t make sense; there’s no natural shift in mindsets.
For comparison, look at how Scrooge goes about this whole affair since the Beagle Boys now partner with him by using a record company he owns. Scrooge starts off lamenting working with his enemies; then something happens to have him warm up to the idea with him realizing how much he can benefit from a cut of the profit they generate; then he goes back to dreading the setup upon hearing the Beagle Boys’ purchase demands that ultimately leave him with no money. There’s always some reasonable cause to change Scrooge’s outlook on the circumstance, the very thing missing from Ma Beagle. Maybe her being fired could be worked as a reason to want to get her boys to return to crime, but it feels like it’s all because of them taking interest in something she set them up for. It overall hurts the engagement of the conflict.
Either way, the status quo is quickly reinstated when the Beagle Boys are in a creative crisis of coming up with a new song for a show, and Ma Beagle suddenly shows up with one. It turns out to be the same song with lyrics that insult the audience, and just like that, the Beagle Boys’ fame is over and they’re back to being criminals.
Ultimately, this episode ends up being another thing that just happens and shakes things up for 22 minutes. It’s held back by a combination of a dated setup to make the show seem hip, and confusing mood swings on matters leaving questions on how certain mindsets make sense. Still, the audience is likely to walk away with solid fun, and above everything else, a pretty catchy pop ditty to have them “sing the Boogie Beagle Blues.”
B-
The Ranking
1. Blue Collar Scrooge
2. My Mother the Psychic
3. Allowance Day
4.
The Big Flub
5. The Land of Trala La
6. The Good Muddahs
7. Dough Ray Me
8. A Case of Mistaken Identity
9. Bubba’s Big Brainstorm
10. Beaglemania
11. Metal Attraction
12. Bubbeo and Juliet
The next review covers Huey, Dewey, and Louie profiting off trends, but first, a look at an episode of the reboot.
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