RMS and Brandon's First Episode (OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Season 1 Episode 44) - 'Toon Reviews 19

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RMS and Brandon’s First Episode

Some characters here are more important than others, but it’s still beneficial to get cartoons devoted to side characters.  Most turn out to be more than just cool looking background characters and make Lakewood Plaza Turbo feel much more fresh and alive. 

The starring side characters here are A Real Magic Skeleton (RMS) and Brandon the bear with the t-shirt that speaks his mind.  They mostly watch all the action other characters get up to and commentate on it.  Other times, they’re seen working at a frame store expressing an interesting dynamic where Brandon is more irresponsible while RMS is more competent and focused.  Their dynamic brings interesting subjects for this plot, even if only one of them truly benefits. 

We learn more about their workplace here than usual.  Their boss is an actual living painting of a medieval nobleman and RMS’s feelings on working there has huge relatability.  He’s put down about doing the same menial work of setting up frames and displays despite enjoying hanging with his Brandon. This seems like an accurate representation of how most people can feel when they can’t move past their first job.  The frame store does have an edge to it with a threatening-looking biker customer telling RMS and Brandon to set up a display for his helmet, but it’s not unlike most of the series.  These factors work in favor of RMS wanting to step out of complacency and get a new job despite it also being an equally menial coffee shop job.  His attitude feels like a healthy fit, and his anxieties on the idea of staying in the same dead-end job forever are convincing as to why a career change would be good. 

While this story reveals a lot about RMS, Brandon unfortunately doesn’t get the same development.  He’s portrayed as the same slacking goof he always is, and most of what he does for this plot is object to RMS changing careers.  How it’s frequently brought up does show the depths of their relationship, at times hinting that they’re more than friends. Nevertheless, in a cartoon devoted to both RMS and Brandon, things should be learned about both characters and not just one. 

Even if only RMS has any depth here, it’s nice that the climax provides shining moments for both characters in this relationship.  After a humorous scene of his boss lamenting being trapped in his frame, RMS is inspired to go out and get that new job while a typical Boxmore attack occurs.  There’s strong drama as he walks through the fray of battle and his bones fall apart.  While this does build atmosphere, it’s also kind of stupid for him to not just go around the fight.  Still, when RMS is nothing but a head, Brandon does get his biggest moment in the whole cartoon. After spending all his time complaining about his friend leaving for a new job, he awesomely picks up RMS’s bones while rushing to get him to the coffee shop amidst the fight.  Considering how much of a slacker he is, it’s great that Brandon would do this much activity to make his friend happy even if he doesn’t approve. 

The whole conflict turns out to be worthless when the ending has Drupe get the coffee shop job after hearing RMS talk about it earlier.  This means the status quo is maintained and nothing is done about RMS wanting to move on.  I can’t fault his and Brandon’s relationship remaining strong in the end, especially when that biker has them hug instead of getting mad that they wrecked his helmet. 

This isn’t a perfect starring role for RMS and Brandon by any means, but it still has good heart, relatable themes, and many strong instances of development.

B+

The Ranking

1. Face Your Fears
2. Let’s Take a Moment
3. Mystery Science Fair 201X
4. You Have to Care
5. T.K.O.
6. Back in Red Action
7. No More Pow Cards
8. Glory Days
9. Legends of Mr. Gar
10. We’ve Got Pests
11. I Am Dendy
12. Let’s Have a Stakeout
13. You Get Me
14. Let’s Be Heroes
15. You’re Everybody’s Sidekick
16. We Got Hacked
17. K.O.’s Video Channel
18. Jethro’s All Yours
19. Know Your Mom
20. Everybody Likes Rad?
21. Villains Night In
22. A Hero’s Fate
23. Plaza Prom
24. We’re Captured
25. My Dad Can Beat up Your Dad
26. Let’s Be Friends
27. We Messed Up
28. Parents Day
29. Plazalympics
30. Presenting Joe Cuppa
31. Sibling Rivalry
32. RMS and Brandon’s First Episode
33. Second First Date
34. Stop Attacking the Plaza
35. Just Be a Pebble
36. The Power is Yours
37. Do You Have Any More in the Back?
38. Let’s Watch the Pilot
39. Villains Night Out
40. You’re Level 100
41. You Are Rad
42. We’ve Got Fleas
43. Rad Likes Robots
44. One Last Score

The next OK K.O. review tells the origins of another side character, Mr. Logic the robot barber, and his ties with a young Lord Boxman.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is the 40th episode of Animaniacs.

If you would like to check out other OK K.O.! reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

'Toon Reviews 19: OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Season 1 Episode 22: Plaza Prom

If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:

Plaza Prom

Even when a story is told similarly to how other shows tell it, it can still stand on its own with a certain brand of entertainment and distinct characters.  This show has tons of distinction from the characters' looks which is one reason to get excited when they get together for a party, or in this case a prom. 

Rad aims to throw such a prom fitting his aim to be the coolest hero around.  He wants to bring all of Lakewood Plaza Turbo together to boost his status, especially other cool guys like the alley teens Drupe, Red Action, and Gregg.  As is fitting for party stories, Rad has tight guidelines for how things should go, and insists following them.  You can probably guess that message will involve following guidelines not always being the best course of action for parties.  This is further fueled by the actual prom being very lackluster, and the guidelines of Rad’s prom scroll are no help. 

As I said earlier, basic and common plot points do not hurt the quality of a story since a show’s use of entertainment and character moments can make it its own thing.  A big reason for how this plot works well is from the characters we follow as opposed to just little bits of the guests and most focus on Rad.  It gives a sense of what the whole experience means for different characters.  K.O. acts as Rad’s cohost and sticks strictly to that scroll while having doubts about it.  Brandon and A Real Magic Skeleton have a falling out after lying to each other about having a date.  While chaperoning, Mr. Gar is once again struck by his fear of talking to Carol, though commendably makes a great effort to ask her to dance with him.  There are frequent shots of Enid struggling to play Rad’s suggested music. They're not too important but bring a hilarious interpretation of what it’s like to listen to bad music as she becomes hospitalized while playing it.  This isn’t even mentioning moments of many other guests getting up to mischief, showcasing the prom falling apart due to Rad’s stubborn adherence to the scroll. 

Ultimately, all these different scenes of the prom going wrong lead to an ultimate move to save the whole affair. The prom’s crashed by the perfect Boxmore robot for the job, the ever classy Raymond.  It’s his presence that gets K.O. to realize how flawed the scroll is, and he pushes Rad to take the intruder out in a dance battle.  Set to the lively acoustics of Enid’s music literally from her heart, the dance off is the very thing to liven up the prom.  It’s fun to watch and listen to, and brings a big shift in view for Rad.  He dances his own way, and his moves blow Raymond out of the competition.  After this, there’s a very nice moment of the prom going on as the great event it was destined to be, allowing the subplots to come full circle.  Rad impresses the alley teens. RMS and Brandon make up for their lying. Mr. Gar gets his dance with Carol.  Finally, there's a nice display of snapshots of the most prominent guests. 

Even if you can get a good idea of how things will play out, the story of this plaza prom and how it builds up to a memorable party is executed greatly.  It's a vast gathering of characters you won’t want to miss.

A

The Ranking

1. Face Your Fears
2. You Have to Care
3. Legends of Mr. Gar
4. We’ve Got Pests
5. I Am Dendy
6. You Get Me
7. Let’s Be Heroes
8. You’re Everybody’s Sidekick
9. Jethro’s All Yours
10. Know Your Mom
11. Everybody Likes Rad?
12. Plaza Prom
13. We’re Captured
14. My Dad Can Beat up Your Dad
15. Let’s Be Friends
16. We Messed Up
17. Presenting Joe Cuppa
18. Sibling Rivalry
19. Just Be a Pebble
20. Do You Have Any More in the Back?
21. You’re Level 100
22. You Are Rad

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode which reveals some interesting information on the love lives of Rad and 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.

'Toon Reviews 19: OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Season 1 Episode 17: Know Your Mom

If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:

Know Your Mom

One of the most heartfelt aspects of the series is K.O.’s relationship with his mom, Carol.  Everything about this mother figure is a joy to watch.  She’s protective of her son's well-being, but is also very supportive of all his goals, and always makes time for him after work.  Along with a great personality and sense of fun, it shows that K.O. should be proud to have a mom like Carol.  Like what most people would do for any great mother, K.O. is willing to show how much he appreciates all that his mom does for him.  This cartoon gives him an opportunity at that with Mother’s Day coming. 

Since K.O. is a little kid, his gift ideas for Carol are simple macaroni art.  Despite being perfectly acceptable for his age, he feels self-conscious about his unspectacular gift.  This is especially the case when Brandon and A Real Magic Skeleton, subtly allude to giving a pasta art picture to his mom to giving her trash.  Actually, it’s really Brandon who convinces him; he ends up getting a karma-fueled subplot where RMS insists his actions have consequences. 

Even if K.O. really doesn’t need to worry about this, him looking for of a more fitting gift for Carol is amiable. Not to mention it fits his goal to go above and beyond as a great hero.  He questions how much he appreciates what his mom does for him when the best answers he has for what she likes are what she does every day.  They aren’t exactly the same as interests or character traits.  Out of this setback is an endearing gesture from K.O. as he researches about Carol.  The information  he finds is solid character development.  She was a member of a highly revered hero squad P.O.I.N.T. under the name Silver Spark.  This gives a new insight to K.O.’s upbringing through being raised by a talented hero and wanting to be one himself.  Plus, P.O.I.N.T. is a prominent elements of the series, serving as the main focus of many cartoons to come. 

Out of these reveals, there’s believable emotional value to what K.O. is trying to do since Carol quit P.O.I.N.T. 6 to 11 years ago, which is how old he is.  Even if this is technically an overreaction, it’s not too inaccurate that K.O. could be the reason Carol quit her job. K.O. believing that is especially heavy.  That said, his idea of resolution by inviting an old villain Carol used to fight for a battle is a little boneheaded due to the clear problems it can cause.  It’s still enjoyable through K.O.’s calls to some of them revealing that most of the old villains are too old or not even alive. 

He finally convinces a villain to come, an aging rapping cactus called Succulentus.  While Succulentus rocks out while fighting, Carol questions how he was brought over.  There’s a nice moment where Carol’s good nature wins out as she comforts Succulentus when he gets tired, and they civilly get coffee.  Then we end with one last show of mother-son love as Carol tells K.O. that he’s all she needs for a great life now.  She also lets him know that he didn’t make her quit P.O.I.N.T. which offers further context to the vague sandwich flashback from an earlier cartoon. 

It’s a typical trait for a parent to be satisfied just with raising a nice kid, but the way this piece of family love plays out makes it impactful anyhow.  Along with insightful moments of how meaningful relationships can be and interesting character development, this is an endearing cartoon for anyone who loves their families.

A

The Ranking

1. Legends of Mr. Gar
2. We’ve Got Pests
3. I Am Dendy
4. You Get Me
5. Let’s Be Heroes
6. You’re Everybody’s Sidekick
7. Jethro’s All Yours
8. Know Your Mom
9. My Dad Can Beat up Your Dad
10. Let’s Be Friends
11. We Messed Up
12. Presenting Joe Cuppa
13. Sibling Rivalry
14. Just Be a Pebble
15. Do You Have Any More in the Back?
16. You’re Level 100
17. You Are Rad

The next OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes review shows Lord Boxman as a civil citizen trying to impress a client on top of a diabolical villain who's captured K.O. and his friends.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews from Star vs the Forces of Evil is a review of "Hungry Larry" and "Spider With a Top Hat."

If you would like to check out other OK K.O.! reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.