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The Mystery of SLAM! 20 Years Later

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This image of the logo was drawn by hand with my tablet and stylus. Drawn in MS Paint.

Posted: 4 September 2022

SLAM! Block (US Version Only) / Nickelodeon / 25 August 2002 – March 2003

Imagine you’re watching Nickelodeon in May of 2002. Promos previewing their summer programming get shown during every commercial break. In one promo, Dave Aizer tells you that if “you want action…you got action.” You’re under the assumption that Nick is just emphasizing they’ll be playing some action programming that will soon be forgotten.

Many haters have forgotten it but I never will!

The Nickelodeon SLAM block began airing on Sunday afternoons in August 2002. The block ran for 2 hours from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm (later 1:00pm-3:00pm, all times Central) and played action-oriented programming (a la Cartoon Network’s Toonami). I’ll tell ya, looking at the promos will NOT tell you what this block is about yet it will make you want to find out more.

What is SLAM?

I never really questioned it. I figured it was going to be another Nicktoon about a skateboarder boy and his dog in a grunge/mid-1900s art-style setting. Then again, there would be flashes of Invader Zim, Butt-Ugly Martians, and Robot Wars clips during the promos. I wasn’t using the internet at the time and Twitter wasn’t a thing yet so I just had to use my assumptions. Because it was new and on Nickelodeon, I was so excited. When first discreetly announced in May 2002, SLAM had different on-air graphics than what was officially used. 

It was that day on August 25th I found out what SLAM! Really was…an action block. I wasn’t expecting Speed Racer 1997 (Speed Racer X) to start the block as it was not flashed in the promos. I was busy with a church event that day then I went to the swimming pool. From what I remember, I only taped the Speed Racer episode as I seriously thought SLAM was going to be a regular series.

What SLAM Turned out to Be

SLAM was an action block. The promos failed to properly communicate that. Either that or it just was the way my brain processed information at the time. I probably missed some important information. All you’d see is a short scribbled kid running/skateboarding around with his dog and causing mischief in a scenery combining a vintage style and early 2000s grunge. Nickelodeon Magazine announced it as a block but I didn’t notice that announcement until much later. The magazine announcement also mentioned that SLAM stands for “Super Large Action Madness,” also not mentioned in the on-air promos. 

Regardless, all information should have been communicated in the promos. Here’s how they should have done it (written by yours truly):

Need more action for your weekends? Tune in to SLAM! A 2-hour block of Super Large Action Madness with shows that will rock your Sunday afternoon. 

Speed Racer speeds your way at 4:00

Invader Zim invades your TV at 4:30

Prepare to kick some butt with the Butt Ugly Martians at 5

Then witness some extreme robot action with Nickelodeon Robot Wars at 5:30

Slam into SLAM! Every Sunday starting August 25th at 4/3 central on Nickelodeon!

One Thing’s for Sure…

That SLAM character and his dog were so cute. It’s a shame it wasn’t a series. If it was a series then there would be sneak peeks that Nick would have shown. I’m also attracted by the vintage graphics in the promos. It’s like looking through my grandmother’s high school yearbooks. The edgy grunge and vintage graphics could have been used for something amazing. Now it’s all a missed opportunity.

Could Have Been Big

I fondly remember this premiere. This was from a time I began to show more interest in action-oriented programming that sold toys and video games. This block has assisted me with that transition and still resonates with me today. I can’t believe it’s been 20 years. The aesthetic may seem outdated by today’s design standards but it still holds a place in my memories. Had this block/SLAM character been better promoted, there would be at least a cult following. 

Quick fact: on the last week of SLAM in March 2003, the idents and logo bugs for the block were not being used. I taped the Invader Zim episode they were playing that day. After that Sunday, the block was no more.

This is a pennant I made during the block’s run. As the date states on the back of the pennant, this was made on November 24, 2002. I used a lot of orange marker to make the background. This is not for sale.

Shows Shown on SLAM and Some Quick Thoughts

Speed Racer X – Gave me an introduction to the Speed Racer franchise

Invader Zim – I was lucky when Nick showed this. There were periods where they wouldn’t show it at all on this block

Butt Ugly Martians – Previously shown on main Nick. I was fine with it when I was younger, but cringe a bit when I watch it now, especially that animation.

Nickelodeon Robot Wars – Seemed interesting but wasn’t really my cup of tea at the time.

Men In Black: The Series – Yes, Nickelodeon played this, too. I didn’t watch Kids WB so Nickelodeon brought this show to me. It was fine. It was an introduction to the Men In Black franchise for me. I felt like a cool kid watching this.

Super Duper Sumos – Practically dominated the block for many weeks (bookended by episodes of Speed Racer). Not a great show and definitely one of DIC’s later not-so-great shows. 

Also, I noticed only during the block, they occasionally played some early animated shorts of The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers during commercial breaks. These shorts originated in the UK and Canada. They began as 10 two-and-a-half-minute shorts for the CBBC website in the early 2000s then became a full show in 2006. The Adrenalini brothers are 3 showmen from the fictional land of Réndøosîa who tour around the world performing hazardous stunts, often succeeding out of luck. You may not remember this as these were rarely played. I had the tail-end of an episode on tape. These shorts and episodes are available to watch online. Click here to find out more information about these shorts. I don’t know why these were played but, as I’ve been saying about the other shows on this block, it was how I discovered this show.

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Kid Cosmic Season 2 – Absolutely Out of the World!

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Posted 31 December 2021

Kid Cosmic Season 2 (The Intergalactic Truckstop!) / Netflix / Premiered 7 September 2021

Another lovely continuation from Kid Cosmic Season 1 only taking place more in space and in various dimensions. Along with discovering more Stones of Power, more members join the Local Heroes.

Any Theme Song or Intro?

Kid Cosmic is the first show I watched that doesn’t play a theme song in every episode. Hey, it’s Netflix. The showrunners can pretty much do whatever they want, even state the story title at the END of the episode instead of toward the beginning. Very unique compared to the hundreds of shows I watched in my life that have the theme at the beginning and introduce the episode name toward the beginning (if that’s the show’s norm).

Binge-Watch Over and Over

Even though I’ve seen every episode on Netflix, I like to rewatch certain episodes to get a fix if I haven’t watched in a while. I just watch some random episode or a certain part I want to see. I do this because I have a busy life so I just watch what I can in the little time I have. I don’t suggest you do this if this is your first time watching. You need to see all the excitement at least once. Once you somewhat understand storylines, you can binge, random episode binge, and random section binge to your little heart’s desire.

I liked the parts with the “Mo’s Secret Recipe” sign and when Queen Xhan tells Jo how to be a good leader. I wrote down the leadership steps to consider how these can be applied to my own experiences (if any). I need that “Mo’s Secret Recipe” sign for my kitchen. 

A Jammin’ Soundtrack

Every song on the soundtrack is a banger. I’m listening to the season 1 soundtrack as I type this. It gets better in season 2 with all the kickin’ space-themed techno music. I enjoyed Andy Bean’s music composing for Wander over Yonder. He outdoes himself composing for Kid Cosmic. I love ‘70s punk bands. Dr. Fang and the Gang (despite being fictional) is a new one I just started admiring greatly. 

I Called It…It’s Gooooooood!

Wrong! More than goooooood, as predicted in a previous post. Kid Cosmic is FANTASTIC! Craig McCracken and his crew outdo themselves again. There’s a season 3 in the works. Too bad it’s going to be the last season. But hey, they say all good things must come to an end. We’ll just find something else just as gre…OH WAIT, nothing will be as great as this show. There will be nothing else like it. Prove me wrong. C’mon, I CHALLENGE YOU!

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The New World of Tooned In Season 2

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Posted: 30 December 2021

Tooned In Season 2 / Nickelodeon / 17 September 2021 – TBA

It’s the Tooned In we know and love from earlier this year, just some minor changes.

OK, make those MAJOR changes. They gave Nicky a co-host and made him the main host. 

 This is Dudley Puppy… uhm… Spencer…cough cough…Jerry Trainor. As of now, he’s just OK as a host. I thought Nicky was just fine hosting on his own. I thought the concept of an AI host was innovative. Adding a human host is just going backward. Some ‘90s game shows reflect this dynamic such as Legends of the Hidden Temple (Kirk Fogg (now Cristela Alonzo) and Olmec) and the obscure Pick Your Brain (Marc Summers (yes, from Double Dare) and 2XL robot (a popular toy from the ‘70s-‘90s)).

A Couple Changes

Most of the game segments are similar to season 1. There are new types of games as well. Each game segment is differently themed like in the previous season. One of the new games involves the contestants looking through a container to find an item (often covered in slime) and answering a question about it. Cartoon Cosplay and the Nicktoon Nick Goon are gone completely. The speed round (All the Answers) and Climb or Slime remain. These games are mostly Nicktoon trivia of the most recent Nicktoons (that I can barely answer, usually with an educated guess). Nicky slimes the contestants whenever he wants, regardless of whether an answer is correct or not. Nobody is immune to the slime.

Why 2 hosts?

It seems that there have been some budget cuts when it comes to producing Nicky. These season 2 episodes are a bit difficult and time-consuming to watch so it’s hard for me to find some examples. One that stands out is that the producers felt a human host was needed. I would like to learn about the thought process of these decisions (of which I may never find out).

So…

With Jerry as co-host, it’s double the annoyingness (for lack of a better word). Nicky can be just as loud and annoying but I can’t stay mad at him for that cuz…he’s Nicky! The game is still fun to play at home. The format has changed a bit from season 1 to keep the show’s rhythm fresher. I’m still wondering why they felt Nicky needed a co-host.

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Experience the Medieval Fantasy of Disenchantment

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Posted: 14 January 2021

Disenchantment / Netflix / 2018 – Present

My summary from the 2018 post:

“From what I understand from watching the trailers and other related videos, the show is about Princess Bean who is to be married off for political reasons. She is also an alcoholic due to daddy issues and the fact that her brother is next in line to be king. She and her companions Elfo (an elf) and Luci (her personal demon) go on adventures together. The show takes place in the kingdom of Dreamland. That’s the best description I can give for now.”

I remember in July 2018 I was excited for Disenchantment to be released onto Netflix. By that time, I lost access to the Simpson episodes on which I grew up (like season 1 all the way up to season 15). Watching Disenchantment made me long for the days my Fox affiliate would play the Simpsons reruns. Obviously, this is a Matt Groening show because of the art style (overbites, round noses). Very appealing! When I finished the first part for the second time, I migrated to streaming Futurama episodes. That filled in the gap while I waited for more episodes.

An Adventure for the Eyes

This show looks stunning on my HD TVs, especially my big screen. The sights, especially the pannings around Dreamland, are breath-taking. I’m experiencing the latest Netflix app. It makes it really easy to binge-watch shows with the skip intro/skip recap/watch credits/next episode buttons. It makes it easier to watch more than one episode in one night (and to watch as I type this review). I’m rewatching some episodes since it’s been a while since I last watched this show (since I finished watching part 2 just once).

An Evolving Style

I don’t hate this show however I enjoyed part 1 over part 2. Probably because part 1 had more humor. Part 2 had more drama and doesn’t feel like an animated sitcom like what they tried to do in part 1. I’m sure there will be something light-hearted about the part 3 storyline. I’ll find something to love about it. I think it’s the fact that it’s animated for HD and the characters are in Matt Groening’s style that keeps me coming back. The Celtic/Medieval music from Mark Mothersbaugh is really a deal maker for me because it sounds lovely. With this medieval theme, doesn’t this show make you want to dress up and go to the Renaissance Festival?

The Characters Make The Show

There is no character I necessarily hate. They are all likable. It’s a shame that Dagmar is evil. I like her voice. But, hey, this show can’t be 100% perfect. It needs a protagonist.

Part 3 of Disenchantment comes out tomorrow on Netflix. I’m going to watch it!

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The Loud House Gets Schooled!

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Posted 22 December 2020

The Loud House/Nickelodeon/Episode air date: 11 September 2020

In this season 6 premiere, Lincoln and his friends begin middle school. Complaining about the undesirable conditions of his classroom, Lincoln complains then ends up in a school in Canada. All this amid all other changes in the Loud household including Lori going to college and Lily going to preschool.

–Summary by Vic’s Review

Potential for a Musical?

Upon arriving at middle school, Lincoln and his friends break into a singing number (“We Got This”). Later, after Lincoln enters Canada for the first time, another song is sung (“Welcome to Canada”). If this were supposed to be a musical, shouldn’t there be more songs? Perhaps this special had the potential to become a musical. There could have been a “We Got This” reprise at the end.

Both songs were written by Doug Rockwell. He also performed “Welcome to Canada.” He also wrote every other song in this series (the theme song and songs in the other specials including all the songs in the episode “Really Loud Music”). Yep, they’re songs that complement the series well.

If that was Asher Bishop (the current Lincoln) singing in “We Got This,” he sure did put a lot of heart in his singing.

Leni’s Subplot

Leni has never been cuter in this entire series than in this episode. Even though Lori wasn’t around to regulate her wardrobe She wore a really cute, mismatched outfit. She rode a daycare bus to a school she thought was her own. Our classic, air-headed Leni!

The Portrayal of Canada

As I previously mentioned in previous posts, I like Canadian things, including Canadian TV. Riding a moose is on my bucket list and I haven’t ice skated in years. Taking a trip to Canada will help me check off those list items. I’m sure that in reality, processes in real life for Lincoln to attend school in another country are more complex than what was portrayed. Are there really students who arrive at school on moose-back? Can you really get thrown out of the country for turning down maple syrup? Those questions spark my curiosity. Perhaps moving to Canada sounds interesting right about now.

An Enjoyable Piece for the Back to School Season

In this first hour-long adventure, attention was drawn to the fact that Royal Woods, Michigan is located near the Canadian border. They use that fact to develop a story. This was a very entertaining episode overall. This special is sure to pave the way for future changes in the Loud House universe. Even if you’ve graduated from school long ago, can you still enjoy this special? “Yes, you CAN…ada” (yes, I stole a joke from Lynn Loud, Sr.).

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Total Drama: A Preteen’s First Reality Show

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Posted: 2 October 2020 

The Total Drama Series / Teletoon/Cartoon Network / 2007-Present 

Watched from 25 February 2020 – 10 June 2020 

What was the first reality show you ever watched? 

Total Drama was a series that lasted for many seasons. I have a lot to say about it but if I were to express them all, I’d be writing a novel. Here are some brief thoughts and recommendations. 

In the Total Drama Series, Chris McLean hosts a reality show starring a group of teenage contestants (often called campers (Total Drama Island), actors (Total Drama Action), etc…) They compete in various challenges (often dangerous ones) in hopes of not getting eliminated and winning thousands of dollars. While competing, the episodes highlight details of the “Total Dramas” between 2 or more contestants. These are often attempts to get one another eliminated. 

The Best Piece of Reality TV Satire…Ever! 

The show began in 2007 with “Total Drama Island” as the first series. Twenty-two teenagers competed for a large cash prize. The first series was a true classic! Each character had a purpose. In later seasons, it’s like the writers stopped caring because it felt like the seasons didn’t have the same charm as their predecessors. The seasons were much shorter and quicker. There were many throw-away characters. You’d pray certain characters would be first to get eliminated (and those prayers would usually get answered). Also, whenever the winner was revealed in later seasons, it just ended. The series ends in a scene with the winner holding the suitcase of money and Chris announces the end of the competition (namely in “Pahkitew Island”). 

Also, as the seasons changed, Chris became more and more of a madman, getting him arrested in the process (end of “Revenge of the Island”). Really, I think he’s hot and he knows he’s hot. Who’s ever heard of the kind host who cares about his contestants? 

All the bleeping and censored nudity adds authenticity. There is even uncensored barf. This would not go well with American censors. It seems like the Canadian censors are more lenient. If you initially watched on Cartoon Network, you may have realized later about the edits, mostly hearing less bleeping.  

The show is clearly Canadian (animation tells all). Throughout the series, I learn about places in Canada (Muskoka, Ontario, near where Camp Wawanakwa was located), the types of people (“Prairie People”), and I learned some slang words, too. That makes me want to learn all about Canada. Also, the word “Pahkitew” is Cree for an explosion. 

The Ridonculous Race 

In this Total Drama Spin-off, a different path is taken. They do an animated version of the hit reality show, “The Amazing Race” and I thought it went well. Don (the new host) does have some vanity in him. In “Ridonculous” not enough seasons were made to show if Don is really, really insane. If you were to close your eyes and play the first few seconds of an “Amazing Race” episode versus the beginning of a “Ridonculous” episode, you wouldn’t notice a difference. The audio qualities are similar and…let’s say they really nailed it on a type of audio a typical reality show should have. 

Total DramaRama 

I’ve seen a couple episodes and I think this is a cute series. I was a daycare kid myself so I can relate. They didn’t want the Total Drama franchise to die so they created this series to keep it alive. Great idea! 

Want to spark your interest in reality TV? 

Whether you’re wondering about the seasonal pattern of a reality show or just want to laugh at the types of people that are on it, this show is for you! This show can also serve as a preteen’s first “reality show,” paving the way for any live-action reality shows they may choose to watch later on. This is a great show to watch if you like reality show satire.  

What was my first reality TV show? Mine was “Looking for Love: Bachelorettes in Alaska” (FOX, Summer 2002). Of course you haven’t heard of it, it was bad and it lasted one season. I’m not really into reality TV because most reality shows tend to get a bit tense for me. I mostly enjoy the business improvement reality shows like Kitchen Nightmares (FOX, 2007-2014 (US version)), Hotel Hell (FOX, 2012-2016), and Hotel Impossible (Travel Channel, 2012-2017). Watching all these reality shows beforehand helped me understand, appreciate, and find humor in what “Total Drama” is mocking. 

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It’s Pony When Pony Teaches Public Speaking

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Posted 29 August 2020

Dad’s Speech / It’s Pony / Premiered: 27 August 2020 / Nickelodeon

This week, Nickelodeon aired a week of premieres for “It’s Pony.” The episode “Dad’s Speech” stood out to me. 

Annie volunteers her father to speak to her class about farming. George Bramley knows a lot about farming but has trouble speaking about it in large groups. Pony teaches George how to face his public speaking fears leading to bizarre results.

–Summary by Vic’s Review

Public speaking is a common fear among certain individuals. This especially applies to Annie’s dad who is a farmer. Farming doesn’t frequently involve public speaking. When George begins to take lessons from Pony, he gets a bit too confident becoming the same troublemaker as Pony. This episode gives tips on how to overcome public speaking anxiety. These tips include not getting embarrassed or flustered and having good voice projection. Pony has all of these qualities.

I personally don’t mind public speaking but I would suggest this episode for those who do (but they shouldn’t act like Pony when overcoming their fears). I liked it when George cracked that joke about the tomato and the salad dressing. Whenever I hear Annie’s classmate Henrietta speak, I hear Mandy’s voice (from “The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy” (Cartoon Network, 2003-2008 (separate series))). Grey DeLisle-Griffin used Mandy’s voice for Henrietta’s voice. I haven’t rated individual episodes in a while. Should I carry on with the star system or just say whether I suggest this episode or not? I’ll just say if you have issues with public speaking, just watch this episode and remember its events. This episode doesn’t formally teach public speaking but can quell the fears for those that have them.

Note: Yes, I have retired the star system for my ratings. The star system was widely used in my old blog and has become outdated. Yeah, I might just do suggestions rather than rate a show from 1-5. 

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What Happened to the Old Rugrats?

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Posted: 17 August 2020

Rugrats / Nickelodeon / 1991-2004

Watched newer episodes (Passover episode and onward) in sequence from 9 December 2019 – 24 February 2020

Rugrats, one of three of the original Nicktoons to air in 1991, played a major role in my childhood. These notable babies inspired some of the games I played and the color palette of the artwork was very appealing to me. When the newer episodes started airing in 1997, I was just happy to see new episodes. Later on, I began to realize that these new episodes and the changes that came with them were not all welcomed by everyone. Having watched these episodes recently made me realize that Rugrats became a different show with a different direction than the “classic 65” episodes. The show had its high points during the remainder of its run though it lasted way too long and should have ended before it became too stale.

Old Crew, Where Are You?

Comparing the difference between the feel of the old and new episodes, they have a different feel to them. The old series had simple story lines and inconsistent art styles. The newer episodes were more colorful, had faster-paced stories, and more uniform artwork (thanks to the use of computers). The older episodes remind me of my earlier childhood with the “tinker toy music,” the “washed out” artwork, and the dialogue style used. I feel like I’m in my comfy place when I think of all of that. The newer episodes just don’t have that.

All the magic went away when Paul Germain and his team left the show. The “magical” talent of those team members was dispersed through many later projects including “Hey Arnold” (Craig Bartlett, Steve Viksten, Joe Ansolabehere), “Aaah! Real Monsters” (co-creator Peter Gaffney), and the notorious “Disney’s Recess” (“Created by Paul and Joe,” they also stole

themselves a composer, Denis M. Hannigan). If I want to see more of that “classic 65” charm of the old Rugrats, I’ll just watch more Recess.

New Characters, More Changes

During this second half of the series, two notable, new characters were introduced, Dil and Kimi. I was happy to see Rugrats spawning movies and I enjoyed them as a child. Later on I began to realize the movies were not the best. However, Dil and Kimi did not cause Rugrats to “jump the shark.” It was the change in writers that made the characters seem not who we remember. It was not the Rugrats I remember from the past.

Also, remember that time when Chuckie got a new voice? Sometime in 2001, Chuckie’s original voice, Christine Cavanaugh, retired from voice acting so she was replaced by Bart Simp—I mean Nancy Cartwright. Comparing their voices is like comparing cinnamon apples (Christine) and caramel apples (Nancy). I love me a nice dish of warm cinnamon apples but cold and sticky caramel apples are just too sweet for me. Can you guess which Chuckie I prefer? If you guessed Christine’s, you’re right! It’s the version of Chuckie I’ve grown to love and she made Chuckie pronounce Tommy as “Tobby.” You won’t get that with Nancy. Her Chuckie is too high-pitched, nasally, and whiny. Sometimes I hardly notice a difference but when I think about it, I just can’t stand hearing it.

Lived Past Its Prime

These newer episodes are OK. They’re not as great as the old episodes. The show did not have to return. The reason it did return was that people were writing to Nickelodeon telling them how much they miss Rugrats. By popular demand (and the prospect of more $$money$$), Rugrats returned. They’re not as memorable as the “Classic 65” but they were just OK. One of the main things that gave Rugrats its shape through the years was the music from Mark Mothersbaugh and his team from the “tink-tink-tink”s to the “bah-bah-bah”s. It’s what made Rugrats, Rugrats. If everything has been said and shown in the Rugrats universe, why must the franchise return in 2021? It’s not necessary. Don’t get me started on “Rugrats Go Wild.” That was unnecessary. Ugh. I may or may not talk about that in a separate post.

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“Yoopy doop!” Ollie’s Pack Thoughts

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Posted: 26 July 2020 

“Ollie’s Pack” is one of Nickelodeon’s newest shows. Like “It’s Pony,” it’s not based on an existing property or a consumer product so that’s part of what drives me to this show. This show was produced by Nelvana. I grew up with Nelvana shows in the past but in recent years, it’s like these Nelvanas have been mediocre. Because they’re showing this on Nickelodeon, I’m bypassing these factors and giving this a go. I don’t know why I keep watching “Ollie’s Pack,” I just watch it to feel younger. 

Character/Overall Design 

I’m glad the design didn’t turn out like its pilot short “Monster Pack.” The design of that short was just horrendous. If you’ve ever seen “Cupcake and Dino” (Netflix, 2018) (also created by OP’s co-creator, Pedro Eboli), you’ll see the design is similar to “Ollie’s Pack.” Thank Mark Satterthwaite for the same feel on both shows. The design is not my favorite, but it helps with the show’s individuality on Nickelodeon. Also, I’m not a huge fan of the techno, video game-like music. Sounds more suited toward “Glitch Techs” (Netflix, 2020-present) (yes, I’m currently watching that, too). However, I will have a certain title card cue music in my head that I think is neat. 

Canadian Through and Through 

Without looking at the credits, there are clues throughout this series that prove this show is Canada-based. Some of those clues include a hockey stick in Ollie’s room and some French phrases Ollie slides into his speech (je ne sais quoi, joie de vivre). I have a thing for Canadian animation. Even as a young girl, I could sense a Canadian show just by watching a few minutes of the show. That’s another thing that keeps me coming back to watch this show. The theme song’s singer seems to have a Canadian accent to top it all off. 

Try It! 

Don’t be too quick to give up on this show. The later episodes seem better. This show has grown on me somehow. It could be the fact I have access to Nickelodeon and watching these newer, original Nick shows make me feel younger. It’s good to know Nickelodeon is green-lighting more original shows rather than shows based on popular movies which is what drove me away from Nick in the first place (around 2007). Like I said about, “It’s Pony,” please support Nickelodeon’s original shows. It will encourage them to make more shows that we can potentially try and like.  

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Get to Know Wander Over Yonder

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Posted: 28 February 2020

Wander Over Yonder / Disney Channel and Disney XD / 2013-2016

Recently Watched From July 8, 2019-August 6, 2019

Wander Over Yonder is one of the few Disney animations made in the early 2010’s I can tolerate. I’m glad I found it a couple months into its run. What drew me to it was the fact it was created by Craig McCracken (also created “PowerPuff Girls,” “Foster’s Home…”). The biggest problem was that I didn’t have the Disney XD channel so I had to watch 1 or 2 episodes at a time on the website (the same way I started with Gravity Falls). I was a bored, broke college kid who couldn’t afford fancy cable so I needed my fix of episodes when they rotated the episodes every 2 weeks. Luckily, when I got a job, I was able to buy all the seasons available on YouTube.

How Did I Like It?

I found out about this show early July 2014 (10 months after the initial premiere) after someone mentioned the name in a YouTube comment. After watching the intro for the first time, I wanted more. The show was still pretty young at the time so there was still so much more the writers had yet to reveal to us. The Wander character himself made me feel happy and optimistic. Wander teaches us and the other characters one main lesson: with positivity, tough times will pass.

I used to think Lord Hater was the best villain ever conceived. He wasn’t really that mean but he was evil enough. He had cool things (a cool bedroom, a torture chamber, a cool spaceship). Commander Peepers and the army of Watchdogs were cool, too. He was the best until Lord Dominator showed up (whose female). Despite taking his #1 spot on the galactic villain leaderboard, Hater developed a drooling crush on Dominator because of how evil she is. This domination (no pun intended) turned Hater into a weaker villain but he and Commander Peepers became quite an awesomely close (and loud) duo. It made me forget they had an army of Watchdogs who were after Wander and Sylvia.

Do I Want It Back?

I’ve heard numerous reasons for Wander’s cancellation ranging from availability to the cost of production. All in all, this show is all-around expensive. I’m not shelling out money for a channel that hardly shows my favorite shows at reasonable times. If this show had more exposure, namely for those who can’t afford Disney XD, it would be very popular. This show had so much potential for more viewers and a line of merchandise. I’d buy a Wander backpack for myself. Too bad that potential was never explored. As for a revival any time soon, all I have to say is it had its run. The cancellation gave me more time to watch all the episodes. All I say we can do now is find a similar show just as good but unique in its own way. It might not be right away, but you’ll know when you’ve found it.

Give this show some love!

I feel Wander Over Yonder wasn’t exposed enough during its three-year run. It would be quite a phenomenon had it become more popular; more or less a competitor for Nickelodeon’s Spongebob Squarepants. I really hope this show never becomes forgotten. As a die-hard “Foster’s Home…” fan, I think this show exceeded the expectations that “Foster’s” had set. This show gets 4 stars (the show ended with slightly lower quality than how it started but it was still great). Even if it costs several bucks, buy some episodes of this show, watch them, and you will start smiling.

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