Hey, everyone. So, once again, personal family problems delay me from my normal things. I had to take care of my pops as his back went out on Sunday. If it's not one thing, it's another. Well, thankfully, he's doing better. I'm still at my Dad's place staying in close company, just in case. In the meantime, I'm using my grandmother's laptop more than usual, so I'm able to continue working on my comic and I'll be providing this week's Sonic Boom review and...
Gotta say, I'm a bit disappointed with this one. Maybe it's because it's a back to school style episode in the middle of summer. Maybe because, compared to last week's episode which was Eggman focused as well, this just didn't get as much laughs from me. Maybe it didn't have Team Sonic do much in this episode. Or maybe it could be that one of the bits made them do a very painful-to-my-ears musical number almost reminiscent to freakin' High School Musical in the early part of the episode!
In any case, here's my review for the latest Sonic Boom episode, which aired on July 8th, 2017.
"Mister Eggman"
The episode starts with Eggman perusing the Danger Co. Deadly Equipment Warehouse (The very same place he once had Orbot & Cubot rob in the "Buster" episode) and picks up a multi-pack of ion diffusers. He goes to actually purchase this and is told by the cashier that he must show his credentials as he must have a doctorate in evil science to shop here. Eggman said the last time he threatened someone's family to bypass that rule. The cashier, saying it was him, said that since he got divorced, his threats are pretty much meaningless as he's got nothing left to lose. (Damn, that was dark.) Eggman then told Orbot to print out his transcript. As soon as Eggman gives it to him, the cashier says that, according to this, he is 2 credits short of the graduation requirement. So it turns out, he's not actually a Doctor. (Not that surprising... I mean, Eggman did say he's not a real doctor back at the very 1st episode.) Eggman, frustrated by this, leaves. Then Staci (We find out later that it is Staci. Once again, creators, different color head scarfs to tell the 2 apart, please!) sees and hears this and decides to call and tell Perci. (Cue the annoying musical sequence. You know, I understand it's for parody purposes and all, but after providing such awesome songs in "Planes, Trains, and Dude-Mobiles", why take a step backwards and give us... this?) So, after that headache inducer, the whole dang village is now aware of Eggman's lack of an academic achievement as they all start muttering about this at Meh Burger as Eggman enters the restaurant. He asks for a double Meh Burger, but Dave gives him the usual non-caring attitude, with double the amount of sarcasm, causing the crowd to laugh. As Eggman proclaimed he'll destroy them all for their disrespect, Tails said "You and what doctorate!" And Sonic added that he'd better write a prescription for that sick burn, except that he can't! (Okay, that bit was pretty funny. :D ) Dave then has the hippo bouncer (from "Battle of the Boy Bands" and "Planes, Trains, & Dude-Mobiles") throw Eggman out as the villagers cheered! A few seconds later, Eggman comes back in his Egg Mobile, armed with a laser. Sonic makes quicker-than-usual quick work by breaking it in one spin attack and said "Didn't we just throw you out, Mister Eggman?" (Okay, that was pretty funny, too. :D ) Eggman flies away in frustration. Back at his base, he explained that this was the worst day of his life, even worse than when he was a judge for a tofu cook-off. Orbot then suggested that he could go back to school and earn those 2 credits to which Eggman said that it sounded hilarious (To me, it wasn't) and he can finally take Professor Kingsford's class as he was the most feared and respected professor of evil on campus. He also added that he had the nickname "The Goat Herder," as he would always pick one student out of the class and mercilessly wail on him throughout the entire semester. The next day, Eggman overslept as his alarm didn't go off as he scrambled to get to his evil class. At said class, we see Charlie, Belinda, T.W. Barker, and the L.B.S., minus the tree spy, oh, excuse me, The Chameleon. Eggman manages to make it just in the nick of time. As Eggman makes it to his seat, a rather intimidating looking bulldog enters. Given his fancy appearance, it's clear that this is Professor Kingsford. As Eggman sat, he accidently drops his pencil. Kingsford sees this and immediately asks if he could recollect anything from an old (and obscure) battle between old and obscure hero and villain. No surprise here, Eggman is deemed the official goat of the class. Meanwhile, we see Team Sonic just... lounging on beach chairs, completely bored. Amy commented that they'll have plenty of things to do during Eggman's failure montage. (I like fourth wall breaking jokes as much as the next dude, but... this was just lazy...) As such, we see a montage of Eggman having troubles with his class as he got a 0 on a test, a 0 on his blueprints, and has his diorama thrown in the trash. Meanwhile, we see Team Sonic playing soccer, riding on boards as Sonic tows them around in Blue Force One, and racing cars. (Those would make great games in the Sonic Boom series... Just sayin'...) The music playing during this montage is just as painful as the musical sequence earlier. I mean, the fact that it reminds me of "Do You Believe In Magic" is one thing, but did they really have to add lyrics to this? Just... Ugh... The scene where Eggman bangs his head on his desk is pretty much my feelings about this episode. We soon see Eggman with the L.B.S. in a study group in Dave's basement. Willie asks if everyone looked at the bulletin board to see what they had to steal for Lab Day. Eggman said all he needs to do was steal a rubber gasket. He says it'll be easy, just so long as he doesn't draw too much attention to himself. But, with Eggman being Eggman, we end up seeing him in his Egg Mobile laughing as he held the rubber ring in his hand. Team Sonic sees this and Sonic, clearly as sick and tired of this episode as I am, really, just tells them to stop Eggman or whatever... Alas, even a game of monkey in the middle with Benny Hill-like music, while slightly hilarious, couldn't bring Sonic out of this boredom funk as he asks if they could go back to drag racing as catching rings is boring. (Okay, that self aware humor is pretty funny, only because we haven't heard that in a while.) Willie and the Weasel Bandits see this and felt pity for Eggman. The next day, in the class, Professor Kingsford explains that all of the parts that were needed for Lab Day was to create a rudimentary doomsday device, but it is only a glorified paperweight if all the parts are not present... including the rubber gasket that Eggman was tasked to retrieve. But... well... yeah... Needless to say, he failed as did the class, since it was a class project. Kingsford then tells Eggman that his only hope of completing this course now is to get an A on the final test. That night, Eggman suffered a nightmare, which had him trying to answer the questions with a rubber gasket, being in his pajamas in the classroom, having everyone laugh at him, his speech replaced with goat bleats, and a giant Sonic looming over him with his own rendition of the Trix cereal tagline. (That last part was pretty funny. :) ) As Eggman was fearful that he was going to fail that final test. He then realizes he could just sneak in the classroom and steal the answer key for the test! Later, we soon see Eggman (doing his worse Tom Cruise from Mission Impossible impersonation) sneak through the ceiling and swipe the answer key from the desk. The next day, after the finals were given and Eggman confidently took it, Kingsford, after grading them, addressed Eggman, saying that on the question regarding the most efficient power source for launching a planet off its gravitational axis, he put in C. a tomato. And for the question regarding what can penetrate a nuclear ion grid, he put in B. a house fern. As Eggman tries to explain the reasoning behind this, Kingsford correctly deduces that he stole the fake answer key he planted in his desk and cheated. Eggman tries to lie until he realizes that doing that would be considered evil. Kingsford explained that since this is a course in evil, the true final exam was to steal the final exam. And since Eggman was the only one to do this, he passed! (Of all the predictable... That kind of gag you'd see in a Family Guy cutaway joke.) Later, at Village Square, we see Kingsford give the doctorate diploma to Eggman, officially making him a Doctor. The villagers watching this... didn't really care at all and just went about their business. Sonic commented that he hopes he and his friends get to do more stuff next week. (So do I, Sonic. So do I...)
So... yeah... that episode. While it wasn't as bad as the "Eggheads" episode for its scarring vision of the heroes with Eggman moustaches or "Role Models" for its annoying as hell preachy message of being a better example for children, this episode... it... it just fell apart. With the lack of the heroes' involvement, cheesy musical moments that probably shouldn't have been there, very few jokes that had me laughing, and the plot being as predictable as the seasons, I just didn't enjoy it. Simply put... this was boring. As much as it pains me to say it, this is the "Rise of Lyric" of Sonic Boom episodes. I mean, I may steer clear of episodes like "Eggheads" or "The Meteor" or "Role Models" or "Mech Suits Me" or "Flea-ing from Trouble" for quirks that bothered me, but when an episode just makes me more bored than entertained, that's very troublesome.
Like I said, I know not every episode will be epic and awesome, but I never thought I'd have such "bleh" feelings towards any episode. It just doesn't feel right... So, yeah, I agree with Sonic. I do hope they'll do more next week.
