Superman on Television
Krypto The Superdog: Episode Reviews
Season 1 - Episode 9: My Uncle, the Superhero/Top Dog
Reviewed by: Felix Vasquez
Actors & Roles this episode:
Samuel Vincent - Krypto
Alberto Ghisi - Kevin
Nicole Oliver - Kevin's Mom
Brian Drummond - Streaky the Cat
Tabitha St. Germain - Andrea/Melanie
My Uncle, the Superhero
Written by: John LoyDirected by: Scott Jeralds
The problem I've had with this show of late is while it's been established that Streaky is basically a sidekick to Krypto, and has the same powers due to the ray being reflected off him in "The Streaky Story", he hardly ever goes along with the heroics, but basically this episode forces him to when Streaky tests his image in front of his nephew. While Streaky is rummaging through a trash can, he gets a knock at the top and opens it to see his nephew. Streaky tells his nephew that the trash can is really his secret fortress. Being a superhero his nephew naturally follows him around and doesn't really know that he hasn't lived up to the heroics he promises. His nephew desperately wants to see him fight bad guys, and while a garbage truck swerves out of control, Streaky gets into action to save the truck having Krypto pretend that he basically calls the shots but, naturally, things just seem to go wrong for him.
When he goes to save the garbage truck, the driver is allergic to cats and knocks Streaky into the cockpit. There's even more trouble ahead as there's a bank robbery downtown and Krypto and Streaky have to save the day. The nephew watches while Streaky plays superhero, trying to stop the bank robbers, but ending up catching the wrong guy in a funny sequence and really just ends up foiling a real crime in the process. In an even more tumultuous twist of events, a dam bursts in the middle of a farm and now its up to Streaky to save the day or risk losing his image in front of his nephew. I hardly ever dislike episodes that focus solely on Streaky because he's a pretty funny supporting character and adds humor and wackiness to the show which it clearly lacks in the midst of the stories. This was a good one adding a bit more depth as he tries to prove himself in front of his nephew, and the episode ends with a most welcome twist as Streaky proves to his nephew he really is a true blue hero.
Top Dog
Written by: John LoyDirected by: Scott Jeralds
At downtown Metropolis, during a gala premiere of "Thundermutt", a dog superhero action movie, Thundermutt himself arrives ready to cast his feet in cement. There's an accident as Thundermutt's giant billboard snaps, nearly falling on him. He is saved by Krypto who unfortunately puts him to shame as he hides his face in the cement. Angered and embarrassed by Krypto's accidentally humiliating him, he sulks over the television but is suddenly interrupted by Snooky Wookums who come to his door and makes him a most generous offer, a super-powered costume which enables him to outdo Krypto in every way as a superhero. Thundermutt makes it on the scene as a superhero saving people, and Krypto watches, impressed by his efforts, and Thundermutt begins his reign as superhero saving out of control trains and stopping bank robberies.
Despite Kevin feeling threatened, Krypto is optimistic that there is another superhero in town to help with his patrolling, and Thundermutt wants to keep doing good, but Snooky Wookums demands he do favors for Mekanikat and Thundermutt resists, but Wookums shows she controls the suit instead of him. I really like Snooky Wookums and the whole sub-plot with Mekanikat as a recurring villain for the series. Despite the series' mild shortcomings, it does manage to show some potential with the possibility of a bigger plot at hand, though for a show aimed at youngsters all it is, is basically wishful thinking really. It'd be much better if the writers managed to concoct more epic stories that interconnect rather than just other short adventures that never really glue together, and remain as just mild segments. They have recurring characters, and recurring villains, and recurring incidents, why not show a more recurring story?
There's still so much that can be done with this show both plot-wise and with the concept which can serve for some great ideas for the writers if they would break out from the simple storytelling and delve into more fantastic situations. It's not beyond the realm of understanding, or beyond toddler's imaginations to feature larger plots that are also still very simple, it's been done before with shows aimed at young audiences like "Atomic Betty", and "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" which kept their simplicity while showing more story and character emphases which this show lacks. However, it was a decent episode this time around with another competitive adversary courtesy of Snooky Wookums, and Thundermutt was also a very humorous offering this time with his prima donna antics.
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