Some of the show's concepts were a mix of good and bad, but this was one that left me very mixed. Brain's involvement sounded intriguing and true to character, but any excitement was dulled by knowing that Elmyra was going to be quite promininent in it, being somebody who dislikes Elmyra in 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain (which never did it for me as a show despite some watchable episodes) and who has never bought how anybody could find any appeal in her as there is nothing appealing about her.
"Wag the Mouse" is not one of the worst episodes of 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain'. It is also not quite one of the average (the best the show ever got, with the likes of "My Fair Brainy" and "The Icky Mouse Club") ones, Brain's presence certainly makes it better and there is a little amusement at times. It is an episode where the referencing is a bit all over the place and dates it, one overused character being not well written, where nothing feels new and the flaws here are similar to most episodes from the show.
Does "Wag the Mouse" have its good things? Yes. Brain's character writing is very well done. As has been said in reviews for the previous episodes, the character writing on the most part was really off but Brain was the exception, always amusingly deadpan and intelligent. Maurice LaMarche's voice acting is pitch perfect, in fact the voice acting in general was good.
Other than Brain, the best character is Vanity, who is the only one of the other three contestants to be interesting and not annoying. The animation has some colour and nice background detail. Did like that the ending was surprising and different to usual.
The storytelling however could have done with a lot more verve and could have been less predictable and simplistic. The premise and the setting are old and feel it in the less than energetic and unimaginative execution The writing is not witty or sharp enough, apart from moments, and also can be childish and over cute with Elmyra and Rudy. The character chemistry doesn't connect and the premise doesn't quite come together. While the ending was different, for my tastes the way Brain is treated is too cruel and doesn't fit within the rest of the episode.
While some of the referencing is fun, well the ones that are easy to spot from a young adult perspective, too many of the references are too stuck in the 90s and will go over the heads of younger audiences due to not being familiar with what is being referenced (not many people are going to recognise what the episode title refers to), some of them quite oddly adult and out of place. The animation could generally have had more boldness and polish, it looks nice but is a bit on the safe side. Even when softening her, Elmyra who is overused is still annoying with her negative character traits being too exaggerated (who is undeserving of the help that Brain laudably gives her with little acknowledgement), while Andrew is underused and Rudy is bland.
In summary, semi-watchable but not particularly good. 4/10.
"Wag the Mouse" is not one of the worst episodes of 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain'. It is also not quite one of the average (the best the show ever got, with the likes of "My Fair Brainy" and "The Icky Mouse Club") ones, Brain's presence certainly makes it better and there is a little amusement at times. It is an episode where the referencing is a bit all over the place and dates it, one overused character being not well written, where nothing feels new and the flaws here are similar to most episodes from the show.
Does "Wag the Mouse" have its good things? Yes. Brain's character writing is very well done. As has been said in reviews for the previous episodes, the character writing on the most part was really off but Brain was the exception, always amusingly deadpan and intelligent. Maurice LaMarche's voice acting is pitch perfect, in fact the voice acting in general was good.
Other than Brain, the best character is Vanity, who is the only one of the other three contestants to be interesting and not annoying. The animation has some colour and nice background detail. Did like that the ending was surprising and different to usual.
The storytelling however could have done with a lot more verve and could have been less predictable and simplistic. The premise and the setting are old and feel it in the less than energetic and unimaginative execution The writing is not witty or sharp enough, apart from moments, and also can be childish and over cute with Elmyra and Rudy. The character chemistry doesn't connect and the premise doesn't quite come together. While the ending was different, for my tastes the way Brain is treated is too cruel and doesn't fit within the rest of the episode.
While some of the referencing is fun, well the ones that are easy to spot from a young adult perspective, too many of the references are too stuck in the 90s and will go over the heads of younger audiences due to not being familiar with what is being referenced (not many people are going to recognise what the episode title refers to), some of them quite oddly adult and out of place. The animation could generally have had more boldness and polish, it looks nice but is a bit on the safe side. Even when softening her, Elmyra who is overused is still annoying with her negative character traits being too exaggerated (who is undeserving of the help that Brain laudably gives her with little acknowledgement), while Andrew is underused and Rudy is bland.
In summary, semi-watchable but not particularly good. 4/10.