As befits the first episode of a series, we have on display here an ideal type of THE FORMULA in action. We have a RED HERRING in the first 30 seconds, as we should. And it is the most basic and essential red herring for it to be, the red herring from which all future red herrings will evolve: namely, The monster has NOT just appeared, it was actually just HIS BIG SISTER TRYING TO SCARE HIM. And not only do we have THE TWIST, we then right after have THE TWIST UPON THE TWIST. As in: “the parents are the monsters after all!” Followed by: “So is the protagonist!” And as is suitable in the first installment of this sub-”The Outsider” series, the twist in this episode is in fact the original, the primordial twist, the twist that started it all: the one in which THE HERO WAS THE MONSTER ALL ALONG!
Also, this being the first episode, it seems like they are trying just a little bit harder on the writing. Just a little bit. We have endearing flashes of wit. Here and there.
Also, already in this first episode we are starting to see one of the things that makes this show actually kind of admirable, for all its unevenness and laziness: namely, its total lack of awkwardness and self-consciousness around the possibility of female/male friendship. The show totally normalizes this for kids, and never tries to hint that there must be some incipient romantic interest at the heart of it. Few have done the same, before or since.
Also interesting – and out of character, as the series will develop (if that’s the word) – that someone appears to actually die at the end of the episode. And, in fact, to be ingested. That took stomach.
No OOTS this time, that I could see (or hear). But they are coming.
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