C&C - The Boondocks - "Health Inspector" [12/2]

[Tienshin]

Tales from the dark side, lol.

[KBlueBiG]

What will granddad do next ?

[v1cious]

i can't stand Jazzmine's voice, but Charlie Murphy and Samuel L Jackson made this episode a plus. the whole shootout scene was funny.

does anyone know what happened to episode 5?

[delariean]

i can't stand Jazzmine's voice, but Charlie Murphy and Samuel L Jackson made this episode a plus. the whole shootout scene was funny.

does anyone know what happened to episode 5?
I THOUGHT that was his voice......knownin the unknown of the known....

[Youko Recca]

Ha, what a nice episode. Samuel L. Jackson's voice being lent couldn't come without the obligatory Pulp Fiction quote. And I wouldn't really know, but would this happen to feel the closest to the comic strip so far? It gave off what I expected from the start, a real good look at some of the inconsistencies of our world. Told in a humurous way. Cause that shootout was prety funny, but had a good moral.

[Djm912]

That was a great episode. Confusing as hell, but great.

And we got to near, not only Charlie Murphy again, but Samuel L. Jackson. This was a knockout almost from the get-go.

I just can't figure out how they knew. And I felt bad for poor Tom until I saw the lawsuit.

[Daffy Dork]

WOW. They completely screwed up what could have been an excellent story by filling half the episode with unfunny, unnecessary garbage.

Seriously, what was the point of the whole second half at the store? Nonstop shooting and a long drawn out not funny to begin with terrorist joke? It felt like it was going on forever.

However, the Tom story was rather interesting. Aside from running a done-to-death Drop the Soap in Prison gag throughout the first few minutes with no other substance, it was a great story.

For the first time in the show, I actually felt sympathy for a character. Thom was truly innocent and the policemen weren't obnoxious like most side characters, and moved the story along. Sadly, the story got barely any closure because of all that filler.

Would have been a great episode if they stayed on focus.

2/5

[Redi]

I have mixed feelings towards this episode....

I enjoyed the episode overall but I would have rather it have been Huey/Riley doing the Bart and Lisa thing and saving Tom.

But what I did get was pretty funny on its own, so I'm not really disappointed.

[v1cious]

ok is it just me? or did Adult Swim really screw up. i just looked at the schedule, and this episode wasn't even supposed to air yet.

[Juu-kuchi]

Holy crap that WAS Samuel L. Jackson, waxing one of his famous monologue in a more philosophical tone.

I did not see the terrorist cell coming. That did not stop the Wuncler and Samuel L's scenes to be rather extraneous for the most part. Luckily it meant something when the gunfight occurred, or else it would seem rather mean-spirited, even for this show.

Well apart from some scenes with them and perhaps not a good way to introduce a supporting character from the comic series (Janet), good episode. I really need to get a particular face shot of Tom DuBois crying.

[Daikun]

The pacing was horribly slow and the second half shouldn't have been produced. They dragged away from THE MAIN PLOT and expected time to take its course to correct everything at the end. This is the worst episode of the show.

[Tienshin]

DAYUM, they got Sam Jackson on board for the whole Pulp Fiction homage, that was pretty sweet, if not a little weird since he was voice acting a white guy.

My immediate impression of this episode is "funny", but they have done better. Still, good stuff. Good funny stuff.

[Zyzzybalubah]

I did notice the animation wasn't that great in this episode. I did like Samuel L. Jackson's appearance in the episode and even though he's the one who was in Pulp Fiction, that joke has been dragged out in so many things (ATHF to name one :)). I was hoping they met the X-Box killer, that would have been entertaining to see them interact with him but the terrorists were alright, I couldn't believe the convenience store guy was one. LOL

[Juu-kuchi]

I'm watching this episode again, and really how can that officer be still alive? He got punctured full of holes TWICE...

I wonder how long the "Shaky camera fad" will last anyway...

[Parco]

Was that a Monty Python reference? What the hell did I just watch?

[Tienshin]

Was that a Monty Python reference? What the hell did I just watch?

Yeah it was.

[me2foru]

Maybe it's because I was only half watching and half cleaning my house, but what the hell was going on in this episode? That entire convience store scene managed to be longer than a family guy "so long it's funny" joke, and even less funny. I can now clearly see why fox rejected this show.

[MJC]

Wow. Great episode. Although the meaning probably went over most people's head... :(

[Haywood]

This episode gets props simply for referencing Pulp Fiction and Monty Python.

Otherwise this episode was meh. A good premise that they ruined with the shootout. The rich white kids are the heroes. Surprise.

They need to focus on Huey more.

[Timmay]

Was that a Monty Python reference? What the hell did I just watch?
What Monty Python reference? :(

[Shnay]

I think certain aspects of the political/social commentary in this episode were better than most of the other comedic commentary I've seen on the subject. Whether that says more about this episode or the quality of other attempts at humorous commentary is up to you to decide.

This episode, like the show itself, had a good amount of room for improvement. There are some ground elements that work well, but a number of things still need to be refined. As others have gone into, the writing, pacing, and acting could all use some work. That said, I still find myself generally enjoying the show. It doesn't make me laugh uproariously, but it does hold my attention for a half hour. And occasionally, like tonight, it makes some interesting (though hardly original) commentary.

[tb4000]

You have the largest stick up your ass imaginable(no pun intended) if you don't laugh at Tom's constant fear of being anally raped.

[Delthayre]

Watching some of this had a sort of ironic eeriness. In a lot of ways, I'm like Tom.

Well, aside from not being handsome, thin, a successful lawyer, clean shaven, and black.

I'm not bothered about those last two.

[MJC]

Watching some of this had a sort of ironic eeriness. In a lot of ways, I'm like Tom.

Well, aside from not being handsome, thin, a successful lawyer, clean shaven, and black.

I'm not bothered about those last two.
You have an obsessive fear of being anally raped?

[Samurai]

I thought that anal-rape schtick was amusing, but that detour with the terrorist shoot-out was unnecessary (mainly because I thought the 2 white-wannabe gangsta's were annoying, even if one of them was voiced by Samuel L. Jackson).

[MGFanJay]

I loved this ep. The voice work was funny, and the shootout was pretty dramatic, and very cinematic for TV. Still, it was a bit too light on comedy. Tom's fear of being anally raped was hilarious, especially when he was turning down the joint. 3/5.

[MJC]

I thought that anal-rape schtick was amusing, but that detour with the terrorist shoot-out was unnecessary (mainly because I thought the 2 white-wannabe gangsta's were annoying, even if one of them was voiced by Samuel L. Jackson).
It wasn't really a detour. The whole thing was one big metaphor, and the thing with Tom was part of it. I'd say it just went in a different direction than you'd think.

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Great episode, it made a good statement and was really funny too. This show has quickly become a favorite of mine. 5/5

[Delthayre]

You have an obsessive fear of being anally raped? Well, not obessesive...

I suppose its more the being law abiding to the point of comic behavioral rigidity. I don't even jaywalk.

[Carl-ATHF]

This show seems to gradually be improving with each episode. Samuel L. Jackson was a nice bonus, too -- very funny stuff with his parts. My only complaint is that they never seem to know how to end an episode. Story-lines are improving, but there's not much sense of direction in 'closure' at the end of each show. And why was this episode on anyhow? My channel guide said "The Reality" or some such was tonight's episode. I've noticed that with several episodes of this show... the title/description doesn't match what's actually on.

[beren]

Ok, so I get the guy with silver W around his neck is representing dubya, the beer was the oil of course, the thing about how his dad helped build this store, the claiming he had a weapon at gunpoint to the point were people started believing it through sheer repetition, and how the insurgents are just defending themselves, the xbox killer must have been osama, they were just taking a little detour instead of catching him,do not think that I agree with all of that specificly. My question is in this disombobulated extended metaphor who was the guy with the red white and blue bandana, how does tom and his fear of getting anally raped fit into all of this , some people said they knew, so maybe you could explain it to me?

[Master Moron]

I did notice the animation wasn't that great in this episode. I did like Samuel L. Jackson's appearance in the episode and even though he's the one who was in Pulp Fiction, that joke has been dragged out in so many things (ATHF to name one :)). I was hoping they met the X-Box killer, that would have been entertaining to see them interact with him but the terrorists were alright, I couldn't believe the convenience store guy was one. LOL

Oh, he really was a terrorist? I thought the media was just portraying them as terrorists because they were arabs...but, I guess them being terrorists would explain why they had all those guns...

So, what was the Monty Python reference? I've never seen Monty Python...

[MJC]

Ok, so I get the guy with silver W around his neck is representing dubya, the beer was the oil of course, the thing about how his dad helped build this store, the claiming he had a weapon at gunpoint to the point were people started believing it through sheer repetition, and how the insurgents are just defending themselves, the xbox killer must have been osama, they were just taking a little detour instead of catching him,do not think that I agree with all of that specificly. My question is in this disombobulated extended metaphor who was the guy with the red white and blue bandana, how does tom and his fear of getting anally raped fit into all of this , some people said they knew, so maybe you could explain it to me?Dude with the bandana was Donald Rumsfeld (I'm pretty sure the whole known/unknown thing was something Rumsfeld said). Tom's situation just represents things that that Ed and his friend (the U.S, or army, or whatever) could've been preventing or helping with had they not been at the store (Iraq).

There's more to it (for example, the first part with Ed and his friend going to the building represented the unnecessary destruction in Afghanistan while looking for Osama, I think), but I don't really want to get too political.

[Tienshin]

Oh, he really was a terrorist? I thought the media was just portraying them as terrorists because they were arabs...but, I guess them being terrorists would explain why they had all those guns...


No man, that's not it.

Tom, a Black guy, got pinched for somethng he didn't do...because he supposedly fit a "description". Note that in the final scene when they showed the newspaper he looked nothing like the Xbox killer.

Meanwhile, two white guys of priviledge, go and shoot up a store for the sake of stealing beer get lauded as heroes. Also note, that the store owner mentioned he got his store up and running because of whathisface's white dad. This IS America, owning a gun is a right, not indicative of being a terrorist.

The episode set up duality, the two parts weren't irrelevant. The execution presented two extremes.


So, what was the Monty Python reference? I've never seen Monty Python...

It was a reference from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", the part when Sam Jackson's charater mentioned that the cop wouldn't die in vain.

[W1CK3D]

I give this episode a 10. I really like in the beginning where is shows him bout to get raped. That was funny apart from the wiggaz....:D I also like how they had the shootout between the terrorists...Nice effects!!

[Charlie]

That was some pretty bad animation, it was like watching a streaming video on the internet with a 56k connection (choppy, choppy, good for a minute, choppy, good for a second, choppy some more, ect.). It was funny at times but mostly bland, which seems to be a consistant tone for the whole series.

[Ajax]

You know, It's been a long time since I've heard the word anally raped said so many times. And that shower scene was hilarious, saw it coming, but still funny.

And really, theres no mistaking Sam Jacksons motherf****. The fact that he voiced a white guy threw me off, but once he said it...

[Scythemantis]

I too thought the store owners were really terrorists and the two vets actually knew what they were doing.

[Shnay]

Meanwhile, two white guys of priviledge, go and shoot up a store for the sake of stealing beer get lauded as heroes. Also note, that the store owner mentioned he got his store up and running because of whathisface's white dad. This IS America, owning a gun is a right, not indicative of being a terrorist.

The episode set up duality, the two parts weren't irrelevant. The execution presented two extremes.I think this connection can be made, but I don't think it was what the episode was shooting for. The two guys go into the store and want to take the drinks without paying. The store owner says that they can't just take what they want, so they pull out their guns. The cop sees this and objects, because using force just to get something you want isn't acceptable. So the two guys lie, saying "He's got a gun!" At first the cop doesn't see this, but after the two guys repeat it enough, he's willing to believe it. The two guys demand he disarms, but he tells them he can't get rid of a weapon he doesn't have. Perhaps, the store owner says, they're thinking of the Korean store owner down the street. With the cop convinced the store owner has a gun, the two guys are free to start shooting. They're quite surprised when the store's employees start shooting back. Under unexpected fire, they continue to spout the same rhetoric rather than admitting to their failures or adjusting their plan. Huey begins to question why this robbery was neccessary and why they didn't plan on such resistance from the employees, to which they answer that you can't question a robbery plan during a robbery. The two men finally emerge from the robbery, leaving the store in ruins and a few people killed or injured. Instead of questioning their reason for causing this chaos and destruction, the general public hails them as heroes and buys into the lies they provided.

Each event of the robbery is set up to be a parallel to some element of the war in Iraq...or at least McGruder's view of it (and, as the rules dictate, let's just leave it at "McGruder's view"). This was the episode's main point, and I think Tom's story was there to set the robbery scene up, provide a "side commentary" about profiling, and allow for some easy jokes about teh *********. You could make some loose connections between Tom's story and the war commentary (such as larger issues of profiling or having the real culpret "strike again" while holding someone else), but I think they work better seperately, and I suspect that was the show's intent.

[maczero]

Here's my attempt at breaking down this ep's political metaphors (let me know if I missed something):

Tom being mistakenly arrested = 9/11
X-Box Killer = Osama Bin Laden
Wunceler the III = George W. Bush
Gin Rummy = Rumsfeld or Cheney (possibly both)
Wunce & Gin roughing up random black folks for information = the Patriot Act
Robbing the liquor store = invading Iraq
Beer = Oil
Store owner = Saddam Hussein
Wun & Gin's insistence that the store owner had a gun = Our administration's belief that Saddam had WMD's
The confused cop = the countries that supported our invasion or possibly UN
Store employees = Iraqi army
Tom being freed but the X-Box killer actually getting away & killing someone else = Using our military to free Iraq but forgetting our original plan of going after Osama & Al-Qaeda

Does that sound about right?

Anyway, I didn't like it. The animation was really poor compared to the previous eps. It sorta looked like flash. Also, the political satire didn't play out too well. I didn't realize that it was a metaphor for current events until the show had ended. In fact, I had to peice together the list above after thinking about the show a few hours and reading other people's opinions online. Since a lot of other people didn't get the metaphor immediately, I'm gonna call it poor writing rather than me being slow.;)

The only good thing was having Charlie Murphy and Samuel Jackson work together. I'm surprised my tv didn't explode from the sheer bad@ssedness those two exude!

[Tienshin]

Each event of the robbery is set up to be a parallel to some element of the war in Iraq...or at least McGruder's view of it (and, as the rules dictate, let's just leave it at "McGruder's view"). This was the episode's main point, and I think Tom's story was there to set the robbery scene up, provide a "side commentary" about profiling, and allow for some easy jokes about teh *********. You could make some loose connections between Tom's story and the war commentary (such as larger issues of profiling or having the real culpret "strike again" while holding someone else), but I think they work better seperately, and I suspect that was the show's intent.

What I was getting at in response to master Moron was that the gentlemen in the store were not terrorists, they were just people that got pushed to an unacceptable limit and fought back. Oh I agree with yours and MJC's war allegory assesment completely. The whole story was a retelling of current events of the last few years, with a lot of clear references built in. I was actually surprised at how muted the story was in accomplishing that goal, considering how outspoken Aaron has been over the issue. I do think the two parts, one a social commentary and the other Tom's fear of getting skewered pound me in the ass prision can play off each other. But as two entities, one the setup and the other the execution they do work quite well.

I think "Grandad Fight" was the funniest episode thus far, but this one had some real satirical muscle behind it. Probably the most balanced and socially relevant episode yet.

[Redi]

I really didn't catch all of the hidden jokes the first viewing....like the Korean store having the weapons instead, or the XBox killer being like Osama, the high gas prices in the background, the real XBox killer looking nothing like Tom....Tom's wife wanting to be more "adventurous" in the bed room.

The scene with Huey, Riley, Jasmine, and Tom on the phone was very comic like for anyone wondering. Its probably the most comic-like thing they've done so far.

[Sevenfeet]

My wife and I watched the whole thing and completely missed the whole Iraq war thing. Now reading this thread, it seems obvious. Boy do I feel stupid.

Which means now a bewildering and confusing episode gets a whole lot better on the second viewing (which seems to be typical for this show).

The line that got the biggest laugh in my house?

"Nigga, I'm 10!" :)

[Underdunkt]

I didn't really catch all the metaphors either honestly. Just makes me even more impressed with this episode. I'll have to watch for all that the second time.

God, that was hysterical. I could barely stop laughing through the whole episode. Really smart and fast paced. I'm really glad I've been taping this show....I wasn't quite sure after the pilot, but this is definitely a keeper.

[Sevenfeet]

Here's my attempt at breaking down this ep's political metaphors (let me know if I missed something):

Tom being mistakenly arrested = 9/11
X-Box Killer = Osama Bin Laden
Wunceler the III = George W. Bush
Gin Rummy = Rumsfeld or Cheney (possibly both)
Wunce & Gin roughing up random black folks for information = the Patriot Act
Robbing the liquor store = invading Iraq
Beer = Oil
Store owner = Saddam Hussein
Wun & Gin's insistence that the store owner had a gun = Our administration's belief that Saddam had WMD's
The confused cop = the countries that supported our invasion or possibly UN
Store employees = Iraqi army
Tom being freed but the X-Box killer actually getting away & killing someone else = Using our military to free Iraq but forgetting our original plan of going after Osama & Al-Qaeda

Does that sound about right?

Very good. But I think the store employees are the Insurgency more than the Iraqi army. And Huey and Riley are the skeptical American public. The people outside the store cheering after the shootout are the gullible rest of the American public.

[Redi]

Very good. But I think the store employees are the Insurgency more than the Iraqi army. And Huey and Riley are the skeptical American public. The people outside the store cheering after the shootout are the gullible rest of the American public. Not exactly. Riley saw everything play out and he still ended up clapping with everyone else outside the store.

Another interesting tidbit...the contrast between the beginning of last week's episode and the end of this week's is hilarious.

2 black guys with guns + cops= dead black guys
2 rich white guys with guns + cops = cops applaud their heroism

[Underdunkt]

"Your father helped me build this store!"

Oh my god. How did I not catch that on first viewing?

Even better the second time. I'd say this is probably the new best animated show on tv....I'll see if the rest of the first season is consistent with that.

[Nelson]

"The Boondocks" has to be one of the worst animated series in the last ten years and can anyone tell me if this show is supposed to be funny????

[Tienshin]

"The Boondocks" has to be one of the worst animated series in the last ten years and can anyone tell me if this show is supposed to be funny????

No it isn't supposed to be funny. CLEARLY it is an action drama with giant robots disguised as small children cracking wise, quite the clever ruse!

If you don't have anything relevant to the talkback to add then don't post what amounts to thinly veiled flamebait.

[Inner City Blue]

Well when Tom was arrested, that wasn't because of 9/11. The killing over the Madden 2006 game was 9/11, it was the event that set the police off to round up suspects. Tom being arrested was a metaphor of the hundreds of Arab and Muslim men that were detained by the U.S. without charge. The next queue you get that the XBox killing was the event was when Huey changed the channel, the guy at the podium says, "...and so we're raising the terror alert level to intense orange-red..." as if the killing has caused the terror level to increase, thus legitamizing holding Tom in prison.

We know that Ed Wunsler III is George W. Bush because of the "W" chain around his neck. But then there was also the comment made in The Garden Party. Ed Wunsler was talking about how stupid his grandson was, but he'd still grow up to be president. But the funny touches was talking about Ed being heir to the Wunsler fortune and a drunken psychopath (a jab at Bush's alcholism and newfound "faith"). We know Ed has the firepower (i.e., Commander-in-Chief of military), but he needs help from his friend Gin Rummy (Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of WAR, when was the last time the Secretary of Defense defended anything? :p).

So they go to find the killer at the apartment building (Afghanistan) and ransack the homes and rough up the people, but they never find the killer. This is exactly what happened in Afghanistan. They went in and bombed the country silly, overthrew the government there, put a new leader in, but never found bin Laden. It was also the time Administration stop mentioning bin Laden altogether, and this just goes onto the next part, the "detour."

Of course the story is reworked a bit to make sense, in line with a robbery, but all the elements are there. Aladdin Hussein is Saddam Hussein, his employees are the insurgents, and the cop is the American opinion. All the quotes made by the store owner here are just hilarious.

Hussein: "Ed, your father helped me build this store."
Rummy: "I don't know you motherf****!"
http://www.garygordonproductions.com/images/aphandshake.jpg

"There is no weapon, look." (UN inspectors went in, they didn't find anything.)

"I can't give you a weapon I'm not holding, you must be thinking of the Korean shop, not of here." (North Korea and their nuclear weapons)

Then there's the whole dynamic of getting the cop to point his gun at Hussein. The cop is American opinion and the buildup to the shootout is the whole drumbeat to war. At first no one registered Saddam Hussein as being a threat, but they kept beating the drums, hence the phrase, "Officer, this motherf**** gotta gun pointed at you, do you wanna die?" (We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud). Of course the officer is still skeptical, and that's why Ed shouts, "Whose side are you on, mine, or this motheref****, whose obviously of terrorist descent?!" (You're with us or you're with the terrorists). It's right then and there that you see the cop point his gun at Hussein and he says, "I think I can see the gun now." So now they have US popular opinion behind them and they issue the ultimatum, "You hand over that weapon on the count of 3."

And then the shootout ensues. The employees are the insurgents and this robbery is not going according to plan, the "unknown unknown." Nobody expected the people to shoot back at them, but what did they expect when they came to rob the store? Kind of like the US invading Iraq with the "happy Iraqi" scenario not playing out and finding themselves in a war against insurgents. A lot of people think the war is just for oil so they are fighting against the US military because they don't want a puppet government there.

But of course, the best part about this whole shootout is when Huey says, "This has nothing to do with our original plan," (catching XBox Killer/Bin Laden). But robbery etiquette dictates, "You don't criticize a robbery plan during the actual robbery, you have to wait until the robbery's over." Another thing that sticks out is that once the shootout begins, the officer is the military so that's why he got shot up. And when Rummy is talking to officer about dying in vain while forgetting his name, it's probably about how the Administration uses the soldiers as poster boys, but doesn't really care because they don't go to their funerals. And then Ed shouting out, "Bring it on," is again talking about Bush shouting out slogans. Notice also here that Ed is shouting these phrases from behind the shelf while Fred, the officer, is out in the open, and then he gets shot down again. This whole little section is about criticism of the war and the sloganeering we see all the time from the Adminstration and the Right.

We get to the end and the front page is all about the convenience store robbery with the actual capturing of the XBox Killer and Tom suing the police low down on the page. This is all about what's happening today; Iraq is the front page news and it being tied to terrorism, but bin Laden and al Qaeda are not seen as important. The country also has allowed people to be mistreated, which is just more subtext you see with the topic of racial profiling and the Patriot Act. The cheering crowd is the oblivious public (it seems they've come around these days though).

I really liked this episode and if you missed it the symbolism the first time around, you'll really enjoy the episode the second time around. Looking at this comment:

WOW. They completely screwed up what could have been an excellent story by filling half the episode with unfunny, unnecessary garbage.

Seriously, what was the point of the whole second half at the store? Nonstop shooting and a long drawn out not funny to begin with terrorist joke? It felt like it was going on forever.

However, the Tom story was rather interesting. Aside from running a done-to-death Drop the Soap in Prison gag throughout the first few minutes with no other substance, it was a great story.

For the first time in the show, I actually felt sympathy for a character. Thom was truly innocent and the policemen weren't obnoxious like most side characters, and moved the story along. Sadly, the story got barely any closure because of all that filler.

Would have been a great episode if they stayed on focus.

2/5I think you missed the point of the entire episode. The story DOES look simple enough, but then we get the shootout, and that makes absolutely no sense, why didn't they just go finish up the thread about the XBox Killer? It fits perfectly into the commentary on Iraq, why didn't they just go after Osama bin Laden? They just up and left Afghanistan and set their sights on Iraq. The way the story made no sense is the same way the current war doesn't make any sense. That was the point of the episode.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

I kinda shrugged off the shoot out because it seems to be this shows thing to show an act of violence of some sort in every episode.

[Youko Recca]

Glad to see this stuff isn't going over peoples' heads.

[Daffy Dork]

You know what this thread is making me realize?

That Mcgruder didn't keep his promise about making the show character based.

Sure, they have stories about the characters, but they disguise them to have deep meaning and express Mcgruder's opinions.

Also.... I prefer the comic strip over the show without a doubt. I think it's probably because the strip delivers constant punchlines and does a joke once, whereas the show will extend scenes and jokes and just let them play out.

[Nelson]

No it isn't supposed to be funny. CLEARLY it is an action drama with giant robots disguised as small children cracking wise, quite the clever ruse!

If you don't have anything relevant to the talkback to add then don't post what amounts to thinly veiled flamebait.
Pardon me,

I do believe I was being polite when I made my comments regarding this series and it seems that you might have a problem with people does not like the show, thus your childish reply to my post.Let me state that I'm a fan of raunchy politcally incorrect animated humor, but this show doesn't do it for me and sorry, but the show is not funny at all.

And one other thing, I have been a member of Toon Zone for five years and the one thing I have seen that members can offer their opinions on any topic of animation, as long as they don't get out of line and be professional.

[Jave]

Pardon me,

I do believe I was being polite when I made my comments regarding this series and it seems that you might have a problem with people does not like the show, thus your childish reply to my post.Let me state that I'm a fan of raunchy politcally incorrect animated humor, but this show doesn't do it for me and sorry, but the show is not funny at all.

And one other thing, I have been a member of Toon Zone for five years and the one thing I have seen that members can offer their opinions on any topic of animation, as long as they don't get out of line and be professional.Look,

This is a talkback thread, it is expected that people that post in here have actually seen the episode in question and make an actual review of it.

Your first post was nothing but a blank statement about how much the show sucks. That's not "being polite", and it's most certainly not "professional", that's just borderline flamebaiting.

You can hate the show all you want, but if you're bringing it into the talkback at least take the time to review the episode in question (did you even watch it?). If you're just flamebaiting don't expect people to take your posts seriously, and don't be surprised if a mod PMs you after this.

[Nelson]

Look,and don't be surprised if a mod PMs you after this.I just posted my opinion on the show and yes!I have seen every single episode and I just don't like the series.Javeman, I never wrote(in my last two posts) that I hated the series nor did I say that the show sucks, but what I did say that it's one of the worst programs in the last ten years and I believe that a TZ member has every right to express themselves in the right way.I never expect people to take my or any post seriously and if I offended anyone, then I'm very sorry.

[William C. Maune]

You know what this thread is making me realize?

That Mcgruder didn't keep his promise about making the show character based.

Sure, they have stories about the characters, but they disguise them to have deep meaning and express Mcgruder's opinions.

I don't think the two ideas are mutually exclusive. The show can be character based and still have deep meaning/express Mcgruder's opinions. In fact, I'd say the true test of a great show is if it can both be character based and have deep meaning. As for whether or not Boondocks is doing that, I think the show is still finding its feel to an extent as with any show in its early episodes. That being said, I think it is well on its way to accomplishing both.

[Inner City Blue]

Pardon me,

I do believe I was being polite when I made my comments regarding this series and it seems that you might have a problem with people does not like the show, thus your childish reply to my post.Let me state that I'm a fan of raunchy politcally incorrect animated humor, but this show doesn't do it for me and sorry, but the show is not funny at all.

And one other thing, I have been a member of Toon Zone for five years and the one thing I have seen that members can offer their opinions on any topic of animation, as long as they don't get out of line and be professional.When I read your post, it seemed to have troll written all over it. It came across as a hit-and-run post totally trying to start a flame war for no particular reason. You basically came into the thread, said nothing about the episode with a post that came across as, "This show sucks, how can anyone like this crap?" I'm sorry, that's not polite, it's not cute, and I find your response here rather disingenuous.

[v1cious]

You know what this thread is making me realize?

That Mcgruder didn't keep his promise about making the show character based.

Sure, they have stories about the characters, but they disguise them to have deep meaning and express Mcgruder's opinions.

Also.... I prefer the comic strip over the show without a doubt. I think it's probably because the strip delivers constant punchlines and does a joke once, whereas the show will extend scenes and jokes and just let them play out.what show doesn't do that? hell Family Guy's done that for years, and ole Matt pretty much built his career off of it.

[Inner City Blue]

After reading an interview about McGruder and the show, I don't think they'll be doing much character-based things this first season. To me it seems like it will be a scattershot where they'll do all the crazy things they want to do just in case they don't get a second season due to heavy pressure from groups trying to get it pulled off the air. I usually give most series a pass for the first season because it's not everyday you get series like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles where the writing is just so tight from the beginning.

I'll definitely say I think this episode and the R. Kelly episode are my favorites.

[Daffy Dork]

what show doesn't do that? hell Family Guy's done that for years, and ole Matt pretty much built his career off of it.
True, Family Guy does express opinions, but they do it in a wacky way. When you look at last weeks "Nigga Moments" style, you see that Huey is talking seriously, whereas Family Guy will have Stewie do his "Oooooh God...." thing and then go off on a rant, but noone will care and the episode will continue whereas the Boondocks' core is expressing opinions and each episode is meant to show something strange or nonsensical about the world and then build a story to prove its' point.

Also, which Matt are you talking about?


I don't think the two ideas are mutually exclusive. The show can be character based and still have deep meaning/express Mcgruder's opinions. In fact, I'd say the true test of a great show is if it can both be character based and have deep meaning. As for whether or not Boondocks is doing that, I think the show is still finding its feel to an extent as with any show in its early episodes. That being said, I think it is well on its way to accomplishing both.
Very well put. And I still think this show will become great. Mcgruder just needs to not do stuff that's so current day.

[v1cious]

True, Family Guy does express opinions, but they do it in a wacky way. When you look at last weeks "Nigga Moments" style, you see that Huey is talking seriously, whereas Family Guy will have Stewie do his "Oooooh God...." thing and then go off on a rant, but noone will care and the episode will continue whereas the Boondocks' core is expressing opinions and each episode is meant to show something strange or nonsensical about the world and then build a story to prove its' point.

Also, which Matt are you talking about?


Very well put. And I still think this show will become great. Mcgruder just needs to not do stuff that's so current day.Matt Maiellaro

[Daffy Dork]

Matt Maiellaro
I don't see any opinions in Maiellaro's work. Can you give an example?

And I'm not looking for any deepness in ATHF or OZMO or any of his other stuff.

[Underdunkt]

I thought he was referring to Matt Groening...or maybe Vicious is being sarcastic. Not really familiar with Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

But yeah, I don't see how they can't do deep meaning and be character based at the same time. The best social commentaries are often the ones that bring everything to a "down to earth" level, and invest you in the story somewhat. I think "Grandad's Fight" in particular did this, as did this episode. Often the coldest, weakest satire is the satire that you can't relate to; the silly caricuatures on SNL that don't saying anything interesting, or even anything at all. This episode is much more interesting, kind of a "if what's happening in Iraq was done in this regular situation, how ridiculous would that be?" kind of thing.

[Inner City Blue]

I thought he was referring to Matt Groening...or maybe Vicious is being sarcastic. Not really familiar with Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

But yeah, I don't see how they can't do deep meaning and be character based at the same time. The best social commentaries are often the ones that bring everything to a "down to earth" level, and invest you in the story somewhat. I think "Grandad's Fight" in particular did this, as did this episode. Often the coldest, weakest satire is the satire that you can't relate to; the silly caricuatures on SNL that don't saying anything interesting, or even anything at all. This episode is much more interesting, kind of a "if what's happening in Iraq was done in this regular situation, how ridiculous would that be?" kind of thing.More like if what happened in Iraq was written as a story, it would make absolutely no sense because it seems they are ignoring the plot and pacing to have a long drawn shootout for no reason. :D

[spidl]

I thought the episode was funny just on its own merit. I caught little glimpses of the stories "point", but I did not pull it altogether. The great thing about this episode is that it works on many levels.

[Tienshin]

Pardon me,

I do believe I was being polite when I made my comments regarding this series and it seems that you might have a problem with people does not like the show, thus your childish reply to my post.Let me state that I'm a fan of raunchy politcally incorrect animated humor, but this show doesn't do it for me and sorry, but the show is not funny at all.

And one other thing, I have been a member of Toon Zone for five years and the one thing I have seen that members can offer their opinions on any topic of animation, as long as they don't get out of line and be professional.


I don't care if you have been a member here for five years or five minutes, but since you mentioned your longevity surely you MUST know the difference between posting an unfavorable opinion for a given show and posting a blanket "THIS SUCKS, HOW CAN ANYONE LIKE THIS CRAP" statement. There are examples in this thread of people who didn't care for this episode and yet you are the only one who got flagged for posting flamebait. Maybe you think that post was "professional", but I am telling you from my vantage point, it wasn't.

This is not about quashing dissenting opinions, it is simply about maintaining a certain decorum. I'll never tell someone not to post simply because I may disagree with what the have to say, so I have to take a bit of offense at you even suggesting that was why your post was pointed out. Sorry you have an issue with what has transpired, feel free to PM if you feel the need to do so. Otherwise, consider the issue dead and mind how you post in the future.

[maczero]

More like if what happened in Iraq was written as a story, it would make absolutely no sense because it seems they are ignoring the plot and pacing to have a long drawn shootout for no reason. :DAnd that's what really makes this episode so clever. After the show was over, I wondered what the heck was that. Once I recognized the political metaphors and how they reflected major events over the last few years, I finally understood the story was meant to be a train wreck. Curse you Boondocks for making me think!:D That said, I still prefer the witty sitcom with social commentary eps over the cleverly veiled political shots.

Really great insights in your original post, Innercity Blue. Do you think Huey managing to find the killer's location by simply asking questions was basically stating that we should have relied more on intelligence gathering and international cooperation to track down Osama rather than brute force?

[G1Ravage]

The funniest part for me was when Huey explained how he found out the location of the killer, and not only that, got a MapQuest of where he lives. LMAO

[MJC]

And that's what really makes this episode so clever. After the show was over, I wondered what the heck was that. Once I recognized the political metaphors and how they reflected major events over the last few years, I finally understood the story was meant to be a train wreck. Curse you Boondocks for making me think!:D That said, I still prefer the witty sitcom with social commentary eps over the cleverly veiled political shots.

Really great insights in your original post, Innercity Blue. Do you think Huey managing to find the killer's location by simply asking questions was basically stating that we should have relied more on intelligence gathering and international cooperation to track down Osama rather than brute force?
I'd say that's the gist of it. I think its also a commentary on the unnecessary destruction in Afghanistan.

[v1cious]

I don't see any opinions in Maiellaro's work. Can you give an example?

And I'm not looking for any deepness in ATHF or OZMO or any of his other stuff.i was referring to your comment about dragging the same joke to death.

[Daffy Dork]

i was referring to your comment about dragging the same joke to death.
I don't see that. There are too many jokes and lines and scenes and insanity for his work to have stretched out jokes. The only place I've ever seen that is in some ATHF season 4 eps. (like Edork) and that's a small portion of his work.

Can you give me some examples on how he built a whole career on it?

[Funkatron]

I think one of the funniest parts of the show are the various backround voices during some of the scenes. Like in the ep the week before with the "OMGACHAIR!". they seem to crack me up quite easily

[Duke]

Can I ask a stupid question?

Why was he called the "X-Box" killer if the actual "X-Box" was a "Y-Box"?

[Delthayre]

Can I ask a stupid question?

Why was he called the "X-Box" killer if the actual "X-Box" was a "Y-Box"? I'd guess that they could get away with saying, "X-Box," in the dialog, but that the actual copyrighted logo would've been a legal problem of some sort.

[Youko Recca]

I think one of the funniest parts of the show are the various backround voices during some of the scenes. Like in the ep the week before with the "OMGACHAIR!". they seem to crack me up quite easilyYeah, now that I think about it, you're right. Like it this specific episode at the beggining, with the "Health Inspector" and his mutated penis about to anally rape Tom, all those guys in the background going: "Uh oh, you betta pray....Pray baby, pray!" and then BAM! Ha, yeah, they surely don't subtract.

[Freedom Fighter]

I have mixed feelings about this episode. So not seeing any of the political ties in it before coming to this thread had made me originally take this at face value. By far, this has been the most shocking episode, between Tom's fears of being anal raped and the mart shootout. I totally agree with Huey's reactions throughout this entire episode. I had no idea why those people outside the glass station were applauding those two crazy yahoos, because even though they captured a terrorist cell, they were still public citizens discharging illegal firearms in a public place. Where innocent people could've gotten hurt.

Then I came here and saw all the connections, and the episode makes more sense to me now. It didn't quell the outrage I had about how the point was put across, though, and I'm sure most people are like me and they don't see or look for these 'hidden messages.'

7.5 out of 10 this week.

[jv2k]

Wow, after reading this talkback I feel a bit like an idiot for not catching the metaphore for the iraq war.
Anyway even without the metaphore its still a good episode. I don't find the animation to be THAT bad either, I mean yea its not the best around or the most fluid but I've seen worse.

[livingfruitvirus]

Wow, after reading this talkback I feel a bit like an idiot for not catching the metaphore for the iraq war.
Aaron probably had THAT idea first, and simply built the entire episode around it. Making the whole episode a poorly constructed mess.

[Sinsio]

I did not see the terrorist cell coming. That did not stop the Wuncler and Samuel L's scenes to be rather extraneous for the most part. Luckily it meant something when the gunfight occurred, or else it would seem rather mean-spirited, even for this show. That was the whole joke. The robbers ("Robbery etiquette says you can't criticize a robbery plan during an actual robbery, you have to wait 'til the robbery is over") were seen as heroes by the community.

If you read the article that flashes on the screen:
--------------------------------------------------------
War Heroes Thwart Terror Cell
The gas station terrorist cell had been planning to attack the people of Woodcrest by terrorizing gasoline prices 5 cents per gallon.
--------------------------------------------------------

My favorite line of the night: "You hear that, you sweaty b-------!! Freddy ain't dead! Freddy say 'Bring it on B---! Bring it!!'"