Dash Baxter

[stephane dumas]

perhaps someone already asked this question but here goes anyway :sweat:

in Danny Phantom, some of the "popular" kids, Dash Baxter tease a lot Danny, a bit like what Flash Thompson in the earlier beginning of Spider-man in the comic book. I wondered why because I read some DP fanfics on FF.net then it was because Sam got an eye on Danny instead of him. Was it the real reason or they another reason?

[Neo Yi]

I wondered why because I read some DP fanfics on FF.net then it was because Sam got an eye on Danny instead of him. Was it the real reason or they another reason?


Fanfics aren't plausible reasons to answer TV canon. As for why, the show never elaborated, not in the least. It could be a number of reason: Maybe he wants attention, maybe he's just a jerk. I really doubt the show will ever explore who or what Dash is and why he does the things he does. Shame, too. I felt "Micro Management" could have been a perfect oppurtunity, but they sunk on that ship.

[Simon Trent]

Dash's motivation is probably the same as Francis's from Fairly Odd Parents.

[Neo Ultra Mike]

So what, generic bullying to the main character because... it's suppose to be funny or something? The only thing sort of redeeming about Dash's character is that they constantly remind us that he's pretty much only going to be popular in high school and then have no sort of future afterwards. Everything else about him is so eh. Eh taunting, eh reasoning, eh attidue, eh actual bullying. I mean really, I don't seem as any type of important character in any way. I don't know why he keeps appearing in episodes. Guess the Hartman staff just is attracted to those kid show cliches so much (generic bully, predictably shallow female love interest, stupid and embarassing father figure, etc etc).

[judyindisguise]

So what, generic bullying to the main character because... it's suppose to be funny or something? The only thing sort of redeeming about Dash's character is that they constantly remind us that he's pretty much only going to be popular in high school and then have no sort of future afterwards. Everything else about him is so eh. Eh taunting, eh reasoning, eh attidue, eh actual bullying. I mean really, I don't seem as any type of important character in any way. I don't know why he keeps appearing in episodes. Guess the Hartman staff just is attracted to those kid show cliches so much (generic bully, predictably shallow female love interest, stupid and embarassing father figure, etc etc).

Precisely. They don't create characters at all, IMO; they recycle cliches. That's why Cosmo and Wanda eventually devolved into the nagging wife/stupid husband cliche. Look at all the obnoxious old jokes that could be resurrected with such a pair! :shrug: Anything more original would have been far too hard to write for, I guess.

Anyway, that's why I lost interest in Danny Phantom. There's not a speck of originality in the entire concept, everyone in the show acts exactly as you expect, the comedy is tired, the plots are predictable...in other words, everything's a cliche. It's sort of the anti-Avatar. Although I will say that the character designs are nice - Vlad's especially. :)

[Neo Yi]

Anyway, that's why I lost interest in Danny Phantom. There's not a speck of originality in the entire concept, everyone in the show acts exactly as you expect, the comedy is tired, the plots are predictable...in other words, everything's a cliche. It's sort of the anti-Avatar. Although I will say that the character designs are nice - Vlad's especially. :)


While I can agree that Dash is pretty much useless outside of a secondary (heck, not even--perhaps more of a tertiary) character who makes random appearances (as such characters usually do) that by the time he does make a role in the main spotlight it's basically got nothing going for them since they're too unimportant to matter or didn't take the chance to develop their character, I wouldn't call the show as far as the Anti-Avatar. Especially since Avatar themselves have the standard issues of cliche character roles, too:

Katara is the motherly mature girl, Zuko is the angst ridden anti-hero, Toph is the tough as nails tomboy, Sokka the bitter pessimistic sarcastic guy, Aang the optimistic, curious child, Azula the cold, calculating villain, heck, even Momo would fit the role of obligatory pet/mascot.

It's mainly through the roles of development that makes the characters increasingly appealing. To me, it's not just Avatar that I feel does do this successfully, but Danny Phantom itself. Yes, it's not heavily as close as Avatar which is considerably more story heavy thus a much broader character appeal, but DP's got plenty of development from the characters usual cliche roles. As a person who pays super close attention to characters who grown and develop, I could spend hours writing essays on their personalities and personal growth which I truly think it does have. I don't think I would be even this close of a fan of the show if I wasn't intrigued by their characters.

[Gokou Ruri]

As a person who pays super close attention to characters who grown and develop, I could spend hours writing essays on their personalities and personal growth which I truly think it does have. I don't think I would be even this close of a fan of the show if I wasn't intrigued by their characters. Agreed. If you actually take the time to look at the characters, you can see how some of them really developed a lot since episode one. Jazz, for example, started a self-rightous older sister who thought ghosts didn't exist and it was a waste of time for her parents, along with interfering with Danny's life because she thought she knew what was best for him. After a few episodes she begins to think ghosts really do exist until she learn's about Danny's secret and then starts experimenting with helping Danny fight ghosts (in secret) and experimenting if she likes hunting them or not (Maternal Instincts) until eventually becoming a part of Team Phantom (Secret Weapons) and letting Danny have his freedom and do his own thing.

[Simon Trent]

So what, generic bullying to the main character because... it's suppose to be funny or something? The only thing sort of redeeming about Dash's character is that they constantly remind us that he's pretty much only going to be popular in high school and then have no sort of future afterwards.

I have to admit, that is a pretty funny joke, but it's not enough to warrant giving him his own episode.


Look at all the obnoxious old jokes that could be resurrected with such a pair!

What do you mean by 'jokes'? That cliche only has one joke [with no plural] for it and it's not a very funny one.


Jazz, for example, started a self-rightous older sister who thought ghosts didn't exist and it was a waste of time for her parents, along with interfering with Danny's life because she thought she knew what was best for him.

No wonder she's one of my favorite characters off that show. I think it's doing Danny Phantom a disservice to say that it doesn't do character development just because they overuse a few really boring minor characters with no personality.

[judyindisguise]

What do you mean by 'jokes'? That cliche only has one joke [with no plural] for it and it's not a very funny one.

You are absolutely right. I was being too generous. :D

[I.R Joey]

Yes Dash is a one dimensional charecter (though I've laughed at him before.) Obviously they took the idea from Spider-man's Flash Thompsan (DP unfortuately does this sometimes.)

I really think that Paulina could have used more development. I love Maria Canals voice in that role.

[Gokou Ruri]

Yes Dash is a one dimensional charecter (though I've laughed at him before.) Obviously they took the idea from Spider-man's Flash Thompsan (DP unfortuately does this sometimes.)

I really think that Paulina could have used more development. I love Maria Canals voice in that role. The way I see it

Danny = Peter Parker (Young loser kid who gains superpowers)
Sam = Mary-Jane (Girl-next-door love interest you know will hook up with the main character in the end)
Valerie = Harry (Friend of the hero, but hates his her ego for ruining their life and rides around on a glider hunting him down a lot... )
Paulina = Gwen Stacy (Beautiful, popular girl the main character likes before ending up with the girl next door)
Dash = Flash Thompson (Bully)

Tucker's the only one who I can't think of having an analogy for :sweat: But yes, Dash is one-dimensional, but that's all he really needs to be, to be honest. He's a foil for Danny's school life.

[SapphirePrima]

The way I see it

Danny = Peter Parker (Young loser kid who gains superpowers)
Sam = Mary-Jane (Girl-next-door love interest you know will hook up with the main character in the end)
Valerie = Harry (Friend of the hero, but hates his her ego for ruining their life and rides around on a glider hunting him down a lot... )
Paulina = Gwen Stacy (Beautiful, popular girl the main character likes before ending up with the girl next door)
Dash = Flash Thompson (Bully)

Tucker's the only one who I can't think of having an analogy for :sweat: But yes, Dash is one-dimensional, but that's all he really needs to be, to be honest. He's a foil for Danny's school life.

Those are really good. Except Paulina is more of the b**** down the street.

[I.R Joey]

The way I see it

Danny = Peter Parker (Young loser kid who gains superpowers)
Sam = Mary-Jane (Girl-next-door love interest you know will hook up with the main character in the end)
Valerie = Harry (Friend of the hero, but hates his her ego for ruining their life and rides around on a glider hunting him down a lot... )
Paulina = Gwen Stacy (Beautiful, popular girl the main character likes before ending up with the girl next door)
Dash = Flash Thompson (Bully)

Tucker's the only one who I can't think of having an analogy for :sweat: But yes, Dash is one-dimensional, but that's all he really needs to be, to be honest. He's a foil for Danny's school life.

My nerd sense is tingling so I think I have to disagree. I think you have it reversed in regards to Paulina and Sam's parallels in the Spidey canon.

Mary Jane was suppouse to be girl who was always popular and always the life of the party. However her care free personality were masking her inner pain and insecurity.

Gwen as I understand it was the more bookish/less popular girl who liked Peter for who he was.

Of course I think it'll be Sam and Danny in the end, but I think that parallel is more accurate.

[stephane dumas]

My nerd sense is tingling so I think I have to disagree. I think you have it reversed in regards to Paulina and Sam's parallels in the Spidey canon.

Mary Jane was suppouse to be girl who was always popular and always the life of the party. However her care free personality were masking her inner pain and insecurity.

Gwen as I understand it was the more bookish/less popular girl who liked Peter for who he was.

Of course I think it'll be Sam and Danny in the end, but I think that parallel is more accurate.

I guess the movie changed the things a bit, in the movie Spider-man I they introduced Mary-Jane as the girl next door compared to the comic universe where she was the life of the party and popular. Then when Gwen was killed by the Green Goblin and later Mary-Jane comforted Peter, she was more down to Earth and she became more realistic.

[Mad Mod 49]

Anyway, that's why I lost interest in Danny Phantom. There's not a speck of originality in the entire concept, everyone in the show acts exactly as you expect, the comedy is tired, the plots are predictable...in other words, everything's a cliche. It's sort of the anti-Avatar.


Agreed, this is why I lost interest in the show. Danny, Tucker, and Sam are some of the blandest main characters there are. Jazz and Vlad are the only real saving graces, as well as maybe a few of the ghost villains.