Is PPG Overrated? Is Dexter's Lab Underrated?

[Anti-Climactic]

These are questions I have pondered over for quite sometime now, and although I do like PPG, I'm not a huge fan of it...and I certainly do not think it deserves the media coverage and hype it has received over the last couple of years. In my opinion, it did deserve a movie...but a TV movie, not a theater movie. I think Dexter's Lab deserved a theater movie...but what did it get? A TV movie. Anyway, the point is, I think PPG is overrated, and only deserves to be considered "Just Another Cartoon Cartoon", such as Ed, Edd, & Eddy, Johnny Bravo, Kids Next Door, etc. Dexter's Lab, which, in my opinion, is being treated like "Just Another Cartoon Cartoon", deserves media coverage and hype, much like PPG has received over the past couple of years.

Thoughts? Opinions? I'm all ears...

:bosko:

[DianaGohan]

Well, Dexter has been treated like "Just Another Cartoon" over the last couple of years because.... it's not nearly as good as it used to be. Sure the PPG are somewhat overrated, but hey, it's not like they're a bad show, like when Nick overrated Rugrats, which they still do somewhat.

[PowerZord]

Dexter shound't have never been reborned. The old episodes were much better.

From 2001 and ahead dexter has gone downhill!

PPG They are still good.

[Anti-Climactic]

Well, Dexter has been treated like "Just Another Cartoon" over the last couple of years because.... it's not nearly as good as it used to be. Sure the PPG are somewhat overrated, but hey, it's not like they're a bad show, like when Nick overrated Rugrats, which they still do somewhat.

Yeah, but I mean...the episodes made during the era of Dexter's Lab from 1996 until whenever it came back were so good, that although the current episodes of the show are crappy...well, the good episodes still make it a credible cartoon. In a way, they "Cover Up" the crappy episodes, to where everyone still thinks of the show...as...well...a good show.

And about Rugrats...I actually liked the episodes made during the Klasky-Csupo era from 1989 (When The First Pilot "Tommy Pickles And The Great White Thing" Was Made) until 1994. However...when the show was brought back in 1997, it, in my opinion, ruined the program.

So...yeah...

:droopy:

[Corrado]

All the PPG episodes after "Meet The Beat-Alls." are overrated.

[oldgreypole]

All the PPG episodes after "Meet The Beat-Alls." are overrated.

"Meet the Beat-Alls" is overrated. It is probably my least favorite episode of the series, along with "Uh Oh Dynamo."

[Corrado]

"Meet the Beat-Alls" is overrated. It is probably my least favorite episode of the series, along with "Uh Oh Dynamo."

Whaa....

It's my favorite because they did a good job with all the Beatles references. Most kids probably wouldn't have a clue what they were but I feel the short was a classic because it was different than other PPGs.

And because the Beatles are my favorite music group of all-time.

[Nin-Nin69]

I'm not a huge fan of the PPG's myself, but I have to disagree with you on saying Meet the Beat-Alls was overrated.

One episode I found overrated was the 2 parter where the professor shrinks the girls down to fight tiny robots that hide in the rain drops. People couldn't shut up about how great this 2 part episode was. In the end it turned out to be just another stupid plot, contained dull action, and loads of corney jokes. The opening scene of the episode with the Narrator made my ears bleed since his crying about "A good day in Townsville" lasted about 3 minutes.

[oldgreypole]

Whaa....

It's my favorite because they did a good job with all the Beatles references. Most kids probably wouldn't have a clue what they were but I feel the short was a classic because it was different than other PPGs.

And because the Beatles are my favorite music group of all-time.

Maybe I don't like the episode because I am not a Beatles fan. Some of their early stuff is okay, but then, they got a bit weird, like when they did drugs and stuff.

My favorite genre of music is classic jazz, which dominated the music industry from the 1920's through the 1940's. I particularly like the Big Band stuff.

Another reason that "Meet the Beat-Alls" may be my least favorite is that hidden or obscure references seem to bug me for some reason. This episode was really filled with them.

As for my all-time favorite episodes, those are "The Rowdyruff Boys" and "The Boys Are Back in Town." These episodes featured my favorite villains.

[Corrado]

"Maybe I don't like the episode because I am not a Beatles fan. Some of their early stuff is okay, but then, they got a bit weird, like when they did drugs and stuff."

Post-1965 till they broke up, the Beatles were at their peak.

"Another reason that "Meet the Beat-Alls" may be my least favorite is that hidden or obscure references seem to bug me for some reason. This episode was really filled with them."

That was one of the reasons why the episode stood out, finding all of the Beatles references.

[DianaGohan]

One episode I found overrated was the 2 parter where the professor shrinks the girls down to fight tiny robots that hide in the rain drops. People couldn't shut up about how great this 2 part episode was. In the end it turned out to be just another stupid plot, contained dull action, and loads of corney jokes. The opening scene of the episode with the Narrator made my ears bleed since his crying about "A good day in Townsville" lasted about 3 minutes.

That was "Nano Of The North" an episode that would have been better as an 11 minuter. The only part I really liked about that ep was the end where the Girls faced the Monobot (which stood 6 inches tall) and the Professor saving the day by crushing the Monobot. I don't remember that episode even being talked about much, let alone "overrated". I do remember "Knock It Off" was very overrated, and probably one of the worst PPG episodes ever made in my opinion. It's just more disturbing and pointless then funny.

[rmarti3926]

I think the Powerpuff Girls are superheroes saving Townsville from crime and evil. So there is a lot of action which makes it popular.

Dexter is just a boy genius working on his secret lab worrying about his big sister messing up everything. I think most people is bored this this style of plot and storytelling. They want more action and explosions and that's way PPG is overrated and Dexter is not (although Dexter has its fair share of explosions before the stories and situations mellowed out when Candi Milo became Dexter's new voice.)

[Sora Takenouchi]

I never thought Dexter's Lab was underrated. It seemed to get a good amount of attention and besides, it's better if they don't have his face plastered everywhere so you can't get annoyed with him. PPG....maybe. Their newer episodes are nowhere near the quality of the early ones.

[Mynd Hed]

I'd say in terms of overall quality, PPG and Dexter work out to be roughly equal. Old Dexter (in his prime) was way better than old PPG (in their prime), but their prime went on longer before they switched to longer stories instead of shorts and jumped the shark. And of course we all know what happened to Dexter-- poor Dexter.

So yes, in terms of quality I think Dexter deserves more hype than he gets, and definitely DESERVED more hype back when he was so much better than he is now. But whaddaya gonna do? Dexter just never caught on the way PPG did, and hype and the benefits thereof (like theatrical movies) goes to what's popular.

I don't blame Cartoon Network for not promoting Dexter the way they do the PPG, I blame the public for not recognizing the greatness that was Dexter back in the first couple seasons.

[Killtacular]

Meat the Beat Alls is one of the worst PPG episodes. It doesn't even qualify as a normal episode because all it does is hang off a gimmick that isn't even that funny. References are funny when they're sprinkled about like salt. Noone wants to eat a pile of salt with a side order of food.

Dexter sucks now because it lost many talented directors and artists. PPG DOES NOT SUCK because it has kept all of the directors and artists that have been around since day one. Now, sometimes the execution of the episodes BOTHER me, because SOME DIRECTORS (who I won't name) have done many boneheaded decisions like inserting unnecessary exposition when Craig (who is not producing the show at the moment because of his other show) always wanted there to be more jokes. Notice that episodes generally only have about 10 jokes per episode when they used to have 20-30? That's not the storyboarders' faults.

[Jaguar]

I honestly haven't been able to get back into PPG (the last episode I really, really, really liked was Him Diddle Riddle). And as I'm also out of tune with Dexter nowadays, I'm in no position to judge.

[StrangerAtaru]

I think the sad thing about both shows is that both of them are good, but a lot more "hit-and-miss" than people realize....even during their primes. Dexter's Lab seemed to hit things right on the spot when Tartakofsky and his crew created captivating stories and parodies that were funny...but there were still episodes where they were trying too hard to be funny (the horrible "You Vegetabelive It") or was trying to be artistic for art sake. (while I admire his experimentation with "Dim", it wasn't one of my favorite episodes) Meanwhile, PPG started off strong with plenty of fresh and insane episodes full of jokes and cool action (from the early pilots such as "Meat Fuzzy Lumpkins" through the first season, including "The Rowdyruff Boys" and perhaps "Uh Oh Dynamo"), but got stuck in a formula that zapped a lot of what made the show good. (including the overusage of the narrator, the overt pushing of some of the jokes into our face, etc.) Sure there were still good episodes (personally, being the Beatles fan I am, I liked "Meet the Beat-alls"), but they did seem a tad weaker. Recently, though, both PPG and Dexter have fallen into the same trap Rugrats did when it came back: the original vibe is gone and they are forcing in new stuff and following certain formulas over and over.

[MajorTom]

I loved Dexter back in the day, because it was fun. The plots were original, the animation wasn't bad, it had three shorter shorts, etc. I also liked that there were other cartoons within Dexter's Lab. The Justice Friends and Monkey seem to have just dissapeared in the newer episodes. Now, the plots are dry, the animation sucks (Esspecialy the backgrounds), and they have two longer agonizing shorts. It's just all-around BAD now.
Now with the Powerpuff Girls, I was never a big fan in the first place, although I still enjoy it on occasion. The last episode I saw that was new to me was the one with the feminist superhero and I liked that episode a lot.
Overall, I'll take Dexter over Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup anyday.

-Major Tom

[BabySealClubber]

The Powerpuff Girls have long been one of my favorite shows and remains so today. I am a Beatles fan so I too enjoyed all the obscure references sprikled thoughout the "Meet the Beat-Alls" episode. I think it's that kind of creativity that is needed to keep a series fresh. I do however, and I know this is kinda counter-productive, wish the series had not become so popular as I think it has stifled some of the development of the characters particularly Buttercup's bad girl attitude. Early on, episodes like "Butter-crush" and "Boogy Frights" displayed a mean streak that has been much less apparent since the series became popular with the under 10 crowd. She also used to be much less concerned with collateral damage as seen in "Octi Evil". The duality of Blossom and Buttlercup are as potent a struggle as id and ego, and have been undercut in recent episodes.

Incidently, my favorite episode is "Super Zeros" largely because of the nod the show takes towards the gun-toting, dark direction comic book heros like Spawn examplified in the late 80s. The Mange was very cool in this regard.

As for Dexter's Lab, I think some of the newer episodes are okay if not more than a little uneven. But, at least they're not as bad as the revamped Johnny Bravo episodes that later appeared. And I actually perfer the post Kimi episodes of Rugrats over previous ones but that's primarily because I like the character.

[Wanted]

PPG got 6 DVDs and 9 VHS releases, and yet Dexter gets only 2 VHS releases and NO DVDs? You do the math.

I mean, yes, the PPG are overrated. But I like the show, don't get me wrong.

[Mynd Hed]

PPG got 6 DVDs and 9 VHS releases, and yet Dexter gets only 2 VHS releases and NO DVDs? You do the math.

You're right, this IS a crime against art, but that's the scewing that all WB-owned animated television shows get....

[Tech]

It would be nice to have DVD Season sets of Dexter. Each would contain 13 episodes.

Dexter's Lab Complete Season 1 DVD
Dexter's Lab Season 2 DVD Volume 1
Dexter's Lab Season 2 DVD Volume 2
Dexter's Lab Season 2 DVD Volume 3
Dexter's Lab Complete Season 3 DVD
Dexter's Lab Compelte Season 4 DVD

Yeah I know Id be one of the few peopel to buy the 3rd and 4th seasons, I still after all this time think Dexter is STILL one of the greatest cartoons ever made.

[Saotome2U]

You know, I think there is a lot of credability to the belief PPG is overrated and Dexter's Lab is underrated. I like PPG, too, but with this whole "action" trend that has hit animation in recent years, that is probably the reason why. With Dragonball Z being like THE most watched cartoon on CN, and that in turn causing KidsWB to be primarily 4 hours of nothing but action, instead of comedy as it used to be when first airing, I'd say that's the answer. Think about it - Toonami has slooooowly gained more hours for airtime each year, and now Adult Swim airs from 11 pm through 5 am...nothing but action mostly, minus Family Guy, Futurama and the Sunday night schedules.

Dexter's Lab was/is great. But its first 2 seasons were the best. But with Genndy leaving to focus on Samurai Jack (which is great), and Christine Cavenaugh retiring from voice acting (which I'm still not sure why), it has gone downhill - although, the most recent episodes of Dexter's Lab are better, though still not as good without Christine...but watching that one "ostrich" episode with Genndy directing again, shows why he's the best. As much as they've said in the past that sitcoms had died out, I'd now say that comedy cartoons are dying out...with the exception of Ed, Edd & Eddy, which to me is still the funniest cartoon on the air on ANY station..but it is even in its final season.

I may be alone in this, but even though I do like action cartoons (X-Men, Jackie Chan Adventures, PPG, Teen Titans, and especially Justice League and Samurai Jack), I love comedy cartoons a little more (the late Freakazoid!, Animaniacs, Pinky & The Brain (WITHOUT Elmyra), the earlier Johnny Bravo, and especially Ed, Edd, & Eddy). It's sad to me to know that out of the entire 24 hour CN schedule, only about 3 hours spread out total are devoted to comedy, while the others are more for action oriented ones.

[DarthGonzo]

That was "Nano Of The North" an episode that would have been better as an 11 minuter. The only part I really liked about that ep was the end where the Girls faced the Monobot (which stood 6 inches tall) and the Professor saving the day by crushing the Monobot. I don't remember that episode even being talked about much, let alone "overrated". I do remember "Knock It Off" was very overrated, and probably one of the worst PPG episodes ever made in my opinion. It's just more disturbing and pointless then funny.

Personally, my problem with PPG now are the 22 minute episodes that are padded with no dialouge and tons and tons of filler montages.

[rmarti3926]

You know, I think there is a lot of credability to the belief PPG is overrated and Dexter's Lab is underrated. I like PPG, too, but with this whole "action" trend that has hit animation in recent years, that is probably the reason why. With Dragonball Z being like THE most watched cartoon on CN, and that in turn causing KidsWB to be primarily 4 hours of nothing but action, instead of comedy as it used to be when first airing, I'd say that's the answer. Think about it - Toonami has slooooowly gained more hours for airtime each year, and now Adult Swim airs from 11 pm through 5 am...nothing but action mostly, minus Family Guy, Futurama and the Sunday night schedules.

Dexter's Lab was/is great. But its first 2 seasons were the best. But with Genndy leaving to focus on Samurai Jack (which is great), and Christine Cavenaugh retiring from voice acting (which I'm still not sure why), it has gone downhill - although, the most recent episodes of Dexter's Lab are better, though still not as good without Christine...but watching that one "ostrich" episode with Genndy directing again, shows why he's the best. As much as they've said in the past that sitcoms had died out, I'd now say that comedy cartoons are dying out...with the exception of Ed, Edd & Eddy, which to me is still the funniest cartoon on the air on ANY station..but it is even in its final season.

I may be alone in this, but even though I do like action cartoons (X-Men, Jackie Chan Adventures, PPG, Teen Titans, and especially Justice League and Samurai Jack), I love comedy cartoons a little more (the late Freakazoid!, Animaniacs, Pinky & The Brain (WITHOUT Elmyra), the earlier Johnny Bravo, and especially Ed, Edd, & Eddy). It's sad to me to know that out of the entire 24 hour CN schedule, only about 3 hours spread out total are devoted to comedy, while the others are more for action oriented ones.

Amen to that, brother. Amen

[CookieS]

Considering no one can agree on one thing, I don't think anything is under or overrated. The original run of Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls are both great. Talking about episode specifics is kind of useless, considering the shows are made in an overlapping fashion, and just because an episode airs doesn't mean it was made before others. So I don't think its right to say "after ____ it went bad".

[Wanted]

It would be nice to have DVD Season sets of Dexter. Each would contain 13 episodes.

Dexter's Lab Complete Season 1 DVD
Dexter's Lab Season 2 DVD Volume 1
Dexter's Lab Season 2 DVD Volume 2
Dexter's Lab Season 2 DVD Volume 3
Dexter's Lab Complete Season 3 DVD
Dexter's Lab Compelte Season 4 DVD

Yeah I know Id be one of the few peopel to buy the 3rd and 4th seasons, I still after all this time think Dexter is STILL one of the greatest cartoons ever made.I'd still like Dexter DVDs done like the first four PPG DVDs. Near 2 hrs of the show, and extras.

[oldgreypole]

I may be alone in this, but even though I do like action cartoons (X-Men, Jackie Chan Adventures, PPG, Teen Titans, and especially Justice League and Samurai Jack), I love comedy cartoons a little more (the late Freakazoid!, Animaniacs, Pinky & The Brain (WITHOUT Elmyra), the earlier Johnny Bravo, and especially Ed, Edd, & Eddy).


Actually, "The Powerpuff Girls" mixes action with comedy.