Extended Thoughts on Season 3 PaTB Segments+ My Problem with Complaints About Reboot Brain
Hello! After much consideration, and after a few re-watches of Season 3 episodes, I decided to add some more thoughts to the Pinky and The Brain segments. I previously reviewed these episodes in another post so check those out for my initial thoughts. However, some of those opinions are a tad outdated so go look at my initial reviews and then come here for my updated thoughts. Just a heads up, these may become severely opinionated, especially with my thoughts on "All's Fair in Love and Door" as well as a brief little mini-rant on Brain from the reboot. Alright, let's begin.
"How to: Friendship": After looking back on this segment, I noticed a few things that I failed to see on my initial watch. First off, the macaroni hearts from the storyboard made an appearance at the end when Pinky learns that Brain kept that picture! How did I not see that? But that offers up a few questions. Pinky didn't put those hearts there. Did Brain do that? Was it a continuity error with the animation team? If Brain put them there then...? Honestly, my thoughts were racing after seeing this. I also found the ending very sweet and I still think that this segment is adorable. It's not the cutest segment from the reboot anymore (you'll see in a moment what took this title) but I still think it's really fun
"Royal Flush": Not really too much to add for this one. I found Pinky's lack of knowledge when it comes to British customs very funny and the song is still great (also, Pinky has a British accent! The irony of him not understanding British things while sounding British was something that made me laugh very hard!). That one line Pinky says after Brain mentions how the situation was "too romantic" made me scream in delight! Pinky is gay! I was kind of confused initially on why this episode was more focused on Pinky compared to the poker game and Brain, but I guess they just wanted to focus on something aside from Brain since Pinky hasn't gotten too many starring episodes.
"Talladega Mice": My initial episode ranking is now outdated. After re-watching this segment and it still making me laugh for 2+ minutes after watching, I can safely say that this is the best segment from the third season of the reboot. Everything in this segment is simply perfection from the writing to the animation and expressions to the dialogue and voice acting. It all works so incredibly well. We get to see a softer, more gentle side of Brain where he actually wants to help Pinky. Pinky's stress problems are portrayed with such realism, and as someone who also suffers from minor stress problems, I saw a lot of elements I could relate to. The things that struck me the most included the ways Pinky coped with his stress being strikingly similar to the ways I cope with my own stress, Brain being incredibly supportive and reassuring to Pinky (even listening to his wants and needs may I add), Pinky's stress attack being portrayed in a realistic manner (yelling, heavy breathing, shaking.), and the sheer number of adorable interaction between the mice. Even on my second re-watch, this segment still had me in tears because I was laughing so hard. This is the hardest I've laughed at a segment since the first "Pinky's How To". Every joke just lands and every moment manages to be either cute, hilarious, or a combination of both. The tickle fight in particular has to be one of the best moments from the season. This is the cutest episode from the reboot by a landslide and I love it to pieces. I plan on watching this over and over again.
"Mad Mouse: Furry Road": I don't have too much to add that I didn't already say in my initial review. I thought the animation was expressive and fun and some of the moments were funny. I found the premise very interesting and these were some of the more unique human characters. I loved the times when Brain defended Pinky. I just thought that Brain was very cool in this segment; thankfully, he strayed away from being unlikable or cruel.
"Groundmouse Day": After going back, I found this episode to be funnier since I paid more attention to the references. I loved how Brain got more and more insane as the episode continued on. I found the scene when Brain had finally taken over the world and Pinky was being supportive so cute. The satire and dialogue truly stole the show and I feel as though these segments managed among the best in terms of writing (also the kiss!!!).
"All's Fair in Love and Door": This is going to be a controversial opinion, but I think this episode was amazing. I know, everyone was mad that the deleted storyboards shown weren't in the segment and that they would've made everything better. You have a right to be frustrated, mad, or disappointed. However, I still think that this episode works on its own. And some of the storyboards were kept in the final cut. Do I think if they'd included those storyboards that it would add to the overall segment? Yes I do. Do I think that they would've changed my ranking and my opinion for the better? I don't think so. I actually think that the "Brain is in the closet" metaphor is still present; you just need to look a little closer past the surface to see it. Pinky is clearly jealous in the final cut, as hinted by the delivery of the lines. Brain's sexuality was also hinted at due to the ending (seriously, that look and that reaction!). I have my theories on why some of these storyboards were cut, but I don't let these affect my overall viewpoint. I'll defend this episode till the very end. I won't let deleted scenes change my opinion; I just look at the segment for what we got. If you are upset about the deleted scenes, that's okay. I'm not mad at you. But this is my opinion and the way that I look at this segment and all it has. Also, I think that Brain's reasoning for making this alternate world isn't entirely true. He might've felt guilty about Julia and he might've wanted to be with someone just like him, but I still have the feeling he's hiding something. Just the way he tells Pinky not to go in there and the way he reacts after Pinky does end up in the world shows he could be using this as a place to escape from his world. I have a theory that Brain uses this world as a way to escape from his problems: the struggles with Julia, his constant failures, his possible love for Pinky. This world serves as a place that fixes these. Julia is fine, he doesn't care about world domination, and Pinky isn't included here because Brain loves him and want to keep him just the way he is. Brain doesn't want to tell Pinky because he fears that his friend might be angered by what he sees or that Pinky might mess things up. The destruction of the fictional world not only serves as Brain "coming out of the closet" so to speak, it also shows that he has finally accepted that the world he didn't make is the one he wants to live in. This explains why there's always an uneasy feeling in this fictional reality and why Brain seems to almost look uncomfortable at times, like something is wrong (for example in the wedding photo and when Julia hugs him). The moment where Brain covers Pinky up to protect him shows that Brain has chosen Pinky over Julia, therefore proving that he loves Pinky more than he ever loved that fictional Julia. The ending also shows that Brain has essentially allowed Pinky to be the only thing he cares for, as hinted by his facial expressions and tone. Even when he starts talking about getting over his ex in a better way, he says never mind after seeing Pinky, showing that something must've happened inside his mind on that day. This only a theory and the interpretation might be completely off but nonetheless, I still love this episode quite a bit. (Ps: Sorry for the rambling!)
"How The Brain Thieved Christmas": I don't really have anything else to add here. I mentioned everything in my initial review and it hasn't changed since. The only thing I failed to mention was the ending in more depth. It definitely gave off "A Pinky and The Brain Christmas" vibes with Brain receiving a meaningful gift and Pinky getting something that tied into the episode (i.e. a spellchecker since the letter to Santa probably had poor grammar and the Pinky doll since that was something Pinky wanted and it was a plot point in the episode). I honestly think this should've been the final episode. Don't get me wrong, the James Bond parody was good, but it was only a cold-opening. This should've been the final episode since it has the feeling of one of the most popular episodes from the spin-off.
"International Mouse of Mystery": I've talked about this segment before in my initial reviews and in my episode 10 rant. I literally don't have anything else to add, so go check those out.
Closing Thoughts and Reboot Brain Rant: I've been seeing a lot of hate recently for Brain from the reboot. Many call him a villain, a poor character, and a worse counterpart to his original self. Some even debate the reboot's canonicity due to these factors. This truly breaks my heart to see because I personally love reboot Brain. I think he goes through an incredible character arc and improves so much after the first season. I believe that most of this controversy is geared towards the first season, which I agree with, but I've also seen others get mad at him for things in season 3 episode 7 (the previous section explains my theory/viewpoint on the whole situation). Calling Brain a villain is a slippery slope since I rooted for him in every episode except for one. Brain is one of the characters that you want to see succeed and I think that the reboot offered a new take on the classic formula. Brain becoming more insane is likely due to the fact that he's been trying to take over the world for nearly 30 years and has failed every time. The writers were trying to emphasize this important aspect. There were a few missteps when it came to Brain's character; season 1 being the pinnacle of this. For example, the infamous "Mousechurian Candidate" segment was the only time in the reboot where Brain was portrayed as exceedingly unlikable. He manipulates Julia, mind-controls her, says things that don't align with his character at all, and never apologizes or shows remorse for any of his actions until the third season. The scene where Brain causes Julia to lose her mind was one of the worst and most uncomfortable scenes from the franchise since it was very dark and was trying to be funny to which it failed. This was Brain's worst moment in the entire history of the show; thankfully it hasn't been repeated. He improved drastically in season 2, going through a character arc where he learns to appreciate Pinky more. The development he received in certain episodes such as "Narf Over Troubled Water" helped to move his character forward. In the third season, Brain's arc continues along, and somewhat reaches its conclusion in the Christmas episode. I think that if we got a fourth season, Brain's development would come full circle. I don't fully disagree with the statements people have been saying about Brain. Sometimes he can be out of character and mean, but he never stays that way. He's almost always redeemed by either a piece of character development, a funny moment, or a great episode after a weaker one. I'd also argue that the reboot's version of Brain is more expressive and sticks to his character development more than when he did in the 90's. For example, in certain episodes of the spin-off such as "A Pinky and The Brain Christmas" and "Megalomaniacs Anonymous", Brain learns to treat Pinky with kindness and to not neglect his feelings as well as realizing that the real reason why he wants to take over the world is to make it a better place. These aspects are contradicted in other episodes were Brain mistreats his friend and where his more malicious nature is shown. Brain was stuck in a sort of character circle, meaning that he would go through some development, and would undo that development in another episode, only to essentially redo that arc again at a later time. Brain in the reboot goes through a continuous arc over the course of three seasons, seemingly keeping his development after each segment. Sure, sometimes he takes a few steps back into the character circle, but he always pulls through.
Once again, I'm not saying that if you dislike reboot Brain that you're a bad person and that your opinion isn't true. My perspectives are only my personal thoughts and others can agree or disagree with me. It's just that when people criticize him so harshly that it just hurts to see. I don't want to hate Brain. I never want to. But sometimes, it can be so difficult, especially when he does things to Pinky (my personal favorite character). I personally really like the depth that Brain has in the reboot, as well as all the development he gets such as expanding on his control issues, his impulsiveness, and his possible lack of self-confidence. I understand why he's gotten all this hate, but I do think it is a little extreme in some cases. I'll always stand up for Brain; he's one of my comfort characters and I relate to him immensely.
Whew! That was a long post! I apologize if things were a bit rant-like at some parts; I just wanted to share my frustration at things. So, those are my extended thoughts! I hope you liked season 3 (or at least liked the "Talladega Mice" segment). My next post is going to be the biggest I've ever made so, stay tuned! (Sorry for the rambling!! Here's a pic of the mice for your troubles!!😊 )
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who is your most moral/righteous au guy? and alternatively, who is your most immoral au guy?
well for reasons i cant get into just yet i can very confidently say Sludge is definitely the most immoral guy, that thing will get past even the Papyrus Effect of making ppl like him just u wait
as for the most MORAL.,, hmm! that’s surprisingly difficult to answer! my first instinct is to say Stretch, the pacifist who actively avoids fighting at any turn, but that’s not necessarily out of any moral obligation! he just really hates conflict! HOWEVER, he’ll hardly ever try to stop others like say, Edge or Russ, from getting into a fight unless he can tell that it would cause problems for everyone. He’s got a strong moral code for himself, but when it comes to the people he hangs around he just kinda stands back. Hence, why he is friends with LV 14 Edge and only feels a Little weird about it
Fluff, funnily enough, is probably the one who sticks to his morals the absolute hardest. If he thinks someone did a shitty thing, he won’t just stick back and try to move past it like Stretch or Russ, he’ll make sure they know just how much they royally fucked up. Granted, he’s not exactly a shining example of a golden heart either, and he knows that, making him pretty neutral on a moral standpoint I think
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