And oddly enough, Danny wasn't the primary focus of the episode, but rather he and his father were relegated to B plot status while most of the episode focused instead on the often neglected females of the cast. I like how the episode refers back vaguely to Jazz's overeagerness from Secret Weapons, but without the painful screwups from that episode. It was also nice seeing Sam get HER ego pricked a bit, and a refreshing change to see Jazz come up with a good plan and have it work as intended. The slight reference back to alternate Maddie from Masters of All Time was cute too in that she hides stuff from Jack.
After the drought of it in the previously mentioned UJ and IR, the character development spawning something like real friendship between Jazz and Sam (as well as the unusual addition of Maddie to "Team Phantom") was very well handled. I hope they remember this development in subsequent episodes. And while the B plot was mostly one-shot gags and action scenes, it was a nice chance of pace to see Danny having some trouble dealing with Skulker's attacks (even if it was simply due to Jack's proximity), and a nice little father-son bonding bit. Plus we got to see Jack do something a lot of people forget he can do- kick some butt when his family is in danger. I thought it was a very nice touch that it was Jack, not Danny, that defeated Skulker; and that it was Sam, Jazz, and Maddie that saved Amity Park from the terrible trio.
I admit I don't have much in the way of nitpicks. The gender stereotyping was a bit annoying (Spectra hosting a cooking show? Come on, I would think we'd be watching Dr. Spectra discussing the mental flaws of men rather than cooking "anti-man" dishes.) The motivation of the villains in the episode is a bit questionable, but forgivable. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and all that. Perhaps if it had been merely Kitty or Ember or Spectra alone, their anger at their boyfriends would have passed. But it is reasonable to assume that they essentially fanned eachother's flames with mutual complaints and made a mountain out of three small molehills.
This episode also has something that I don't think I recall EVER happening in the show's history, that I think speaks volumes about Johnny 13 and his status as a "bad guy." He is the ONLY ghost in the show to head back for the Ghost Zone of his own free will. His fight with Danny was only brief, but neither seemed to take it very seriously, and Johnny even complimented Danny for the fight as he left. They may not be buddies, but I don't think we can effectively count Johnny as one of Danny's enemies these days, between their cooperation in Lucky in Love and this... rough-housing... from this episode.
I'm still having a hard time picturing Ember and Skulker as a couple however. But hey, canon is canon, and I suppose if I think about it long enough I can make it make sense to me.
By: Firefury Amahira
Rating: 
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