I will grudgingly give some credit for a plot that has a firm structure: Danny and Dash must move from here to here and along the way, his powers gradually diminish and his transformation gradually reverses itself. Unfortunately, the difficulty and danger of their tasks varies randomly (sweat droplets?) making it hard for me to enjoy even that little bit of good plotting.

In the teaser, we learn that Danny can fire a ghost ray powerful enough to disable Skulker without even bothering to transform first. I found that a little disconcerting! Obviously he has gradually become stronger and more powerful over the course of his 14th year, but it just struck me as very odd that he would be able to take on a ghost as strong as Skulker in his human form.

Danny’s arrogant, “I have superpowers, why should I even care?” attitude at the beginning of the episode is out of character and annoying as heck. I realize that it’s a setup for the “lesson” to come, but it’s also crude and off-putting. And his line to Tucker, “You don’t have superpowers. You don’t get to be hilarious!” was just cruel. It made everything Sam put Tucker through look kind.

Speaking of which: as with 13, Sam and Tucker are sent off on a “B” plot that never intersects the “A” plot at all. This makes the episode seem choppy and uneven, as Sam and Tucker are never in any danger and their plot consists of little more than Sam tormenting her friend.

Jazz’s workout regimen with her parents’ Virtual Ghost Hunting gear was a fitting step in her gradual character development. And she looks great in a ponytail!

Rating:

By: Bluemoonalto

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