"The Cat that Cried Woof" was quite a neat set-up. One would expect it to be a dumbed down, too cutesy and childish episode from the outset as most scenarios for 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' were all those things. It actually turned out to be one of the show's more mature premises and like "My Fair Brainy" (which while very flawed is one of the best episodes) it's a scenario that isn't too beneath Brain and wouldn't be too out of place on 'Animaniacs', 'Pinky and the Brain' and 'Tiny Toon Adventures'.
While not a particularly great episode still, though more in a conflicted feelings way than not liking it, "The Cat that Cried Woof" was watchable and definitely struck me as one of the better episodes. Did appreciate that Elmyra was a secondary role this time, while still not liking her as a character, and also that it focuses heavily around a supporting character that thankfully is an interesting one and more complex than most supporting characters on 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain'.
Am going to begin with the good things. Brain is spot on in character writing and in a scenario worthy of him. As is Maurice LaMarche's voice work, which is a masterclass of how to make deadpan funny and interesting. Frank Welker also does a fine job bringing zest and pathos. Some of the animation is colourful and nicely detailed and the whole cat thinking and acting like a dog premise is handled in an amusing and neat way.
Rudy is not annoying this time and one of the episode's funnier moments is where the dog catcher sasses him. Really liked the chemistry between Rudy and Pussy Wussy, which was sweet without being over-sentimental. The character and the development of Pussy Wussy makes "The Cat that Cried Woof" and the character achieves the seemingly impossible of stealing the show from under Brain. When seeing why he behaves the way he does, it is easier to feel sympathy for him. With him not being all bad but just being in bad company.
However, "The Cat that Cried Woof" could have been better. The animation could also have been more polished and could have been wilder and more imaginative, it's not cheap but it's nothing special as well. There is not much that is catchy or memorable about the music and the theme song grates. While the episode is a little funnier than the usual episode of 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain', it does lack wit and sophistication more than once and can be childish and too cutesy.
Especially with Elmyra, who is wisely a secondary character but still obnoxious and with nothing interesting or funny about her. Pinky honestly would have been better off absent as he is given practically nothing to do and adds nothing, his character was always bland on this show and it is here. Most of the chemistry is disconnected, apart from with Rudy and Pussy Wussy. Everything with Rudy and Elmyra has never made sense to me, as Elmyra's appeal is a complete mystery (or at least on this show it was). More energy wouldn't have gone amiss.
Much better than expected and one of the watchable episodes of a bad show, but not great still. 5/10.
While not a particularly great episode still, though more in a conflicted feelings way than not liking it, "The Cat that Cried Woof" was watchable and definitely struck me as one of the better episodes. Did appreciate that Elmyra was a secondary role this time, while still not liking her as a character, and also that it focuses heavily around a supporting character that thankfully is an interesting one and more complex than most supporting characters on 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain'.
Am going to begin with the good things. Brain is spot on in character writing and in a scenario worthy of him. As is Maurice LaMarche's voice work, which is a masterclass of how to make deadpan funny and interesting. Frank Welker also does a fine job bringing zest and pathos. Some of the animation is colourful and nicely detailed and the whole cat thinking and acting like a dog premise is handled in an amusing and neat way.
Rudy is not annoying this time and one of the episode's funnier moments is where the dog catcher sasses him. Really liked the chemistry between Rudy and Pussy Wussy, which was sweet without being over-sentimental. The character and the development of Pussy Wussy makes "The Cat that Cried Woof" and the character achieves the seemingly impossible of stealing the show from under Brain. When seeing why he behaves the way he does, it is easier to feel sympathy for him. With him not being all bad but just being in bad company.
However, "The Cat that Cried Woof" could have been better. The animation could also have been more polished and could have been wilder and more imaginative, it's not cheap but it's nothing special as well. There is not much that is catchy or memorable about the music and the theme song grates. While the episode is a little funnier than the usual episode of 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain', it does lack wit and sophistication more than once and can be childish and too cutesy.
Especially with Elmyra, who is wisely a secondary character but still obnoxious and with nothing interesting or funny about her. Pinky honestly would have been better off absent as he is given practically nothing to do and adds nothing, his character was always bland on this show and it is here. Most of the chemistry is disconnected, apart from with Rudy and Pussy Wussy. Everything with Rudy and Elmyra has never made sense to me, as Elmyra's appeal is a complete mystery (or at least on this show it was). More energy wouldn't have gone amiss.
Much better than expected and one of the watchable episodes of a bad show, but not great still. 5/10.