While not great episodes and ones that still could have been a good deal better, "My Fair Brainy" and "The Cat that Cried Woof" (especially the former) were quite large improvements over the episodes that came before them. Actually do not care for 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' at all, but those two episodes were watchable. Namely because of the concepts being a lot less childish and the execution of them also showing signs of the show growing up.
"The Girl with Nothing Extra" didn't work for me and it was as if the improvement seen in "My Fair Brainy" and "The Cat that Cried Woof" did not happen and that the show went back to square one. Everything that is bad about 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' in general is present in "The Girl with Nothing Extra" and to very bad effect. The premise was not an appealing one and was closer to the sort of premise seen with the likes of "Patty Ann" and "Cute Little Alienhead" than the sort of premise seen with "My Fair Brainy", not a good sign. The execution is also closer to those episodes, also as bad a sign as one can get.
It's not all bad. Brain is very entertaining and wonderfully deadpan, the show on the most part was a disaster when it came to character writing and interaction but somehow managed to get Brain spot on. It was a genius move having Maurice LaMarche back and he voices Brain perfectly.
Some moments of colourful and decently detailed animation. Did appreciate that there was an attempt to soften Elmyra's character, she is not as abusive or as psychopathic.
Not much else good sadly. While the animation was never terrible on 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain', it did always lack the polish and vibrancy as well as the imagination seen in the visuals of 'Animaniacs', 'Pinky and the Brain' and 'Tiny Toon Adventures', the big and wild variety of expressions are not there really and what there are are not inventive or funny, immature actually. There is nothing dynamic or infectious about the music and the theme song has always grated. That is true of the show's featured songs too. The Jansen referencing has really not held up, it is likely to go over the heads of younger audiences (it certainly did with me when it first aired when not yet double digits) and will be too of the time for older viewers. Also found it lacking in wit and subtlety.
Didn't care for the humour, which was too cutesy and childish with Elmyra, went too far with the simplicity and the referencing is too stuck in the 90s and not very accessible. Target audience may be called into question. There is also a very repetitive and rather cheap gag revolving around "see food", even Brain is grossed out at one point. The story has no memorability factor and is too simple and predictable, with most of it being very dully paced too. Other than Brain the character writing isn't there, Pinky is one of those "just there character with no spark" and has lost what made him a great character in 'Pinky and the Brain' (also feeling out of place). Elmyra is still very annoying and too exaggerated in her character flaws. The chemistry just doesn't connect or make sense.
Concluding, weak. 3/10.
"The Girl with Nothing Extra" didn't work for me and it was as if the improvement seen in "My Fair Brainy" and "The Cat that Cried Woof" did not happen and that the show went back to square one. Everything that is bad about 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' in general is present in "The Girl with Nothing Extra" and to very bad effect. The premise was not an appealing one and was closer to the sort of premise seen with the likes of "Patty Ann" and "Cute Little Alienhead" than the sort of premise seen with "My Fair Brainy", not a good sign. The execution is also closer to those episodes, also as bad a sign as one can get.
It's not all bad. Brain is very entertaining and wonderfully deadpan, the show on the most part was a disaster when it came to character writing and interaction but somehow managed to get Brain spot on. It was a genius move having Maurice LaMarche back and he voices Brain perfectly.
Some moments of colourful and decently detailed animation. Did appreciate that there was an attempt to soften Elmyra's character, she is not as abusive or as psychopathic.
Not much else good sadly. While the animation was never terrible on 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain', it did always lack the polish and vibrancy as well as the imagination seen in the visuals of 'Animaniacs', 'Pinky and the Brain' and 'Tiny Toon Adventures', the big and wild variety of expressions are not there really and what there are are not inventive or funny, immature actually. There is nothing dynamic or infectious about the music and the theme song has always grated. That is true of the show's featured songs too. The Jansen referencing has really not held up, it is likely to go over the heads of younger audiences (it certainly did with me when it first aired when not yet double digits) and will be too of the time for older viewers. Also found it lacking in wit and subtlety.
Didn't care for the humour, which was too cutesy and childish with Elmyra, went too far with the simplicity and the referencing is too stuck in the 90s and not very accessible. Target audience may be called into question. There is also a very repetitive and rather cheap gag revolving around "see food", even Brain is grossed out at one point. The story has no memorability factor and is too simple and predictable, with most of it being very dully paced too. Other than Brain the character writing isn't there, Pinky is one of those "just there character with no spark" and has lost what made him a great character in 'Pinky and the Brain' (also feeling out of place). Elmyra is still very annoying and too exaggerated in her character flaws. The chemistry just doesn't connect or make sense.
Concluding, weak. 3/10.
