Steve Marmel may have been the general planner for most of Danny Phantom's run, but this story was Marty's (according to the beginning credits anyways), proving he can concoct beyond what Marmel produces; both of them plus Sib Ventress are the trio that really defines and moves the Danny Phantom saga. Danny, Valerie, Sam, even Tucker, the prime four of today’s episode shown sufficient character development that in turn created this vast episode. You know the writers cared when Tucker had enough opinions on a current dilemma if not giving him the role (however derivative) that harnesses the entire plot. Sure, his constant hormones and the lack of getting any is pushed frequently in here in order to emphasize how much computer-savvy he is instead, but it’s the smaller insights that churns the butter. The tiny comments he retaliates towards Sam on Danny’s current enchantment is experience speaking; he’s been through it, he understands what it’s like to date Valerie. On his circumstances, she used him, but the concept is the same: he was dating a girl who had death glares towards Danny Phantom. Both Danny and Sam made it perfectly clear it wasn’t a-okay. Later, Tucker joins Sam’s bandwagon when Danny gets dangerously close to her. After, he tells her to relax; Danny is his best friend and they "share everything", he has faith that despite his and Sam’s warning, the kid will choose right.
He didn’t. And despite the breakup, Danny’s desire on Valerie doesn’t go away. It’s been built for some time and their once mutual hatred for another to general friendship to what we got here remains one of the best developed of the DP arc, more so then the Danny/Sam {which went on a more repetitive, but good paced route that the third season spat on). So to see them courting one another isn’t given an awkward wave; the chemistry between the two are excellent. Danny, always one for black and white sees a rare gray. He knows how hard the lies will be to cover up as the weeks/month/years pass, but he’s willing to risk it all because Valerie is too good of a person, too worthy to drop. Maybe the heart is ruling over the head, but when given the chance, Danny is quick to monitor second chances.
On the other side, the mind wonders on how potentially dangerous Danny really can be? "The Ultimate Enemy" is not to be played lightly for the young boy, he’s alter ego destroyed oodles of the planet. Danny is bind by good intentions and morals; Vlad himself is a physical counterpart to act as a reminder on who Danny does not wish to be. Here, he destroys Valerie’s suit harshly because the real deal didn’t inhabit it. But in her eyes, it further proves his incredible capability to blown the shit out of her. He means well, but if pushed in the wrong direction ("The Fenton Menace"--imagine if his breakdown wasn’t cured, the damage could be catastrophic), he can be a devastating force. Nothing has pushed his emotions so far over the edge quite like this; Unless he fixes it into a proper state, he has every chance of creating an unstable and hazardous personality and with it, his powers.
Valerie, a wonderful, capable young woman who understands a world beyond her own once swam in popularity--shallow almost seems an inappropriate term for the girl if she’s surrounded by the likes of Paulina and Dash in hoards. Yet she made the effort and changed. By understanding the waking world of the middle/poor class, Valerie, though still an aggressive beast, became a kinder individual that her flirts with Danny were genuine. It doesn’t feel weird to her at all, this is real and it’s good, and it doesn't feel weird to me. So selfless she is that she’d be willing to give up her passion to be with the one she adores despite the huge risk--teenage romance hardly last beyond graduation--yet she’d do it regardless. There’s love in there in that could have expanded beyond class rings. Their relationship ends up beautiful even if it was dashed to pieces. Her return to ghost hunting was not in vain; her reason is to protect Danny as her job is too dangerous to get her would-be boyfriend involved, a leg up on what Danny didn’t do (he’d opt to guard her instead during times of ghostly invasions). She’s ripen to her potential and her many sacrifices underline it.
Then there’s, of course, Sam. Stuck in-between the love couple, she’s balancing concern over Valerie’s ghost hunter mode and her conflicted feelings for Danny. So deeply in denial (and clueless), Danny assumes Sam to be just friends. Sam once held such feelings, but it’s become clear it’s just a not-so well kept secret. "Fanning the Flames" heated the two (again with the bad puns) and gave hope that there’s a shot between them. Prior to that, there hasn’t been that much to state outside of ambiguous hints. Both were in denial. "Lucky in Love" pushed it further, though she still didn’t grasp the feelings inside her until Valerie brought it forth in "Reign Storm". She tries to back away from it, but Val isn’t convinced and neither is Sam. It’s game on and she almost lost until the inevitable breakup. She can’t handle the thought of the two together and as much as she concerns over Danny’s welfare, she can’t ignore her heart.
But she tries. Oh, she tries. Poor Sam had to lie to Valerie that she’s welcome in their circle, but there’s an underlying truth underneath it. Secretly, she wishes to accept Valerie and Danny together and that gave her the push, the need to say it. As much as she hates it, Sam is giving an effort. By the end, she silently watches Danny and Valerie talking, waiting for him to give her the ring. It’ll be hard on her, but she can slowly try and let go. The fact that they didn’t become an official couple must have been both a relief to her and a punch in the gut. On one hand, she can commence daydreaming now that he’s single again, the other, she is torn the two aren’t together. In the end, she wants him to be happy; she gather ALL her will power and successfully took the first step of letting the two pursue their liaison. It's a touching piece of her character on a path she rarely takes and even I can admire her for it.
Unfortunately, the breakup had to be the chosen route. It’s a poetic tale and it unfolds perfectly, but imagine the towering potentials the writers could have dived. Considering how much of grudges Sam does hold, the very fact that she can let go are just grounds for character expansion on how she’d be able to deal with Danny/Valerie. Not to mention the couple themselves; imagine the struggle, the complication, and devotions both would walk down. Even if Danny/Sam was the ultimate route, to see how Danny and Valerie attach under stressful events remain dormant is disgraceful, especially given neither of them are over one another, leaving the saga incomplete despite what "Double Cross My Heart" implies.
Technus, in his best role, is an engaging menace here. Always able to top his previous performances, the technological madmen executed something few villains do in their lifetime: complete world conquest, albit for a few minutes. He became a severe threat and with Valerie combating Danny at the same time, the world was almost lost. So brutal he is that he manipulated Danny through his emotions while he completed his plans, forcing Vlad-like plans of weakness exploitation. Who said nerds can’t be threatening?
He and Val contributed a lot to the action which is at it’s top game here. Fast-paced, dramatic, intense, non-stop. Goodchild continues to deliver and it got this chick’s blood pumping. And it’s not just the firm artwork (the digitized codes are some of the best), the action sequences are perfectly in balance with the emotional drama. Neither consume over the another; instead, they fit like a glove. The final battle is the best: Valerie shocks Danny, he unwittingly lets off an Ecto-Blast, and hurts the one he cares for. Looking at his hands, he’s devastated, then angry for what he has done. For what Technus did by playing with their desires. In just thirty seconds, that little display built up the complicated sum of Danny and Valerie’s relationship. In the entire battle, there is no words outside of a few grunts and screams: no snarky comment, no childish insults, no villain speech, and especially, no comedy. All we get is Guy Moon’s score to create a dramatic scene that mixes danger and heartbreak all in one. This is prove--undeniably prove--that DP is capable of creating drama without adding unnecessary humor. And it makes this episode even more powerful.
9.5/10
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Article Written in: Oct. 19, 2008
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