TITLE: Flirting With Disaster: Yes, they actually say that in the episode
LOGO: "Out of this World Terror!"
EPISODE #: 32
SEASON: 2
AIRDATE: January 13, 2006
DIRECTOR: Butch Hartman, Wincat Alcala, Kevin Petrilak
STORY: Marty Isenberg WRITERS: Steve Marmel
STORYBOARD: Butch Hartman, Robb Pratt, Fred Reyes, Ben Balistreri
ART DIRECTIONS: George Goodchild
MUSIC: Guy Moon
APPEARANCE: Danny, Valerie, Sam, Tucker, Damon, Jack, Mr. Falluca
GHOST APPEARANCE: Technus
LESSON: On the next Jerry Springer, heartbroken women and the half ghost men who left them.
SUMMARY: Amity Park Mall proves it isn't always fun and jazz hands for Sam when you got a Techno Geek enthusiastically explaining his (probably not the first time either). He recognizes this, but Sam quickly changes the subject after a quick burst, asking where the livin’ dingus Danny is. Tucker said he had to do something. The conversation is cut when Star and Valerie arrive. The minor reactions Tucker gives to the two of them are intriguing; he probably had some mutual feelings left from "Shades of Gray" on Val’s end (though considering what this episode’s about, it’s most assuredly left) or at the very least he can tolerate her on a whole ‘nother level then Sam. Star? "Lucky in Love" proved her to be a tiring experience; at least his time with Val in "SoG" were genuine comfort (despite her fake affections). But Valerie’s deadpan tone to Sam and her careless "Whatever" are appropriate given their current circumstances. Star lets off a comment, asking where the leader of the trio is or in her own soothing tone, "Loser boyfriend".
"He’s not my boyfriend and he’s not a loser!" Both Sam and Valerie overreact, daggers in each other eyes as they do some massive stare down. Tucker comments on his "good looking" status. Silence. No wonder he likes technology, he calls them "sweetie"--which by the way is acting all wonky. The latter calms down and sheepishly ask where Danny is. Sam repeats Tucker’s word and declares him busy. Surprised reaction and color changes occur when Danny smashes onto their table; he’s fighting Technus. So when Danny said he was busy, he was being vague to his best friends? I’m sorry, but why? *ahem* Danny Ecto-Rays Technus as he leaps off a table; food and confections smothering Valerie. Angry, she whips out her backpack and finds...textbooks. "Augh, that’s right. Dad took my ghost hunting gear and locked it in his lab." Was she really going to turn into her hunter mode in public regardless?
Technus throws off an Ecto-Ray of his own, nearly contacting with Valerie who luckily is just thrown off. Not that it doesn’t piss Danny off, "I am going to break you in half!" Technus plays on his emotions and cites it as his major weakness (he’s right), then flings him to a box of...crates. He then digitizes himself into Valerie’s phone...without being seen...despite leaving trails of 1s and 0s. A peeved Valerie makes her way to combat Danny one-on-one, suit or no suit, only to find Fenton. Okay, time to rant. With all those people watching, why didn’t ANYONE pick up the very idea that Fenton, the ONLY kid in contact with the crates was Phantom, the ONLY ghost kid in contact with the crates? Hey animators, why not just draw a couple of other people’s flung there by Technus’ wrath? Would have saved this major glitch. Bad pun intended.
Valerie subsides and starts priming her hair a bit despite her current condition. Danny doesn’t mind, but Sam does, watching in irritation and jealously, "Oh, I’m gonna hurl." Technus then has a idea built on this. He finishes it with a Mandark laugh.
Now here’s a missed opportunity that went off-hitched come Season Three; Vlad’s sudden acquirement of Axion Lab. With state of the art technology, the mind boggles on the devious plots the madmen could possibly hone. Unfortunately, the only evidence I could possibly hand wave is the existence of that satellite temporarily used in the "Phantom Planet" intro. I wouldn’t put it past Marmel that his plans could have been gravely different though. On the other end, Damon Gray looks to have gotten his second chance--I wonder if his brief stint with the Fentons in "Reign Storm" up that grade? They’re still living in that dinky apartment, so I assume he needs to leg up to this pony express. Lord, I have no ides what I just wrote there.
The kids of Casper High are here for a field trip with Mr. Falluca (the rarely seen teacher) as their authority figure. Damon stops Danny for a teen-tiny chat while the rest go in. There, Tucker further bores Sam with his knowledge of the X23 Booster Rocket [able to send a person in space in two minutes]. Damn, if we actually had this kind of technology, we’d have colonized the moon ages ago. I bet you Japan has some secret underground base that has the most advance technologies around--so much more then what they have now. I bet this rocket is one of them. Tucker then explains the massive Cybertron computer, the central hub stored here (in Amity Park of all places?) that supports the satellite up there for safety measure lest some diabolical dude harness it to control all the electronics in the world. Damn. Guess who decides to take advantage of it? Technus maneuvers his way into the system, trapping Valerie in the process who wanders off (probably cuz’ she’s been here before, probably to look for her suit--I don’t know). Tucker further adds necessary plot details by stating access is possible only through the hub and it’s 10,000 digi-security code. And Sam still feels the need to question his genius levels of techno display. Have ANY of Danny’s friends ever met each other ?!
Damon asks Danny if he’s nervous--that portrait of Vlad above gives him every right to be. Damon lets him know he’s cool with him and acknowledges Valerie enjoys his presence, but if you stick any of your parent’s goddamn ghost business up her nose, I’mma gonna shove something nasty up on yo’ ass, boy. He leaves Danny, but he ain’t alone for long. His ghost sense lets loose and...Valerie appears? In ghost hunting mode? Trashing Axion Lab? Silently? Danny goes ghost and flies after her? Okay, I’ll stop. Damon sees the wreckage and somehow managed to find the trapped Valerie there (so that must be where he put the suit). He drags her away for punishment. Technus meanwhile busies himself on decoding the 10,000 security password. Unable to complete it in the minimum time required and Danny keeping a watchdog eye on him, he decides to play matchmaker between him and Val.
Damon chews off Valerie who declares herself innocent. She marches to her room and wallows in anger until Danny IMs her with his concern. Hey, writers, even Danny wouldn’t be stupid to put his full name as an AIM username, even if it’s initialed as DFenton. They got it right with Valerie’s at least (GhostHat8r). Unwilling to question how her computer automatically turned itself on, Valerie follows her heart and texts back. Meanwhile Danny is speaking to his friends via webcam on Valerie’s strange behavior: completely silent, no angry voices, nothing. "She spoke with her gun, Danny." Sam declared. Then Valerie IMs him to see what’s up, prompting Tucker and Sam to cry out in concern. Tucker is forced to go offline by his mother while Danny cuts Sam off. The two lovebirds spend the night chatting. Neither of the two friends approve of this by school the next day.
Tucker: *disdainfully* Long night?Sam: *Same* Of flirting with disaster?
Danny: You should really give her a chance, Sam. I know she wants to waste Danny Phantom, But did you know that she’s a ninth degree black belt, that her favorite word is “kumquat” because it’s a funny word?
Sam: *pissed* No, Danny, I didn’t because I never really get past the “waste Danny Phantom” part.
Okay, two things about this conversation that bothers me. First, the word "waste". For a show that has used the word "die" AND "kill" in serious manners prior to this, why is it suddenly a giant issue that they can’t use it? It can’t just be a Nickelodeon decision if recent show runner Avatar is allowed to walk free. Granted, come Season Three, there have been some fair share of censoring lately (Look at the grand finale, the soldiers of the Fire Nation walk off alive as oppose to the subtle, but causal ratios of death in the Season One finale) and yes, they have their excuse by being a far serious show which centers around war and death. Maybe it’s more an exception then a rule, but I cry bullshit. Death isn’t utilized in Nickelodeon, but it exists. Rugrat’s had Chuckie’s late mother, As Told by Ginger had the death of...someone (I never watched the series so I only heard of the series, forgot who though). Three episodes ago--alternate timeline or not--Danny’s ENTIRE loved ones BLEW THE FUCK UP. WHY is this an issue?
Rant number #2 (out of the 40,000 I’ve made in my lifetime): Valerie is a ninth degree martial artist. I’ll argue she could have been training her whole life and suspension of disbelief is a MUST for cartoons--I nodded away when Tucker explains that goddamn rocket and it’s ridiculous speed that I’m sure would typically melt a person away with that kind of speed from where they’re suppose to go. Maybe it’s my general lack of science-y knowledge that I easily handled that. But a ninth degree black belt for a fourteen-year-old!? No, I won’t accept it. This is one of the few times I just can’t. It’s impossible. Even Maddie’s age is too young for a ninth degree, but it’s at least a bit more plausible with her give or take a couple of decades. Danny’s powers may have given him the edge to combat such high ranking abilities, but he’s relied on physical combat just as well; the fact that Valerie can keep up to a supercharged ghost hero seems proof the writers were over exaggerating it or have no damn concept on how martial art rankings work. I’ll acknowledge Season Three existed, but not this. No freakin’ way.
Valerie raves over Danny (who bowls with a 150 average and wants to be an astronaut) while Star boosts his status as a freak...and tells it to her face before she walks off. Danny and Valerie make lunch plans after while Sam watches from a corner, "Is he nuts?!" Tucker isn’t worried, it’s puppy love and he’ll get over it. Hate to get off trail again (don’t worry, this is a positive one), but that one little scene really did it for me. When I first watched it, I was a new DP fan. I had known Danny wanted to be an astronaut and the idea that Valerie spoke it sparked the massive amount of continuity the show sprinkles. It enamored me when I realized this was a cartoon that while loose, will keep the characters and story arcs strong. It’s any wonder the series won me over; I hadn’t seen anything like that on Western animation in a good while (and it's still a rare breed today).
The other is Star; a girl who feeds off of Paulina, yet doesn’t mind Valerie’s presence despite her rejection from the popular list. I think it fits with her second-hand status; she’s not as popular nor beautiful (their words, not mine’s), so hanging around with Val makes sense. It’s unknown what Valerie’s route is, but with a kinder heart and her once popular stats, Val could be in the same range as Star.
And of course, Tucker who reacts to Valerie’s crush. He’s been down the road, he’s gotten that puppy love, and he’s moved on. He and Danny are good friends--the best--and he assures Sam that Fenton will be back in the game. It’s subtle, but it’s an insightful character leap. For Tucker, that’s rare. Tucker tells Sam to "Just watch". Sam plans to, binoculars in hand. That’s gonna bite her in the ass come "Double Cross My Heart".
The days pass as Danny and Valerie increasingly spend time with each other with Technus pushing it. Turning the lights off the Nasty Burger so that the waiter brings in...candles? In a fast food restaurant? Er, whatever. A ball game ends with the two winning tickets to a carnival which has them in a Ferris wheel that accidentally breaks down, trapping the two and giving them a wide view of the city, it’s lights spelling "DF+VG". Unless Valerie assumes Danny did that for her pre-arranged or there’s another couple with the same initials, wouldn’t you be scared shit someone carved your initials on goddamn skyscrapers?
Sam makes a passing comment (of jealously) and tells Tucker to shut off his PDA. Tucker can’t, it’s all wonky and has been throughout the episode. He finds it to be Technus when his face flickers for a brief moment (oh, brilliant move there, said the snaky reviewer) and Sam conclude the evil geek is pushing the two together. Tucker laughs it off, but they warn Danny anyway, who also laughs it off.
Danny: Come on, Technus hates emotions!Sam: And hello, he’s using your’s against you!
Tucker: Dim Lights, stalled Ferris wheels? You think the universe wants you two to be together?
Danny: Well...maybe, but I don’t know...I might.
Sam let off a gasp and so does Valerie who eavesdrops. Sam sees that and quickly changes the subject before Tucker could squeeze in the word "Technus", saying (and I’m sure with much struggle, that little trooper) they want Danny to be happy, so they’ll empty a seat for her to sit with. Danny leaves to meet Valerie whom comes over and asks Sam if she meant it. She continues her fabricated lie (which has some bit of truth to it--read my review to see what I mean) and receives a hug from her. "Human contact...crushing Goth indifference!"
Danny walks off in laughter over Sam and Tucker’s wild accusations, but ends up running into Technus-in-Valerie’s suit. Who knew the entire outfit was grated in technology? Batman Beyond would have a field day. Valerie witnesses her own suit chasing after Danny and quickly tries to find something in her backpack to help. She settles on a big damn stick. Teddy Roosevelt would be proud. Danny now realizes Technus was pushing them together. He tries to transform except the school security cameras are watching. Casper High is watching you. Technus makes some grip about the current love triangle (much to the clueless kid), and is about to blow his torso off until someone smacks him with a small carton of milk. 'Tis Valerie who tells Danny to run (he does...to go ghost) and combats her semi-look-alike. She doesn’t use the stick at all for battle, but she uses it to balance and administer a good kick. Tucker and even Sam are amazed. I am, too, the episode has some good action scenes, ninth degree mishap or not. Valerie hides behind a lunch table, then leaps, and throws her keys at him...her...it. "Oh great, now I’m doomed and I can’t get into my house." Pseudo Val guns her down and is about to meet her doom until Danny smashes her onto a clock tower. By the way, am I the only one amused Technus is speaking through a shapely female body? It's okay to gender bend that, it's okay for Sam to cross dress, but when a ghost cop possesses a female Asian principal, he can't speak through his own voice?
Pseudo Val guns Danny, then flies off with her hoverboard. Danny Ecto-Rays from afar, hitting the jet’s engine. Then he finishes it off by blowing of it’s arm and leg respectfully (citing Valerie isn’t there, so he ain’t gotta hold back) before blasting it’s chest clean. The armor then self-destructs, leaving broken pieces for Valerie to pick up. I’m amused the suit, shown in "Life Lessons" is soft like standard clothing, yet remains hard and steel-like here. Danny Phantom briefly eyes her before flying off. Technus also watches ("Demoralized!") and begins his final plans. "He was trying to do that to me, that COULD have been me...but it wasn’t." Valerie cries in shock. She then uses the school cameras to prove to her pops that she’s innocent from prior. He believes and congrats her for protecting Danny, giving her a free pass if not because the suit’s destroyed.
Back at Fenton Works, Tucker and Sam conclude Technus' plans to use the palliate to control all the world’s computers, but Danny’s concerned on Valerie’s hatred towards Phantom. If he wants to keep dating her, he can’t ever tell her he’s the ghost boy she despises so much. First things first, get rid of Technus. Jack arrives in timely fashion to have a [awkward] chat alone with his son on the matters of love. Fortunately not the birds and the bees (the poor kid's traumatized as it is), instead just plain advice; Danny should tell Valerie his feelings for her as soon as possible. And give something to seal the deal. Jack fetches out a class ring with Sam’s name engraved onto, though Danny quickly lets it know it’s not her he’s dating. Jack laughs it off and settles in for pie (but he’s not finished with his ice cream *frowns*) as Danny walks off, citing him "clueless". You know there’s heavy denial if Jack of all people knows Sam’s feelings for Danny.
Nighttime in Axion Lab. Danny gives Sam the Fenton Phones to keep contact and the class ring to hold onto. Shouldn’t he have given that to Tucker just in case? Well, luck be on his side, Sam reads it backwards, "Who the heck is "Wes?" Danny flies in and invisibility eyes Damon giving Valerie his own view on love. Valerie softly agrees she likes Danny a whole heck of a lot, enough that she’s willing to give up ghost hunting. Well, what do you know, a problem fixed all on it’s own and everything feels right in the world for our young comrade...until Sam contacts Danny, causing the two to revert to an alarmed state. Danny rushes off and grabs the jet pack, just in time to see an angry Valerie and an easily pissed papa. Danny tries to convince them of Technus’ presences, but they don’t believe ‘em. Technus, needing more time for launch-off uses his techno whatzits and gives Valerie a brand, spankin’ new ghost hunting suit.
Technus downloads himself to the satellite, Tucker concerns over his PDA, and Danny flies off to pursue him, Valerie following behind with a desperate Damon telling her to get out of that suit. She creates a hoverboard with her mind as well as floaty weapons and takes off instead. For someone who’s had that suit for two seconds, she got the hang of it damn quick. Must be the whole mind link-to-the-suit dealie. Makes the gadgets she possesses a lot easier to maneuver/bring up, I guess. Sam warns Danny of Valerie's pursuit, "It’s your girlfriend." She said it in her usual deadpan nature, I’d figure this to be too sensitive of a topic for her to mutter--maybe she’s just trying to keep cool so as not to blow her cover on her secret crush on him (which Tucker knows). Danny says she ain’t her real gal pal until he gives her the ring. Nice to know he still thinks while she’s blasting the hell out of him!
Stuck in a two-way fight between Technus and Valerie, Danny aims for the big green himself. He’s quickly taken over the computers of various points in the world, including techno-centric Japan (where he turns into a multi-headed beast, complete with Godzilla sounds and I’m sure tentacles because it’s ain’t Nihongo without ‘em). Try as he might, Danny’s Ecto-Rays can’t pierce the satellite’s built. He doesn’t get to plan ahead, Val grabs him by the rim of her hoverboard which proceeds to electrocute him. It unintentionally triggers his Ecto-Rays and ends up blasting her to unconsciousness. Horrified at what he has done, he takes his anger out on Technus, putting the jet pack in overload (would anyone really put a smiley face on a piece of equipment like that?) and phasing out of it, causing the pack to enter Technus’ mouth and create a BIG DAMN EXPLOSION. One of the debris hits Valerie’s helmet, waking her. Unable to find Danny, she flies home, unaware that he’s clinging to her board invisibly. Lucky she didn't whip out a ghost tracking device.
School the next day, Sam returns the ring and asks if he’s sure of his decision. Well, she said she’d give up ghost hunting...for me! Besides, I like her and she likes me back. Isn’t it suppose to be that simple?" Tucker and Sam call him "clueless". Valerie arrives in time to chat. The two leave with Sam a bit hesitant. Before Danny can start, Valerie...well, I’ll let them speak for themselves.
Valerie: I’ve had a lot of fun these last few days, but…my life is way too complicated for us to be anything other then...friends.Danny: *disappointed* Just...friends? Yeah, b-but, I thought--
Valerie: I thought, too. But there’s something important I have to do and I don’t want you to get hurt because of it. Besides, it’s not like you were gonna give me some lame class ring, right?
Danny stumbles and agrees as Valerie plants a kiss on his cheek. She leaves and turns into her hunter form, flying off to fight another day. Tucker is peeved the two girls who witnessed the break up (before it even started!) doesn’t consider him a dating option, and Sam comforts Danny before he gives her the ring to hold onto. Again, why her? Is he in such a emotional rut that he gave the "Sam" ring to her? I wondered if Marmel had plans for such a concept beyond what we did get at the finale.
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Article Written in: Oct. 19, 2008
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