I hate Danielle.
I hate her with the passion of a thousand fireballs. She has the makings of a Mary Sue that could be found in thousands of fanfic and fanart prior and after her appearance: She’s a mysterious young girl who shares the same ghostly powers as the main character, suffers a tragic life, is a half ghost, turns from an evil accomplish to a good-hearted individual, and worse, lives. Indeed, my first reaction upon reading the synopsis of "KS" before its airing was met with severe reluctance. Unfortunately, my prediction proved true. Which is a shame, because she was a character with limited, but great potential, something mostly wasted here. My first viewing left her with a bad taste in my mouth, but I vowed that if she made another appearance with an established character and usefulness, I would tolerate her. That didn’t happen there, it doesn’t happen here.
Being a pale clone shadow of Danny, what we essentially get is a repeat. While it can be justified that she is Danny’s clone, that shouldn’t prevent Vlad the writers from giving her a differing personality to make her at least stand somewhat apart. She doesn’t get the chance to connect with Danny either; she’s too busy leading him on while he’s stuck questioning her constant mysterious. Their brief racing session was the only chemistry between each other. Her shared interests with Danny emphasizes more of her cloned state then it does a characterization—Danielle only reacts appropriately to the events played before her eyes. While she doesn’t ruin the series, she does ruin its key dynamic: Danny’s similarities and differences with Vlad, his one and only equal.
Danny’s unique half ghost status was destroyed when Vlad entered the scene, but the justification was brilliant. He is Danny’s darker counterpart, he is his rival, and he is exactly the type of person Danny can turn into if he isn’t careful. Vlad is there as a reminder of the kind of powers he does possess and can abuse. Without Vlad, there would be no inner conflict; he and Danny compare and contrast and the two understand each other better then anyone ever could. Danielle enters and quickly renders herself as a useless third wheel. Just what purpose can she serve while she is alive? She may have enhanced the drama, but that alone could have been magnified by her death. But dead or alive, it all boils down to a Danny vs. Vlad focus regardless.
Tucker and Sam’s subplot was unneeded and like most Danny vs. Vlad episodes, they should have wisely stepped out. It’s imperative to look at how the "sidekicks" feel when Danny, the one with powers, gets out of situations that his non-powered buddies can't, but it tampers so late in the series. As the Season Two finale, juxtaposing that with Danny’s maturity makes him come off as an ass—severely cutting his growth.
Danielle’s existence did serve two major functions: Danny’s development and Vlad’s insanity. After years of experience living under Jazz’s "adult" supervision, Danny extends his services to Danielle. While this won’t be emphasized until "D-Stabilized", Danny is quick to ask who she is, where she came from, and how fast he can report this to his parents. He lectures her callous abuse of her powers, he settles Danielle with the coarse truth, and finally, protects her with all his might. Danny isn’t just playing the hero; he’s playing the older brother. If she isn't a Canon Sue, then she's a devious plot device.
But the one that makes me ignore the flaws is Vlad. For all the mish-mash of a second-rated B plot and a feckless [fan]character, "Kindred Spirits" is one of the best and boldest episodes of the entire series (second favorite of mines) because of the man's traumatic Villainous Breakdown. A plot that’s been in works since "Shades Of Gray", after months of rejection from those he consider close, Vlad’s ultimate plan indefinitely questions his lack of common sense. He desperately pieced together a Maddie Program, but it’s clear it’s meant as comfort food then a substitute, and his devotion to Daniel took him to build a perfect clone. He who will obey Vlad, he who will call him "father", he who will love him. Forget that he’s nothing but a fake duplicate, Vlad at this point is willing to kill the real deal to live in a false, but satisfying enough dream. He’s longed for love for twenty years and the thought of a half ghost son he can cherish, have devoted every aspect to him at the cost of his sanity.
He is at his most audacious and his most despicable. Yet he’s also at his most tragic and sympathetic. "The Ultimate Enemy" showed a firsthand look at the human that he only hinted in prior episodes. He’s not a complete monster and expresses as much fear as he does pride. "Masters Of All Time" amplified his nastiness that though came from an alternate Vlad, proved he was just as scared as the original, careening on murder to ensure his happiness. With it, he built himself a bigger grave to dig and a wider hole to fill the tragedy. In short, he turned more sympathetic. And thus, by "Kindred Spirits", we were prepared to take in the largest hit that Vlad would ever experience. This was the final straw; months of final planning that would make or break his relationship and opinion of Danny. But the moment his dying clone—nay—his son extended his hand for his father’s help, a help he could not give, all levelheadedness flew out the window and we’re treated to one of the most beautifully conjured "NOOOOOs" I’ve EVER heard a villain utter.
Strangely it is Danny’s lack of care for having destroyed the perfect clone that raises an eyebrow. Yes, he wasn’t born the way humans naturally do, but that doesn’t stop the real Danny from cuddling the equally conceived Danielle—she has free will. So does the perfect clone. There is nothing false about him; he gives off a horrified look as he slowly dies with the panic and comfort that the last image he sees would be the man he would love. He’s human. Vlad’s reaction was appropriate. He cradled his creation with elaborate care and Danny dashes it down in minutes without blinking an eye. It’s game on.
I actually have little to say about the animation. It’s good, but nothing grabs me. The first couple of battles are very well-done, but the animators got lazy during the latter with Vlad, opting more with simple Ecto Rays and a long-ass transformation sequence. And no matter what Danny says, Danielle does not look like she’s twelve. She looks eight. Unfortunately this is a painful process of Hartman’s artwork and while it works for him, it doesn’t for me and she looks far smaller (she’s half Danny's size!) and younger then she supposedly is.
9/10
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Article written in: Apr. 27, 2009
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