TITLE: Reign Storm: With BIG DAMN EXPLOSIONS!
LOGO: The King of All Shows!”
EPISODE #: 24/25
SEASON: 2
AIRDATE: July 29, 2005
DIRECTOR: Butch Hartman, Wincat Alcala, Kevin Petrilak
WRITERS: Steve Marmel
STORYBOARD: Butch Hartman, Ray Angrum, Ben Balistreri, Shannon Denton, Robb Pratt, Fred Reyes
ART DIRECTIONS: George Goodchild, Bob Boyle
MUSIC: Guy Moon
APPEARANCE:The Main Trio, Vlad, Valerie, Damon, Fenton Folks, Jazz, Lancer, Paulina, Dash and the other Casper High students, Tiffany Snow, Lance Thunder
GHOST APPEARANCE: Pariah Dark and his skeleton Army (1st), Fright Knight
FENTON GADGET APPEARANCE: Fenton Ecto-Suit (1st appearance), Fenton Ghost Shield, Fenton Probe
LESSON: When it doubt, every relationship problem can be solved through a pimp slap.
SUMMARY:Scary ghost crows crowd the dead trees as Vlad exits from his position and flies to an empty red castle: Pariah’s Keep. There’s a sarcophagus at the very top of the stairs, all nicely decorated and whatnot. Below are two skeletons: one’s holding a purple pumpkin with a sword through it (Fright Knight by the way), another, a red bubble or come circular magic force with a ring inside. Vlad uses the skeleton key on the latter to get the Ring of Rage. Using it, he’d have all the powers he wants--oh, wait. Not really. You need the crown of fire. You fail. Gryffindor loses ten points. Luckily the crown is located inside the tomb, so Vlad foolishly opens it up to nab it, only to awaken up the Ghost King.
“WHO DARES?!” He bellows. Thousands of year of sleeping = cranky in the morning. Vlad tries to suck up to him, but is instead blasted out of his castle. Pariah then proceeds to free Fright Knight from his pumpkin imprisonment. He gets all ready to do some serious damage until he spots his boss, Pariah. Damn, so much for that paid vacation. So I’m gonna assume Danny’s incantation that sent FK away in “Fright Night” sent him back to Pariah’s castle and in a purple pumpkin? Albeit, a mystical one. *shrugs* No explanation, but it makes sense without contradicting anything. The only difference is that his pumpkin moved to a skeleton (last time, it was just on the floor). Don’t you just hate moving furniture?
A hurt Vlad tries to make his escape, but Pariah quickly grabs him and seeks the ring. He don’t have it because he be a duplicate, bro. Vlad. Magnificent. Bastard. The REAL Vlad is trying to work out a deal with Fright Knight, one which he sounds interest in. Pariah interrupts with an Ecto Ray, making it Vlad’s cue to exit stage left. Pariah one ups him by Ecto Blasting again, hitting Vlad square in the chest, reducing him to his human counterpart and into a ghost portal. Behind the portal is Jack and Maddie who has finished the lower half of their advanced Ecto Battle suit. It’s operational, but there’s still some bugs to work out. Vlad pops out at this point, damaged, but clinging onto the ring. I’d like to take this time to explore how hot Vlad looks with bangs. Vlad cries for Jack’s help (“my fat old friend”), then faints.
Sam and Tucker are pleased to see a happy Danny; he not only stopped Ember and Skulker, but he finished his book report. Nothing can spoil his day. Danny Fenton Production presents: Man getting hit by football. Not in the groan, but enough to piss off Danny and shoot a small Ecto Ray to a sign post, tripping the bullies that started it: Dash and Kwan. “No stopping any time, nitwit!” Inside Casper High, Sam points out Danny’s power abuse. I do, too. Have you learned nothing from “Splitting Images”, boy? Do I have to administrate a pineapple-slap? Tucker is on Danny’s side though and even more so when Dash opens his locker to a space filled with toilet paper. Even the idiot Dash manages to put two and two together when he finds out the wipes have Jack’s face on it. Oh, Danny, Danny, Danny. Get a brain, please, like you did last episode. “Never” is karma’s doorbell.” Sam spouts.
Danny runs for it, ending up in an empty cafeteria sans two nerds playing a children's card game. Mikey, my, what puberty you gained, you’re voice is changing! Danny hides underneath the occupied table, protected by a tuba. Also below is Valerie Gray, hiding from Nathan who’s made it his life's goal to ask her to the school prom despite it being three years away. Stuck underneath for a good while, the two mutually agree to check their book reports. They later make a run for it again, hiding behind an alley where Sam’s remains incognito from her mother who’s trying in vain to get her to dress in the most pinkest dress ever shown on display. Even Pink Panther would be revolted. Danny takes the two girls to his home to hide (repaying Val a favor for letting him hide in the same place as she), Sam giving him a fair warning on Miss Ghost Hunter in the process, “Be careful; the last thing you want to do is invite your arch enemy into your own house.” Too late. Vlad’s already in, playing chess with Jack (who’s deeply immersed into the game). Jazz is reading and Maddie is serving tea, siding on Danny’s team on why the hell Vlad is here, pouring tea on his lap. Again, not the groan, but close.
“I was just, you know, passing through, and then I saw that maaaaarvelous battle suit and I thought, “since I can’t just destroy Jack and take it, I suppose I’ll steal it’s secret right out from under his nose!” Vlad blatantly reveals his plot, though both he and Jack laugh it off as a joke. Awww, poor, poor Jack. Danny isn’t fooled. Maddie commences pouring more hot tea on him. You know what that means: WET BLACK SUIT CONTEST! You know Vlad tends to raise his arms up like a giddy schoolgirl a lot here, maybe he’s the girl in the relationship...nah, he’s too manly for that. Vlad threatens to expose Danny’s secret if he ever told anyone about his plans, but interrupts himself when he meets Val in person. Both her and Danny are considerably confused.
Any subplot is put on halt when a mantle of Jack’s head alarms. Jack pushes a button located inside and their family frame turns into a radar screen. It’s the Ecto-Exodus Alarm; an alarm that only goes off when they’re about to face a massive ghost invasion. So Walker’s invasion in “Public Enemies” wasn’t enough? Apparently not, Pariah’s army makes Walker’s team look like a basket of kittens, let along an entire population of ghosts. Jack and Maddie get ready to bust a move, but Sam and Jazz (Sam gives Jazz a confused look, she in return acts as casual as possible) stalls the two while Danny goes off to fight ghostly crime. Valerie, too tries to gear up, but Vlad has her ghost hunting equipment. Surprised he knows about it, Valerie follows Vlad outside for a nice chat.
Danny heads to the Fenton basement and quickly goes ghost. He gets ready to deliver epic Lord of the Rings battle, but finds only Box Ghost. Relieved, Danny is then struck by Skulker’s weapon. He pins the boy to the ground long enough for literally thousands of ghosts to escape the portal and make their way to Earth. Danny grabs Skulker’s leg and flies him off from Fenton Works where he’s about to deliver a punch before Dora in dragon mode stops him. Mounting her is Sidney who states there’s far bigger problems then Skulker can muster. Danny then asks why all the goddamn ghosts are all here, including Technus who’s not suppose to be here; he’s trapped inside a computer (and next episode “Identity Crisis” confirms that!). Ember answers by saying Pariah has returned, then they all beat the shit out of Danny, despite the current crisis. I know ghosts are obsessed, but sheesh!
Danny crash-lands near his home (pavement cracking and everything, ouch!) turning human in the process. Sam finds him and immediately asks if he’s okay. Danny just glares. “Sorry, standard question.” Danny and Sam are confuzzled on the recent events, but it’s clear this goes beyond Vlad Plasmius. Speaking of which, Masters is aboard Valerie’s jet board, asking if the weapons and suit is to her liking. She loves it indeedily, gosh durn it, then asks why Vlad chose her despite her age. Vlad manipulates her with kind words. “Why else would I say such a thing? I’d have to be some sort of--ooh--diabolical villain to manipulate like that!” They both laugh it off. He then gives Valerie the Ring of Rage, fibbing that it’s a cherished item passed down from ghost hunter to ghost hunter. Dude, she’s a little young to propose, don’t you think? Besides, don’t you have a ghost boy you wanna stalk instead? Valerie, flattered, accepts and leaves to combat more ghosts. Vlad turns into Plasmius and makes note that Danny will be too busy protecting her, leaving him easy access to the battle suit.
Back in Pariah’s castle, his top skeleton generals of different time era have readied his army. On Fright Knight’s--I mean--Pariah’s command, they are invade Amity Park until the ring is retrieved. Damn, considering how big FK is in comparison to Danny, Pariah is a walking giant. Careful now, there’ll be a small ghost boy stuck on your boots.
The next day, Danny comments to his friends how he suffered sleep due to the recent ghost invasion and his “arch enemy being in the guest room next to him.” Slight paraphrasing. Also, SUB. TEXT. Danny and Valerie exchange friendly “hellos”, even for Tucker to question it. Sam sarcastically shows her true feelings on that matter, “And apparently, next week, we’re having cookies with Skulker!” I think this was the one single line that promoted me as a Skulker/Sam, if not in my fan comic, Chess Piece. Valerie comes to warn Danny, but it’s a bit late as Dash and Kwan comes up from behind. Dash, in dramatic slow-mo, is about to punch Danny, but he evades it by making his chin invisible, then he quickly Ecto-Rays Dash’s soles to the ground. How can anyone NOT see that (Sam points that out, by the way)?! As Dash trips, Valerie drops her foot tray so that his face lands on it. The two exchange pleasant faces. Sam lectures Danny, Danny acts like a dumbass.
Back in Fenton Labs, Vlad eagerly helps Jack complete the battle suit, only ever so bugging him to hurry the hell up. A horse neigh signals Maddie down to witness Fright Knight bursting through the ghost portal with an army at hand; their task: find the Ring of Rage. Maddie tries to close the portal (kinda hard when FK flung one of the doors out), but Fright Knight grabs her by the arm. Vlad and Jack both cry out to release her before Vlad urges Jack to use whatever part of the suit is working. Jack dons the bottom half and runs in Sonic speed, circling Fright Knight and rapidly kicking his arm, dropping Maddie in the process. He delivers a final one that sends FK flying just in time for the suit to drain his energy and life. Maddie asks Vlad’s help to remove his pants, but Vlad quickly declines. Double entendre, anyone?
Pariah’s army vandalizes Amity Park causing mass waves of confusion. No doubt in their mind they’re blaming Danny Phantom for this. If “Public Enemies” started off bad, “Reign Storm” upgraded to worst. The other ghosts take this time to “camouflage” themselves in Amity Park AKA hide. Lunch Lady takes over a burger join, Box Ghost...a box store, Ember a guitar center (with at least one fan), and Skulker takes over the hunting goods, now with 80% burly men in flapped hats. Sidney criticizes the bullying they’re doing with Skulker making a logical conclusion, “No one lives here, it’s a store.” Then he crossbows Sidney to a wall.
Sam and Tucker evenly exchange their concern for him and Valerie, but Danny says he can handle her, saying she ain’t so bad. Valerie pops in to say the same. His ghost sense loosens, forcing Danny to bolt, bumping into Dash as a result. Beyond peeved, Danny possessed Dash, then smacks him to various lockers before busting a move. OH, Danny, Danny, Danny. Valerie asks where he went off of, concluding only guys who run off like that “has a job...or a girlfriend.” Immediately Sam is on the defense on the last one, saying he has none. Valerie is unconvinced and slyly warns her that if she doesn’t confess, someone will. Tucker’s PDA beeps and the three watch the news of the current ghost invasion. That includes the Fenton in their basement lab and Damon Gray at work.
Danny meanwhile counters Vlad who eggs him on their similarity and love for power. Danny proceeds to lay the smack down on the school’s football field until Vlad grabs him by the neck, saying he has bigger matters then combating him. Indeed, Fright Knight and his army comes and the two reluctantly work together to burninate them to bits. Fright Knight demands the ring from Vlad. He ensures he doesn’t have it, but brings up the whole "If you join me" thing again. Valerie interrupts to deliver some whoop ass on everyone. “She really is quite good at this.” Vlad irritably states. All the students of Casper High watch as their parents come to pick him up in large numbers. “Doesn’t anybody in this town drive a compact car?” Sam annoyingly spouts. Both Damon and Maddie asks for their respective kids; Sam and Tucker make a hasty lie that isn’t too far from the truth, “He/She’s with Valerie/Danny.”
Valerie grabs Danny and demands to know what the shit is going on. Danny points to Fright Knight as the main problem and asks for her help for the time being. Reluctant, she shakes hands with Danny. Now both half ghosts and Valerie deliver some much needed asskickery to Fright Knight. Upset he couldn’t leave with the ring in peace (well, you’re entrance wasn’t exactly child-friendly, maestro), FK sticks his sword to the ground, freezes his army, and entraps the entire town, claiming it for Pariah.
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The "Reign Storm" title card from the DVD has been modify to remove the "Part 1" logo, thanks to DreamHazeMaster.
Article written in: Jul. 2, 2008
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