Web Weirdos
"Web Weirdos" | |
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Adventure Time episode | |
Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 3 |
Directed by | |
Written by | Ako Castuera Jesse Moynihan |
Story by | Dick Grunert Patrick McHale Kent Osborne Pendleton Ward |
Production code | 1008-081[1] |
Original air date | April 16, 2012 |
Running time | 11 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"Web Weirdos" is the third episode of the
While storyboarding the episode, Castuera focused her attention on physical comedy. Moynihan, on the other hand, concentrated more on the emotional interactions between the characters, having been inspired by a past experience at couple's therapy. Together with other episodes of Cartoon Network programming, this episode helped make the network the number one television destination for boys aged 2–11, 6–11, and 9–14 on Monday nights. The episode received largely positive reviews from critics, with Oliver Sava of The A.V. Club and Mike Lechevaillier of Slate magazine praising "Web Weirdos" for its themes. On the other hand, Moynihan has expressed some disdain for the episode, reasoning that it did not turn out the way he intended.
Plot
While walking in the woods, Jake begins performing acrobatic moves. Finn attempts to follow, and eventually the two get trapped in a massive spider web. The owners of the web, two large spiders named Ed (voiced by
With the spiders distracted, Finn and Jake try to escape from the web, but to no avail. Ed later returns with a flaming sword, which he presents to Barb. However, she gets angry, arguing that he picked the gift because he liked it, not because she would like it. Angered, Ed cuts the web, releasing Finn and Jake; he claims that Barb is dependent on him for food, as she cannot spin her own webs due to some unknown dysfunction. Barb attacks Ed, noting that
Production
"Web Weirdos" was written and storyboarded by
The episode guest stars Bobcat Goldthwait and Susie Essman as Ed and Barb, respectively.[6][7] The designs for the spiders are idiosyncratic, as they were purposely crafted by Castuera and Moynihan to differ from other types of cartoon spiders.[5] Castuera later said that their designs reminded her of "stuff I find at thrift stores".[4] Before the episode aired, Cartoon Network's standard and practices department took issue with the sound that plays when Barb secretes silk. Originally, the sound effect was "gooier [and] fartier", but this was later cut and replaced with a more tame sound effect.[3] Two of the bugs that are trapped on the spider web with Finn and Jake are voiced by series storyboard artist Cole Sanchez and voice actor Tom Kenny.[8][9]
Reception
"Web Weirdos" first aired on
Oliver Sava of The A.V. Club awarded the episode an "A−", arguing that the importance of communication in a relationship is paramount, and an extremely important lesson for the young children who watch Adventure Time to learn. He thus complimented "Web Weirdos" for exploring this topic through the idiosyncratic tale of two married but ultimately unhappy spiders, calling this decision one of "the reason[s] why Adventure Time has such crossover appeal".[6] Sava also complimented the performances of both Essman and Goldthwait, noting that the two "make a great pair, capturing the stakes of the couple’s fight without sacrificing the comedy of the situation."[6]
Mike Lechevaillier of Slate magazine, in a review of the fourth season, argued that the episode—along with many other fourth season episodes that focus on love and infatuation— "present[s] determinedly adult interrelations through the eyes of the inexperienced Finn".[12] In particular, he noted that "Web Weirdos" revolves around complicated themes like the nature of failing relationships and unexpected pregnancy. Ultimately, Lechevaillier compared and contrasted the episode with the following episode "Dream of Love", noting that both deal with relationships in different ways, "yet do so with such originality, humbleness, and poise that any viewer, from age six to 60, can find something to identify with."[12]
Moynihan later expressed dissatisfaction with the resulting episode; he felt that, while he took creative risks with the episode, his efforts fell flat. In an online interview, he explained, "I think Ako's parts are funny, but everything I wrote in the episode played out in a way that I didn't expect. It's the one episode I've worked on that I really feel didn't do anything I intended."[13]
Explanatory notes
References
- ^ "Shows A-Z, Adventure Time With Finn and Jake". The Futon Critic. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- ^ Leichliter, Larry (director); Nate Cash (creative director); Nick Jennings (art director); Ako Castuera & Jesse Moynihan (storyboard artists) (April 16, 2012). "Web Weirdos". Adventure Time. Season 4. Episode 3. Cartoon Network.
- ^ a b Ward, Pendleton (2014). "Web Weirdos". Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season (DVD commentary track). Los Angeles: Cartoon Network.
- ^ a b Castuera, Ako (2014). "Web Weirdos". Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season (DVD commentary track). Los Angeles: Cartoon Network.
- ^ a b Moynihan, Jesse (2014). "Web Weirdos". Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season (DVD commentary track). Los Angeles: Cartoon Network.
- ^ a b c Sava, Oliver (April 16, 2012). "Adventure Time: 'Web Weirdos'". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ McLean, Thomas (March 12, 2012). "'Adventure Time' Season 4 Premieres April 2". Animation Magazine. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ^ Herpich, Tom (2014). "Web Weirdos". Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season (DVD commentary track). Los Angeles: Cartoon Network.
- ^ Sanchez, Cole (2014). "Web Weirdos". Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season (DVD commentary track). Los Angeles: Cartoon Network.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (May 1, 2012). "Ratings Notes for Adult Swim, TBS, Cartoon Network, TNT, NBA Playoffs, 'Eagleheart', 'Hardcore Pawn' & More". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- ^ "Cartoon Network-Adventure Time-Complete 4th Season". Amazon. June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- ^ The Washington Post Company. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ Moynihan, Jesse (August 22, 2013). "Jesse Moynihan – Post 635". LandofOoo.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014. Note: Information taken from Jesse Moynihan's verified account.
External links
- "Web Weirdos" at IMDb