Inspetor Bugiganga

When I first found out they were making a new Inspector Gadget series I was excited and happy since I grew up with the 80's Inspector Gadget. But seeing what they have turned it into made me really disappointed.

1. The CGI is hideous and all the characters looks awful. I wish they would have gone back the 80's Inspector Gadget animation style. The 80's animation was beautiful.

2. The writing is awful!

3. What happened to Brain's character? He seems constantly angry/grumpy.

4. What happened to Penny's computer book?

5. What happened to Dr. Claw? In the 80's show he used to be a formidable foe, now he is just incompetent.

6. The new character Talon was a bad idea.

7. The voice casting is bad

8. Episodes only last around 10 minutes.

First off, I never saw the original, nor the two live action movies, so I have no idea what I might be missing, though I don't mind the 3D as much as some.

Some users complain about the apparently new character Talon to match Penny, but I have to say, their classically Hawksian teenage banter between one good and one bad is mainly why I keep coming back. Maybe I'm a slobbering softy without knowing it, dunno. Oh, that and a helicopter in your hat ... how can you go wrong with that‽‽‽

It's silly and fun and spies and constant explosions and malfunctions. Brilliant Netflix pick for the-day-after.

The classic 1983 Inspector Gadget was one of my all-time favorite animated TV shows growing up. However, this revival series from WildBrain is incredibly monotonous and insulting. It focuses too much on childish writing and lacked heart. #1: the titular character, Inspector Gadget, never has any significance in any episode, and feels like he's been reduced to a forgettable side character. #2: the main villain, Dr. Claw, has been reduce to being painfully ignorant, juvenile and less threatening, and acts even more incompetent than his henchmen or nephew combined. #3: Dr. Claw's nephew, Talon, is incredibly arrogant and annoying, and his love/hate rivalry with Penny feels cliched and forced. #4: Gadget's niece Penny, and well as Brain, take up way too much of the spotlight, and act like she's the main character of the series instead of her uncle. #5: Literally every episode is about Dr. Claw doing malicious things for the most boring and juvenile reasons, then Penny and Brain do all the competent work while Gadget does absolutely nothing but saves the day with dumb luck all the time, rinse and repeat. Plus, seasons three and four made me rage quit. #6: The writing also lacks sincerity, opting for shallow, juvenile and contrived plot lines. Plus, any actual humor or character growth has been sacrificed for cheap jokes and outdated cliches. Finally, bizarrely this Canadian series is only available on Netflix in America, but aired reruns on Universal Kids after the show ended in late 2018. So releasing a Canadian cable TV show on an American streaming platform feels pointless. The only positive thing about this reboot is that one of the animators that worked on this show, Alex Henderson, later made one of my favorite independent animated short films on YouTube, The Rhino and the Redbill. So in conclusion, the 2015 Inspector Gadget reboot is incredibly lackluster and disappointing.

Inspector Gadget was always silly so I can't be mad at the silliness in the new show. The jokes aren't horrible most of the time and Gadget himself is his normal useless brand of crazy. The animation is a nice stylized upgrade. Penny's technology upgrade is great, I wondered how they would work with her old book and this is a nice change. Speaking of Penny, always great to hear Tara Strong at work. Gadget's voice is a great impression of the original. The introduction of Talon struck me as a little off though, he is growing on me but he is like a goofy version of Scott from Austin Powers while Dr. Claw is more like Dr. Evil. I do like how he is competent though giving Penny a challenge. And of course most of the day's problems are solved due to Gadget being basically a creature of chaos with unpredictable actions. So it is far from perfect, the theme is lacking too, but over all there are far worse things out there.

Boom! Did you hear that sound?

Something tells me another childhood favourite has bitten the dust and has been replaced by a lifeless CG version.

Oh my, the word's gone out.

It's poor old Inspector Gadget. Oh man, one of my big childhood heroes. We all know what the original series was like, it had good animation, funny jokes and memorable characters.

But no, I'm not here to praise the original like some happy type of guy who just had his first taste of coffee, I'm here to say that this so-called "updated" version ain't worth your time.

There, I said it.

What, you want more? Alright then. I'll have to think of cunning ways to tell you why you shouldn't watch it.

Ooh, I know.

What if I told you that Inspector Gadget has been turned into an annoying and bumbling fool who falls other every time just to get a cheap laugh from the audience?

Will that turn ya off? No. Okay, what if I told you that Dr Claw isn't menacing in the slightest and has an actor who overacts so much you'll pine for the days of Frank Welker?

Oh and even better, what if I said he has a new sidekick who is irritating? Still not enough.

Jeez, you're a tough one.

Well, how about the ugly and unappealing animation that looks rushed and dull? Or the fact it's the usual Canadian toon that has 2 segments nowadays in one episode which means everything is rushed?

Is that fine for ya?

Hold on a minute, no one's here. Damn, must have been talking to myself.

Sigh, I think I might as well stick a DVD of the old and far better Gadget on. And to anyone who was listening, don't watch it, it ain't worth it. There's only so much we can do with our lives...