S1E2: The Note

Original Airdate: October 10, 1994

Episode Synopsis:

In what I suspect is going to be a trend, the episode begins with Emperor Gorganus discussing his plans to take over Earth with his pet bird Lechner listening on.  Gorganus comes up with the brilliant idea of sending another monster to defeat the Galactic Sentinels, and chooses Neuragula, a monster with only arms, legs, and a giant brain.  Neuragula has the power to emit audible shrieks, though they're really fake and just there to teach us about obedience to authority.

Back in Beverly Hills, Drew complains to Gordon that they were forced to become Galactic Sentinels and that "we didn't choose it of our own free will."  In case that didn't sound like something a high schooler would typically say, don't worry because Drew proceeds to channel her inner Marx with the following lines:

     Discontent is the first step in the progress of a person or a nation

     My philosophy is my own - yours has been handed down 
     from one elitist generation to the next.

     I have a problem being a pawn to social conformity and rules.

Jesus, I'm already dreading the episode where she discovers Vonnegut.  Gordon retorts that Drew is "a conformist in her non-conformity," though I think kids these days just say "I know that you're a non-conforming conformist, but what am I?"  Gordon insists that he does not follow peer pressure but instead "acts the way I do because it's the right way to act."  Though if Gordon actually knew the right way to act, I doubt he'd be on this show.

Meanwhile, Laurie, who I didn't even remember was a character until this very moment, asks Swinton to give a book to Gordon.  As Laurie walks away, Drew suggests that they play a trick on Gordon to show that he is a "slave to peer pressure."  She convinces Swinton to copy Laurie's handwriting and attach a fake note to the book.  The note reads:

     To the man I most admire:

     While I've always thought of you as rigid, uptight, and a rule follower, 
     I now realize you'd break loose and forget the rules to be at my side 
     if you knew I needed you.

It's no Coleridge but it's enough to fool Gordon.  Feeling free-spirited, he begins talking to Laurie but is interrupted when Laurie's tattoo begins to beep.  Gordon decides to join as well, ostensibly because he wants to break the rules but more likely because he isn't the only one creeped out by the idea of leaving a high school girl alone with a creepy blob dude in another dimension.

Both jump through the portal and appear before Nimbar, who asks why Gordon is totally killing his game.  Gordon confidently states that he can break rules, which obviously won't be a recurring theme in this episode.  Nimbar tells both of them that a "solar storm" is hindering his ability to see Earth, so requests that they go on a reconnaissance mission.  However, he emphasizes that they are not to engage any monsters they encounter.  They transform and are teleported to yet another desert location, where they encounter Neuragula.  Gordon unsurprisingly - unsurprising because the writers would have made you take this point to your grave if they could - decides to break the rules again and fight the monster, but is quickly defeated.  

Meanwhile, back at school, Comrade Drew and Swinton are called to assist. They visit Nimbar, who expresses outrage over Gordon disobeying orders. Swinton tries to confess about their prank, but Drew stops him by declaring him an enemy of the state and sending him to the gulag.  They transport to the desert and do a few random flips for a bit before they all return to Nimbar.

The gang attempts to figure out a way to defeat the screaming brain monster. Swinton realizes that the monster is channeling its power from the brain's two hemispheres (one which focuses on logic, we are told, and the other on emotions), which work in tandem.  If they can trick the two halves into acting differently, Swinton surmises, they can disrupt the monster and defeat him.

The Galactic Sentinels return to the battlefield and engage the monster, which consists of using their weapons and doing some more flips for a bit. Now remember that game plan they devised?  Good because the team totally disregards it and simply transforms into Knightron.  Apparently Nimbar gave the teenagers the additional ability to give a middle finger to the audience. Knightron promptly blows up the monster.

The teenagers return to Nimbar's lair, where Drew and Swinton confess.  Drew explains that she was just trying to prove that Gordon could be influenced by peer pressure, though we already know this because someone must have told him it was a good career move to be on this show.  Nimbar chastises the team for the harm they could have caused, and they return to Beverly Hills.

Lesson of the Episode:

If you scored a 3 or higher on the AP Psych exam, you'd have been qualified to write for this show.

90's Reference of the Episode:

Swinton asks Gordon if he's "heard the big news." Gordon sarcastically responds "Smashing Pumpkins wants you to sing lead vocals?" Swinton proceeds to feel melancholy and the infinite sadness.

Joke of the Episode:

Swinton shows off his "electronic date book," to which Gordon asks "do you have any dates to put in it?" You know, in case Gordon wasn't already your favorite character.

Overall Review:

The most disturbing exploration of the human brain since The Bell Jar.