Warning do not read unless seen episode.
This is another honorable mention episode. I'll first address the three Elephants in the room.
One, Kashin was pretty darn stupid in the episode, except for the final minutes in the end. But anyway, Kashin was stupid because throughout the episode he's never told any of the Defenders about Rick's drug problem, despite the fact that earlier in a class session he was taught he always should. You could say maybe it's because he didn't want to break his trust, but trust has already been broken once Rick started doing drugs.
Let alone Kashin is a bit of a Dexus Ex Machina device in the story which is one thing that really that annoys me in these kinds of stories where it's a typical cliche when one character does drugs something always happens to someone close to just suddenly turn them around. Not to say that can't happen but it's been done to death, give it a rest.
Second is Flash, I felt he was slightly out of character. I know that he focused on his mission and is just pushing his son to be the best. But I don't feel he would ever do it this hard or even let himself become completely oblivious to what's going on with his son. Which is dangerous as we see it has contributed to his partial incompetence in command, seriously couldn't he have just assigned someone else to install the early warning system. However, both Kashin and Flash do redeem themselves in the episode by the very end, so that a small up for both.
But the third problem are the Defenders themselves they don't really have much to any involvement in the matter. Would have liked it if some of the characters had a hand in things. Like one moment when Flash spouts off toward Rick in front of the Defenders. Lotor could of came up and told Flash off being way out of line but also calls him out on some incompetence in command. That would have helped set Flash straight get him to take a step back on what he's doing earlier. But also, it just would have been nice to see the other Defenders give Rick the saving he needs and it shows Rick's family truly is there for him.
Ok, that's out of the way, I like this episode because not just is it one that addresses the issue of drugs which is still a serious problem today. But also, one that reminds of on how mortal one of the Defenders truly are. As usual there is a person in peril in this episode but this time it's Rick. Rick is one of my favorite characters in the show and my favorite of the young Defenders. It's just really sad as we see Rick is overworked and the pressure is just taking its toll on him.
There is this flight similar scene where Flash is practically back seat driving the guy constantly and we see Rick is getting more nervous. Yeah, I fraking hate backseat drivers, seriously it really doesn't help at all and really is dangerous as the constantly complaining just makes drivers more nervous which is something you don't want. From seeing how he performed in flight sim though it wasn't his fault as Flash suddenly at the last second gave him a term for a move he and even I don't understand; at that moment I thought, "Yeah Rick was doing better on his own." Rick after the failure in the sim walks away angry. It's funny the last thing Flash says, and I thought, "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately."
These things just go to show how too much pressure like too much of anything in life is hazardous to your health; yes, pressure can turn coal into a diamond but only with the right amount. The wrong amount can crush that coal giving you just nothing but dust. Rick's morale is just completely shot and then suddenly a scummy drug dealer in the school rears his ugly head and gives him what seems like a solution.
That scene shows a reality about the drug dealers how they always pass themselves off like your best friend when they don't even know you, and make the poison they sell seem like a quick and easy solution when it actually isn't. Rick unfortunately in his deep depression and desperation ignores his better judgement and surcomes to drugs, after that things just go downhill from there.
We see Rick despite taking the drug has made things a lot worse, as he's has become forgetful, uncoordinated, behavior is altered, Rick just isn't Rick which makes us worried. There is one moment when he just expresses genuine anger and frustration to LJ and Jetta, as he says he's not his dad nor a genius, he just wants to be him. I really like that because that wasn't the drugs talking but himself and I agree, you should just be yourself in life, not pushed into being someone you're not because that person doesn't exist.
There is of course the business with Ming, which is decent, really like there is a parallel between Ming's pursuit of power along with drug use how both are poisonous and fleeting; makes you feel like your at an all time high and powerful but brings you down faster than you even had it. As we see Ming has become dependent on a device that increases his black magic powers, but unfortunately, we see there are nasty side effects and Ming is going on a bad trip.
Really like the ending which felt good other than stopping Ming, Rick does the right thing, as he admits his problem and goes into treatment; and it was touching seeing Flash like any good father puts everything else aside and is there for Rick coming with him to support him.
But also seeing Kashin defending not just himself but the kids in his school from a drug pusher on his end of the school. It's just satisfying as we see it's the drug pusher that's the real chicken but also anyone that can say no to what they feel is wrong truly has the power.
Rating: 3 stars.
This is another honorable mention episode. I'll first address the three Elephants in the room.
One, Kashin was pretty darn stupid in the episode, except for the final minutes in the end. But anyway, Kashin was stupid because throughout the episode he's never told any of the Defenders about Rick's drug problem, despite the fact that earlier in a class session he was taught he always should. You could say maybe it's because he didn't want to break his trust, but trust has already been broken once Rick started doing drugs.
Let alone Kashin is a bit of a Dexus Ex Machina device in the story which is one thing that really that annoys me in these kinds of stories where it's a typical cliche when one character does drugs something always happens to someone close to just suddenly turn them around. Not to say that can't happen but it's been done to death, give it a rest.
Second is Flash, I felt he was slightly out of character. I know that he focused on his mission and is just pushing his son to be the best. But I don't feel he would ever do it this hard or even let himself become completely oblivious to what's going on with his son. Which is dangerous as we see it has contributed to his partial incompetence in command, seriously couldn't he have just assigned someone else to install the early warning system. However, both Kashin and Flash do redeem themselves in the episode by the very end, so that a small up for both.
But the third problem are the Defenders themselves they don't really have much to any involvement in the matter. Would have liked it if some of the characters had a hand in things. Like one moment when Flash spouts off toward Rick in front of the Defenders. Lotor could of came up and told Flash off being way out of line but also calls him out on some incompetence in command. That would have helped set Flash straight get him to take a step back on what he's doing earlier. But also, it just would have been nice to see the other Defenders give Rick the saving he needs and it shows Rick's family truly is there for him.
Ok, that's out of the way, I like this episode because not just is it one that addresses the issue of drugs which is still a serious problem today. But also, one that reminds of on how mortal one of the Defenders truly are. As usual there is a person in peril in this episode but this time it's Rick. Rick is one of my favorite characters in the show and my favorite of the young Defenders. It's just really sad as we see Rick is overworked and the pressure is just taking its toll on him.
There is this flight similar scene where Flash is practically back seat driving the guy constantly and we see Rick is getting more nervous. Yeah, I fraking hate backseat drivers, seriously it really doesn't help at all and really is dangerous as the constantly complaining just makes drivers more nervous which is something you don't want. From seeing how he performed in flight sim though it wasn't his fault as Flash suddenly at the last second gave him a term for a move he and even I don't understand; at that moment I thought, "Yeah Rick was doing better on his own." Rick after the failure in the sim walks away angry. It's funny the last thing Flash says, and I thought, "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately."
These things just go to show how too much pressure like too much of anything in life is hazardous to your health; yes, pressure can turn coal into a diamond but only with the right amount. The wrong amount can crush that coal giving you just nothing but dust. Rick's morale is just completely shot and then suddenly a scummy drug dealer in the school rears his ugly head and gives him what seems like a solution.
That scene shows a reality about the drug dealers how they always pass themselves off like your best friend when they don't even know you, and make the poison they sell seem like a quick and easy solution when it actually isn't. Rick unfortunately in his deep depression and desperation ignores his better judgement and surcomes to drugs, after that things just go downhill from there.
We see Rick despite taking the drug has made things a lot worse, as he's has become forgetful, uncoordinated, behavior is altered, Rick just isn't Rick which makes us worried. There is one moment when he just expresses genuine anger and frustration to LJ and Jetta, as he says he's not his dad nor a genius, he just wants to be him. I really like that because that wasn't the drugs talking but himself and I agree, you should just be yourself in life, not pushed into being someone you're not because that person doesn't exist.
There is of course the business with Ming, which is decent, really like there is a parallel between Ming's pursuit of power along with drug use how both are poisonous and fleeting; makes you feel like your at an all time high and powerful but brings you down faster than you even had it. As we see Ming has become dependent on a device that increases his black magic powers, but unfortunately, we see there are nasty side effects and Ming is going on a bad trip.
Really like the ending which felt good other than stopping Ming, Rick does the right thing, as he admits his problem and goes into treatment; and it was touching seeing Flash like any good father puts everything else aside and is there for Rick coming with him to support him.
But also seeing Kashin defending not just himself but the kids in his school from a drug pusher on his end of the school. It's just satisfying as we see it's the drug pusher that's the real chicken but also anyone that can say no to what they feel is wrong truly has the power.
Rating: 3 stars.
