Pops' Girlfriend
Episode #20 (385-607) - Pops' Girlfriend
Original Airdate - March 9th, 2002
Widower Robert is finally dating again, a police officer named TRINA
JESSUP. Try as they might, Virgil and Sharon are having a very hard
time accepting their dad with anyone other than their mom. To make
matters worse, circumstances lead Trina to believe that Virgil has
something to do with a stolen briefcase containing a concentrated
version of the Big Bang formula!
Media by Bird Boy
Review by Matt Zimmer |
Credits:
Supervising Producer Alan Burnett
Producer Scott Jeralds
Associate Producer Kathryn Page
Written by Christopher Simmons
Directed by Denys Cowan
Music by Richard "Wolfie" Wolf
Animation by Tama Production Co., LTD. (assistance from Hong
Ying Universe Co., LTD.)
Voices:
Phil LaMarr as Virgil Hawkins/Static
Jason Marsden as Richie Foley
Kevin Michael Richardson as Robert Hawkins
Michele Morgan as Sharon Hawkins
Nestor Garbonell as Garcia
Dennis Haysbert as Chief Barnsdale
Rel Hunt as Frankie D'Amico
Sheryl Lee Ralph as Trina Jessup
Bumper Robinson as Royce Axelrod
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Review
Static gets in trouble with a police officer--who happens to be dating
Robert.
Two kids steal a high security briefcase which turns out to be holding
vials of Bang Baby gas. After patrolling as Static Virgil changes back
and is stopped by the police and asked to open his backpack because he
fits the description of the kids. Virgil creates a distraction and runs
off. At home Robert is excited because his new girlfriend is coming over
to meet his family. Trina turns out to be the police officer that
cornered Virgil and Robert goes through the roof.
Although he is grounded Trina meets with Virgil to tell him it was Bang
Baby gas that was stolen that is very unstable and will set off another
Big Bang in 24 hours and that she believes that he is hiding something.
Later she and Robert break up because of the cold shoulder Virgil and
Sharon were giving her. Meanwhile one of the kids smells the Bang Baby
gas and accidentally drops some in wastebasket in the high school that
some bugs get into. Richie calls Static for help against giant mutant
bugs. Later the kid who smelled the gas transforms into a mutant that
Static must stop. First though as Virgil he clears out the school and
calls Trina. Then as Static he finds the gas, sends it into orbit then
incapacitates the mutant kid as Trina arrives with back-up. Virgil
receives an award from the city, Robert and Trina get back together and
Virgil is still grounded.
Decent, solid episode. I have to say I was a little surprised at the
implication that Virgil was stopped by the police because he "fit the
description" of the other kids. This seemed to me a subtle way of the
writers implying Virgil was stopped because he was black which is a very
sobering message for a kids show. This show does things like that all of
the time which makes it a lot more realistic than other cartoons.
I liked Trina and thought she was a good addition to the show. Depite
being seen again in "Consequences" I wish she had stayed on the show
longer. I think she had an interesting dynamic with Robert and the rest
of the family that could have made other plotlines interesting. As it
is, I really liked this episode for the character stuff which was great.
The animation was a little shaky (the mutant at the end looked like he
belonged in Tiny Toons, not the DCAU) but for the most part it was
serviceable. The episode was very decent and a good spotlight for
Robert.
Story: ***1/2
Animation: **1/2
Average: ***
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