Actually really liked the idea for "Teleport a Friend", it was a unique idea for 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' and is one of the more mature ones for the show. It wouldn't have been too out of place on the original 'Pinky and the Brain', but hopefully handled a lot better. Adding a lot to the potential is that it has the voice work of one of my all-time favourite actors Tim Curry, a master in the voice acting world and one of the best when it comes to villainous characters.
"Teleport a Friend" was in the top 5 episodes of 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' that had the most potential and at least it actually tried to do something different. Sadly it is also one of the strangest (in not a good way sadly) and biggest wastes of potential, as tonally it is too all over the place. Is "Teleport a Friend" one of the show's worst episodes? Absolutely not, a list that is made up of episodes that conceptually were doomed from the get go.
Of course there are things that work. Brain is a lot of fun, the writers always seemed as though they had fun with him and he is the only character from the show's predecessors to be treated with respect and like the writers liked him as a character. Maurice LaMarche is gloriously deadpan and cannot imagine anybody else voicing Brain. Despite not caring for his character, Curry also does a good job (though he has been better in roles with significantly better material) and was clearly very committed.
Some of the animation is vibrant and colourful with some nice detail. The ending was interesting, as was the Venice Beach reference.
Did think however that the animation could have been more consistent. It again lacks polish and finesse in the drawing and the wild imagination is missing. The music is never in real harmony with the action and the theme tune never ceased to grate. The writing could have been a lot sharper and wittier, it is not as childish or as cutesy as most episodes and Elmyra's psychopathic nature towards her treatment of animals is not near as strong. But the episode doesn't completely escape those and is also pretty bland.
In terms of tone, the writing and storytelling are very odd. We see the main characters all having something to do and their behaviours are unique, but we also have the very tired conflicts between Brain and Elmyra, a very strange atmosphere and the completely unnecessary padding that was Pinky's subplot which was merely an excuse to give Pinky something to do. While Curry's efforts are never in doubt, the carnival owner character was potential not fullfilled enough. Found him a dull and too broadly written character, with underdeveloped and odd motivations. Elmyra as ever is annoying.
Concluding, didn't quite do it for me though did admire that it tried to do something different. 4/10.
"Teleport a Friend" was in the top 5 episodes of 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' that had the most potential and at least it actually tried to do something different. Sadly it is also one of the strangest (in not a good way sadly) and biggest wastes of potential, as tonally it is too all over the place. Is "Teleport a Friend" one of the show's worst episodes? Absolutely not, a list that is made up of episodes that conceptually were doomed from the get go.
Of course there are things that work. Brain is a lot of fun, the writers always seemed as though they had fun with him and he is the only character from the show's predecessors to be treated with respect and like the writers liked him as a character. Maurice LaMarche is gloriously deadpan and cannot imagine anybody else voicing Brain. Despite not caring for his character, Curry also does a good job (though he has been better in roles with significantly better material) and was clearly very committed.
Some of the animation is vibrant and colourful with some nice detail. The ending was interesting, as was the Venice Beach reference.
Did think however that the animation could have been more consistent. It again lacks polish and finesse in the drawing and the wild imagination is missing. The music is never in real harmony with the action and the theme tune never ceased to grate. The writing could have been a lot sharper and wittier, it is not as childish or as cutesy as most episodes and Elmyra's psychopathic nature towards her treatment of animals is not near as strong. But the episode doesn't completely escape those and is also pretty bland.
In terms of tone, the writing and storytelling are very odd. We see the main characters all having something to do and their behaviours are unique, but we also have the very tired conflicts between Brain and Elmyra, a very strange atmosphere and the completely unnecessary padding that was Pinky's subplot which was merely an excuse to give Pinky something to do. While Curry's efforts are never in doubt, the carnival owner character was potential not fullfilled enough. Found him a dull and too broadly written character, with underdeveloped and odd motivations. Elmyra as ever is annoying.
Concluding, didn't quite do it for me though did admire that it tried to do something different. 4/10.