[AYAOTD? Recap with Erin Callahan] 1.13 "The Tale of the Pinball Wizard"

RECAP

David is getting super-stressed over his Game Boy when Eric “accidentally” resets the game. Gary points out that the stakes are low in video games because you can always start over. But what if there were no second chances?

Ross is scoping the mall for loose change when he decides to bug shopkeeper Mr. Olson about giving him a job. Mr. Olson hesitates and then allows Ross to watch the store for a bit, but gives him strict instructions not to touch the pinball machine in the back. After embarrassing himself in front of a cute girl named Sophie, Ross starts playing pinball. Because of course he does. He soon finds himself literally sucked into the game, on a quest through the mall to save Princess Sophie from the evil Executioner, who looks curiously like Mr. Olson. Just when Ross thinks he’s finally won and saved Princess Sophie, the game starts over. We then see Mr. Olson looming over the pinball machine, gazing down at a very tiny Ross and informing him that he’ll be playing the game “forever.”

None of the Midnight Society members want to touch the Game Boy after that, so Gary ends up with a free Game Boy. Well played, Gary.

REVIEW

Troy: You got to love Gary foreshadowing the ending (resetting games) right in his opening monologue. Smart, Gare, real smart.

Erin: I appreciate that they always tie the intro to the story, but don’t you think this one’s a little too convenient to be believable? Unless Gary happened to have advanced knowledge that his fellow Midnight Society members are game-obsessed, I’m not buying it.

T: I just assumed Gary brought the Game Boy, but that does take away the fun of him ending up with it. Just like with “Dark Music,” the protagonist is set up as being sympathetic because he’s poor.

E: It’s still not enough for me to like him. Ross is...awful? Arrogant and whiny and clueless. Blech. Also, I’m not sure we’ve seen acting this bad since “The Tale of the Phantom Cab.” And what the hell kind of shop is Mr. Olson running and why, for the love of god, is it in the mall? He’s like an all-purpose fix-it guy who also makes knicknacks? I don’t get it.

T: What, you don’t fondly remember all those hours wasted at the local pinball/knickknack/fix-it store? If Dr. Vink ran the place instead of Mr. Olson, I feel like you’d just go with it. And yes, Ross is pretty awful. Maybe they were going for generic action stock character? At least he’s not quite as dead eyed and shouty as those “Phantom Cab” brothers were.

E: Yes, he appears to have reasonable control over the volume of his speech. *slow clap*

T: Ross’ crush isn’t just Princess Peach-like, but I’m thinking she’s based off Kirsten. I’m thinking after she helped him out in “Super Specs,” Gary’s been crushing on her.

E: OMG, I love this theory. She even rocks a headband, just like Kristen. I feel like Eric and Kiki would have so much to say about this in their podcast. I think they’d also have loads to say about the Chekhov’s squirt gun that Gary plants in the beginning of the story.

T: I love that Ross learns from his mistakes. In real games, a player dies and then does better because he knows the game.

E: Too bad he didn’t learn the lesson of listening to your elders before he started playing. *hums 8-bit video game death melody*

T: Speaking of music, we haven’t discussed the score of the series much, but it’s on point this episode. I haven’t noticed it ever taking me out of the story, but this really immerses the viewer in the game world.

E: Excellent point. There are some classic arcade-style ditties employed here to excellent effect.

QUEER OR NOT?

T: I didn’t spot anything in the story, but I appreciate the fun gender queering with the Midnight Society. Sad sack David can’t beat the video game, so Kirsten complains about how boys are obsessed with games, and then Kiki shoves everyone aside so she can take a shot at it.

E: Kiki is the best. I also like that Sofie gets to sit on the throne for a bit and wear a bigass crown and kingly robe. No more tiaras for that badass bitch.

TRIVIA, USELESS TRIVIA

T: I’m going to go out on a limb and say this story is inspired by Tron. Hero gets sucked into a video game and finds the characters inside are based off real people (the homeless woman is the witch, the security guard is the sheriff, etc.).

E: I’ll buy it. Though if that’s the case, I’ll admit I’m surprised that the writers went with old-fashioned pinball. Unless, of course, they were just dying to reference The Who.

T: If Mr. Olson looks familiar, it’s because a few weeks ago he was the carnie in the basement in “Dark Music.” Dude gives good creepster.

E: Nice catch!

T: This was the most difficult episode of the season to film, so much so that director DJ MacHale had to ask the crew to break union rules and work an extra day (unpaid, I believe). The crew demonstrated real solidarity and passion for the series by unanimously agreeing.

E: Wow. That’s kind of sad and beautiful? I also feel like it would only happen in Canada.

MODERNIZE ’90s CANADIAN KIDS

T: The mall setting, the game stuff, all that works. I’d add modern dialogue to reflect that and current tropes. I’d really dive into that Tron bit and have Mr. Olson be the main baddie. And maybe a little bit more before Ross enters the game, but then we’re verging on feature-length territory. Like “Super Specs,” this episode could definitely stand on its own legs and work as a feature.

E: I mean, it was a feature. It was called Tron. LOLOLOLOL. No, I see what you’re saying. Though I think today there would have to be some sort of online gaming component. Fortnite? Is that what the kids are into? Screw it, let’s go with an Untitled Goose Game knockoff.

JUST GIVE IT A NUMERICAL RATING ALREADY

T: You know, it’s cheesy – it’s very cheesy – but it’s celebrating ’90s video games in a way that the cheese works. Keeping the real world set (the mall) is a brilliant move and keeps it grounded. It’s really a simple concept well executed, which is a feat in itself, but there’s no iconic villain or moment. I’m missing a Zeebo, or Andy turning to the camera at the end of “Dark Music.” Maybe it’s because the villains are a little too stock? I feel bad for docking it for not having a cheer moment but I have to. 8.3 CAMPFIRES OUT OF 10.

E: You don’t think Mr. Olson is a solid villain? I mean, he’s no Zeebo, but I found the moment where he looms over the pinball machine quite satisfying. That said, there are many things here that work for me, but Ross is so unlikeable. Also, bad guys being defeated by water is an absurd trope that always makes me roll my eyes. I’m going with 7 CAMPFIRES OUT OF 10.