"Foster's Goes To Europe"

[pitbulllady]

Who else just saw this episode? Parts were roll-in-the-floor funny, especially the "American Tail" satire with "Euro-Trish", the ancient sitter Frankie called to stay with Madame Foster(this was her actual BABYSITTER when she was a child)who looked like something from "The Mummy", and WHAT was up with Wilt's George W. Bush logic when it came to packing for a trip??? I really felt Mac's frustration, though, as someone who's Been There, Done That, in trying to get other people ready to be somewhere on time, and as a punctual individual. Mr. Herriman reminded me SOOOO much of a friend of mine I went to Disney World with last year, who had made out this schedule that he kept constantly changing, due to things like rain, and we kept having to wait on HIM to update the schedule!
Funniest part, though, was Coco's elaborate explanation of just how Mac's mom let him go to Europe with that bunch from Foster's-pure genius, that was!
The old ladies from the bowling team make a return appearance, and Madame Foster shows her "wild side" once again, proving that she really is not a very responsible person.
We also learn some new things about our favorites: Coco has a phobia of flying(in spite of the fact that she's part plane, AND part bird). Wilt is a mechanic, has allergy-related asthma, and needs reading glasses(with just one lens). It happens when you get to be our age.
I was a bit disappointed at Madame Foster's total irresponsibility, though, especially with her untying the balloon Friends and letting them drift away to their presumed doom; you'd think that since SHE created this safe haven, she'd have more concern than that. I guess she is really beginning to experience from old-age dementia or something, but she sure knew what she was getting out of that long hug she gave Mac! Poor kid-now everyone blames HIM for them not making it to Europe. Oh, well, it's probably just as good that they didn't make it. Bloo would likely cause some grave international incident, and after a few days with Wilt, after he decided he didn't need his soap, deodorant, fresh socks, clean shoes, or toothbrush, they'd probably have wished they'd stayed home, anyway!

pitbulllady

[labloogirl]

:sigh: I have mixed feelings about this episode. For the most part, it was VERY funny, I loved the scenes with Wilt most of all (hugs Wilt), Ed was so funny with his beanbag animals, and Coco was just perfect. Even Mac running around trying to get everyone ready whilst Herriman kept changing the schedule, Bloo kept stealing back the ticket from EuroTrish, and everything else...it was funny!

BUT...

I HATED THE ENDING. I didn't get the impression from watching EVERY SINGLE EPISODE so far that Madame Foster 1) would be so careless with IFs like you pointed out and 2) Would STEAL TICKETS FROM AN EIGHT YEAR OLD, that worked SO hard to get them!! She has always come across as sweet, even if she was totally wild and would throw parties at a moment's notice! That seemed out of character, even for her. The only excuse is, as you say, that maybe she is getting dementia. I mean consider the first episode. She felt Mac was "pure", and had positive things to say about Bloo too...she obviously liked them since she didn't want to see them separated and so made the deal about Mac visiting every day so Bloo would not get adopted. And now, she could care less about his hurt feelings that everything went wrong with the trip...cause she STOLE THE TICKETS? Huh?

The second thing to annoy me is Bloo himself. I know he is selfish and arrogant, but COME ON people. Is not the whole freaking premise of this show about the close friendship (best friends, in fact) between Mac and Bloo? Did not Bloo get so depressed in the pilot when he thought his creator might never return?

So why in the hell would Bloo tell Mac he would NOT want to go to Europe with him...on the basis it would be boring? (It would be boring to hang out with Mac? Then why does he care whether or not his creator would leave him...if he's so boring to be with? He'd have more fun at Foster's or could be adopted by someone MORE FUN. Makes no sense whatsoever.) I mean Bloo is starting to annoy me to the point I'm not liking him anymore. Being cute is nothing if you're AN ARROGANT JERK. I think the writers need to tone it down a little. The whole reason I loved this show was because despite how Bloo needs to learn and can be a bit vain, selfish, etc, at times, it was obvious he still cared about Mac deeply. (Like in the Deo episode.) In this ep he acted like he could care less. He acted like Mac was hardly even there. All he cared about was whether Europe had amusement parks or good food. Well, if I were Mac, I'd start wondering about whether or not I should get my creation adopted to someone else...so he could be happier. Cause obviously he's getting bored of Mac.

Forgive my rant...but I tend to get attatched to characters. You can't tell me emotion isn't in the writer's minds to some degree, or they wouldn't have tugged on our heartstrings in the pilot when we watched those two get separated and Bloo be so sad over it. (And Mac.) In the end, we saw Bloo's joy as he bounced around the room finding out he could not only stay at Foster's but he could get to see Mac still.

Are we seeing major contradictions here? Are the writers trying for too much shock value? (Which is getting annoying. It was annoying in Imposter's, and it's annoying here.)

And please don't tell me it's just a cartoon and to get over it. If people can get emotional over movies and sitcoms, then I can get emotional over my fave characters in a great animation.

I really hope they can do better writing then this in the future, mostly with the characters jumping completely out of character all for a cheap laugh. I could go on, but I'll stop now! ^^;

~Ami~
ps- Here is a review already written on another site that has similar opinions to mine. So apparently I'm not the only one who feels this way. The person's user name was Junaku.

Worst part: at the end, where Mme. Foster had the nerve to steal Mac's tickets. His dream was CRUSHED into bite-size pieces. When they FINALLY left, I could've been weeping with joy [that speech Mac gave was very sweet], and when Mac didn't have the tickets, I knew ISNTANTLY it was Mme. Foster, and I just muttered, "F**k."

That EuroTrish or whatever was also very painful. At first she was hilariously funny, but after a while she got really old. That song she sang about Europe was also annoying; it's stuck in my head now.

Also, the end, when every body reprimands Mac on losing the tickets, was SAD. Really, sad. I could believe Eduardo scolding Mac for "losing" the tickets, and *maybe* Wilt, but Bloo?! Bloo!!?!?!?!! Mac's best friend? Wow, that's just like rubbing salt and lemon extra-hard in a bleeding wound.

All in all, this was a very bad episode, and whoever wrote it should have been able to do better. I think the main reason I did not favor this episode was because everything got very old and reused after awhile [Mr. Herriman's schedule, CoCo's fear of buses/aeroplanes, EuroTrish, Mme. Foster].

Therefore, I give this episode 2 extra points for making me laugh at the beginning, I guess.

[pitbulllady]

I totally agree over the emotional part, Ami, since I, too, get very attached to fictional characters, whether they are animated or live-action, especially when I can relate to them. I've been highly criticized for my defenses of Randall, for example, so I understand where you're coming from completely. I guess the thing that bothered me the most in this episode was Madame Foster, moreso than Bloo. Bloo was being, well, Bloo. Bloo looks out for Number One, more than anything, and does what he thinks will be the most fun for HIM. He does, as you pointed out, act as though he's getting bored with Mac, or is "outgrowing" him, a complete role reversal of the normal child/Imaginary Friend relationship, in which the CHILD is usually the one to become tired of the IF! Yet, every time that Mac and Bloo's bond is actually threatened with the prospect of Bloo being adopted, Bloo gets upset. I guess he figures that he will never find a kid who can put up with his uhm, shortcomings, like Mac does.

Of course, I still liked the fact that Wilt got a lot of screen time in this episode, and we found out things about him we never knew or even suspected, like his mechanical skills, him having asthma and being far-sighted(boy, do WE have stuff in common or what?)...BUT, as much as I love the Tall Red One, I don't think I would have wanted to be in close quarters with him after three-four days of him being without a bath, or deodorant, or clean socks, or brushing his teeth!

pitbulllady

[labloogirl]

Yes, it does seem like Bloo is really getting bored of Mac, which makes no sense....it goes against the whole premise of the show to begin with. If that's how they are going to end this series, with Bloo leaving Mac, I'll cry and then write McCracken an angry letter for wasting my many hours watching a great show only to have my heart crushed. Seriously.
This probably won't happen, and since that's probably the case, like I said...they need to TONE it down. I don't want to see the CONSTANT arguing between Mac and Bloo and with Bloo acting like a selfish, vain and arrogant jerkass ALL THE TIME. It gets old and like I said, was not in the show to that level until they got to Imposter's. Camp Keep was starting the new and awful tradition, and now they are making it worse and worse. The only way they can make up for this is if they show Bloo showing remorse, realizing he is getting a little too over the top. (Maybe by seriously hurting Mac's feelings, which makes him realize he needs to shape up.)

LOL! Yeah, Wilt was being SO Wilt with the packing thing...I was laughing so hard! I wouldn't want to be around him with no clean socks, no toothpaste, or no deoderant either!! And the scene with the plastic bag...gawd I love him!

[Sparky]

The *only* thing I liked about this episode was Coco's explanation of how Mac got his Mom to let him go on a vacation, because I'm simply glad they addressed the issue at all. The actual explaination is moot.

But, that's it. I completely disliked the episode otherwise. EuroTrish getting to go to Europe was okay. Was it "proved" that Coco sabotaged the bus? I wasn't clear. Because I assumed it was Trish. I missed Wilt's allergies and vision problems though - I moved a lot of stuff to the new apartment today, including the snake's terrarium, and I'm physically and mentally tapped. I'll try to tape this ep tomorrow morning. I just hope the cable is functional before *next* Friday. (And of course I won't have screencaps up until we get our Internet access back.)

[Fomalhaut]

Can you tell me what is the episode about, please?

For, as things go in Hungary, it'll take ages until they air it... IF they will air it at all...

[One Radical Dude]

I guess I must be the only one that loved this episode. And I didn't think Bloo was that bad here, though not at his best. I felt that the first act (for at least the second half) was kinda weak, which is why I lowered my grade for the episode. The remainder of the episode, however, really took off. I really enjoyed Wilt during the second act, where he was removing stuff that he felt that he didn't need. I loved it when Eurotrish was singing -- knowing that she was going to go to Europe, Bloo reconsidered about staying at the home -- deciding to go to Europe. Even though I felt what Madame Foster did at the final act was cruel, it was very smart. Expect the unexpected with Madame F. I didn't expect the gang would go to Europe (which was true), though Madame's devious act was a surprise to me. As for Mac getting the blame, I did feel sorry for him. I also believe that if I were one of those seven that would be going to Europe, I would have probably been angry at him, too (wouldn't you?). I mean, when you prepare for something, like a vacation -- it's not entirely stress-free. I would be furious, too, if I didn't go. I'm sure a lot of people would.

Anyway, this episode is slighly better than HB and better than Imposter's.., but I liked the other three episodes of the season better.

[Cassini90125]

I liked it quite a lot, though not for any particular reason. It made me laugh and I got to see a lot of Frankie, that's about it. The end sequence in this morning's showing was funny, too, though I felt a little bad for EuroTrish. A French IF at Foster's? I wonder how that happened?

[imaginaryxlight]

I actually really enjoyed this episode. Although I do agree about the whole Madame-Foster-taking-the-tickets thing. That was totally out of character. I guess we just need to expect the unexpected with her, don't we?

I did feel bad for Mac, especially at the end. When they were all reprimanding him for "loosing" the tickets, I was yelling at my TV "Please don't yell at Mac!" I mean, I understand that they're upset that they can't go to Europe, but come on. Mac is an 8-year-old boy. You're telling me that you'll yell at a little boy for loosing your tickets (granted, he was in charge of the tickets, but Madame Foster outsmarted him!)

I did really enjoy this episode though. I love the Foster's humor. Such as Madame Foster with the backwards glasses. "Lalala.." Oh God, that was hysterical^_^ I also enjoyed the way Mr. Herriman types. It sort of reminded me of my grandmother, who is just getting in to all this technology now, and always wants my help with those sorts of things ;D. And Eduardo with all those beanie baggies, totally reminded me of my sister (who is 13...so that's kind of sad XD).

All in all, I really did enjoy this episode.

[pitbulllady]

I did actually enjoy the episode, but like I said, it wasn't the funniest I've seen. I can't say I DISliked it by any means. The main part I really did not like was Madame Foster being so irresponsible, and outright cruel, though I suppose in her way she was getting back at the others for not asking HER to go along in the first place. Still, for any adult to steal something from an eight-year-old child, under the pretense of showing affection and concern, especially, is just plain WRONG. While I can understand the others' disappointment, THEY have to shoulder some responsibilty, too-a LOT of it actually, since if they'd been ready to leave when Mac said they should have left, Madame Foster would not have even been outside to give Mac that "hug", and they would all have made it to Europe, hopefully departing BEFORE Wilt dumped out the "non-essential" contents of his suitcase!

Yeah, I know people who type just like Mr. Herriman, too, and it is pretty darn funny! He wouldn't have a clue with MS Word, would he?

pitbulllady

[pitbulllady]

fomalhaut said:

Can you tell me what is the episode about, please?

For, as things go in Hungary, it'll take ages until they air it... IF they will air it at all...

Mac won free trips to Europe for seven people, and invited Bloo, Wilt, Coco, Eduardo, Mr. Herrimen, and Frankie to go along with him(well, an eight-year-old can't be touring Europe all alone, now can he?). Anyway, it starts out with Bloo lecturing the others on how to speak French(which was completely WRONG-all English with a horrid fake French accent), and warning them that Europe was "a big place full of foreigners"(which is a typical ignorant American belief), when Mac shows up to get everyone to the airport. However, problem after problem arises-Eduardo insists on packing ALL of his beloved "Beanie Baggies", and he has hundreds, Coco freaks out when she learns that they are going on a PLANE, because she's afraid to fly, Bloo keeps changing his mind about going at all, and repeatedly gives his ticket to "Eurotrish", a European-created rodent Imaginary Friend who longs to go back home and visit her creator, then keeps taking the ticket BACK from her when he changes his mind yet again! Frankie keeps worrying about her grandmother, who has not been invited, and who is showing some awfully irresponsible behavior(which I figured out was an attempt to get taken along without actually asking, since there were only seven tickets), and Mr. Herriman keeps typing up this schedule/agenda thing for everyone to adhere to once they get to Europe, and then changing it every time Bloo changes his mind about going. Mr. Herriman types on an old manual typewriter, one finger at a time, so you can imagine how long it takes him to make his revisions! Then, Wilt changes HIS mind about going, so that Eurotrish can have his ticket, but when Bloo gives HIS ticket back, Wilt decides to go anyway(Mac knew that he had to have Wilt along to keep some sense with the group, anyway). However, Wilt, in order to keep from taking up everyone else's limited luggage space, especially Eduardo's Beanie Baggie space, dumps out ALL of his luggage, except for ONE extra sneaker in a clear plastic bag( "You know, I really don't need this bag..." *bag floats down to floor*). Then everyone has to go to the restroom, THEN they all have to eat, then they all have to go to the restroom AGAIN. Finally, they make it out to the bus, and the Frankie can't find her keys. When she finally finds them, the bus won't start. Wilt, the mechanic of the bunch, discovers that the spark plugs have been stolen! Coco gets blamed, because she didn't want to fly, and she has those shifty eyes! Eduardo has to use the bathroom again, Frankie has to go call a sitter to stay with Madame Foster(Madame Foster's ORIGINAL babysitter, from when she was a child), Coco lays an egg with a bunch of extra tickets, which Bloo tears up, and they finally end up calling an airport shuttle bus. They make it to the airport just in time...and Mac can't find the tickets! It turns out that Madame Foster gave him this REALLY long hug right before he got on the shuttle bus, and stole the tickets from his backpack during that time! She, along with her bowling friends and Eurotrish, wind up on the plane to Europe, leaving everyone else behind, and angry with Mac(even Wilt got mad at him) for losing the tickets!

If only Bloo hadn't torn up those extra plane tickets...

pitbulllady

[Fomalhaut]

Wilt is sooo gentle... leaving space for others...

And yeah, I guess he'd be the one to keep sense in the group (did Mac actually say that?)!

[pitbulllady]

fomalhaut said:

Wilt is sooo gentle... leaving space for others...

And yeah, I guess he'd be the one to keep sense in the group (did Mac actually say that?)!

Yeah, Mac actually does say something to that effect, though I can't remember his exact words, and I missed seeing it a second time. It's interesting that even with Frankie along-and she is normally fairly level-headed-Mac realizes that Wilt is the main thinker of the group, along with himself, and the one who's best at keeping the peace and restoring a sense of order, without being overbearing.

pitbulllady

[Beavergard Q. Kazoo]

Wilt probably will be the first to get over it. I mean, it wasn't even Mac's fault, right?

Is it me, or are the episodes going on a downward climb in terms of story? I haven't seen this one yet, but I hear people complain about them...

[labloogirl]

In my opinion, yes it is, beaver. Certain characters are still being fun, but others are just going..who knows where?? It's like the writers are really trying a bit too hard to use the SHOCK value, and it's getting old.
I LOVED Bloo in the first season and most of the second, and even into the third. Then he just started getting on my nerves. I'm really sad over it, it's like they want to emphasize all of Bloo's bad qualities to an extreme...heck, I even miss Terrence, where has HE been this whole season?!

I watch the show now for Mac, Wilt, and Coco, most of all. I'm hoping Bloo improves, but I doubt it. It's like fanfictions...all the shock value is what unfortunately gets the most viewers...I guess.