Other than overuse of the Protagonist-Centered Morality trope, there are other issues with The Girls' personal lives in the show "Totally Spies". This post is about the times their lives shouldn't have played out like that because of things in the real world not working like that.
The Eraser: My only problem with this episode is at the end, when The Girls jump up right as the class picture's taken & they block Mandy out of the shot. Anyone who's ever been in a class photo knows that's not allowed. The point of a class photo is to have a visual record of the students who were in the class. The school would not have allowed use of a photo that blocks out one or more students. The photographer would definitely have to re-shoot that, & The Girls would have been told to stay seated.
Abductions: I'm glad Clover didn't get the role, because she didn't really deserve it. She didn't even bother to learn more than one line & only felt like she deserved the role because she 'has great hair & perfect teeth.' Someone who dreams of being an actress, like Clover does, should be willing to put in the work to be a good actress. I did feel that it was a bit out of character for Sam to be taken in by the idea of stardom, especially since she normally runs from the spotlight, but I suppose even Sam can have her moments. At the end, when the drama teacher decides to give the role to Mandy, is where another problem arises. While I can see Clover deciding to attack Mandy over this, I can't see Sam going along with it, especially since she & Alex are normally stopping Clover from attacking Mandy. Also, deciding to chase someone around a stage, trying to hurt them, would've gotten them banned from being in any other school plays & is not funny. Your protagonists shouldn't be trying to hurt people just because they're succeeding where the protagonists didn't.
Queen for a Day: I know I mentioned this in another post, but it works here too. Here's my problem: Arnold should not have agreed to help Clover. He's right, she's a very mean person, so give the guy some self-respect. He should've stuck to his guns & refused to help her, even if she would date him. No one should ever be so desperate for a date that they'll date someone who treats them so horribly, & no guy should be coercing a girl into dating them in return for a favor that's so important to her. It was a nice dose of karma to have Clover win but then have to date Arnold, but it would've been better karma to have Mandy win thanks to a campaign run by Arnold, who agreed to help Mandy after Clover turned down his generous offer. I mean, his original offer didn't require Clover to date him, so it didn't make sense to turn him down. Clover just refuses to associate with nerds and/or geeks. I mean, I would definitely take all the help I can get if I had a job that could require me to travel abroad at a moment's notice. Clover's own attitude should've been her downfall. Would've been a good moment to start giving her some character development.
Soul Collector: This episode has Sam worried that she's prematurely aging, & during the week of the school's Youthful Spirit contest. In the end, the school's elderly lunch lady, Mrs. Muckle, wins. My only issue is my confusion about a member of the school faculty being allowed to enter the contest. Usually, school-sponsored contests are for the students, not the staff. I mean, school staff are generally ineligible for school-sponsored contests, as their being employed by the school gives them access to the votes, which would be unfair.
Malled: My problem with this episode is that Mandy frames Clover, even though Sam was the one who insulted her. Mandy seems like the kind of person who would make sure to get revenge on the right person.
Do You Believe in Magic?: The problem I have with this episode is that they accuse Mandy of sabotaging their photos for a photography contest. First, Mandy has never resorted to sabotage to win, so it's unfair to assume she was deliberately trying to ruin their work, especially since she's also entered in the photography contest & would've had a legitimate reason for using what appears to be the school's only dark room. The door wasn't even locked, so it'd be reasonable for Mandy to assume no one was using it. My sister took a photography class in high school, & she can confirm that while there is a light above the door to let people know that the room's in use, it doesn't turn on automatically. Someone inside the room has to actually flip a switch. Also, most photographers prepare more than one batch of prints FOR THIS EXACT REASON!
Starstruck: My biggest issue with this episode is that neither Clover or Mandy knew what the Happy Burger ad was going to look like before they auditioned. I'm pretty sure that violates industry regulations. The models in the ads have a right to know what the ad is going to look like. It's just sketchy to hire someone to model for you but they're not going to know what the ad looks like before it premieres.
I Want My Mummy: I'm just wondering how Mandy didn't notice that her ring was a fake. As big a deal as she makes over authentic designer brands & never buying knock-offs, she seems like someone who would be able to tell a fake gem from a real one. Or at least would have it authenticated.
The Yuck Factor: Considering how harmless the frogs were, it seems a little out of character for Alex, the animal lover, to be freaked out by them. I could understand wanting to get out of dissecting them if it was because she didn't want to hurt them, but Alex was avoiding them because they freak her out, which seems like a weird thing for an animal lover to get freaked out over. Also, I want to point out that most, if not all, frogs used for dissection are hatched in labs & are dead before they're even sent out to whatever school or lab is using them for dissection.
Here Comes the Sun: David breaking & stomping on his easel seems a bit out of character, as he's normally a gentle guy. I can understand being frustrated, but not everyone reacts with violence or aggression. Also, decent art supplies are expensive. There's no way a serious artist would just mindlessly destroy their supplies just because they're frustrated. If they did, they'd be out of supplies before they could finish a single project.
Boy Bands Will Be Boy Bands: First, I'm confused that Mandy didn't know her tattoo wasn't real. It came out of a box, she applied it herself, & everyone else seemed to know that needles are used for permanent tattoos. Mandy is normally very in-the-know about fashion, makeup, & all the latest trends, so it seems unlikely that she wouldn't know how real tattoos work. Second, it doesn't make sense for Mandy to invite Clover to her party that's only for cool people. Even if her reason for inviting Clover was a literal insult, it doesn’t make sense for Mandy to even consider it. Clover is Mandy's biggest rival for fame & popularity. Inviting Clover to her party would be like inviting her to try & upstage Mandy, & Mandy would never give her that opportunity. Also, Mandy loves to make fun of Clover for being left out of things, so she would never actually invite Clover to anything. It would make more sense for Mandy to find a reason to invite Sam & Alex and leave Clover out. Third, Mandy's idea of flirting with David is just...yuck! If it were anyone else, I would've written it off as them being awkward. But, it's Mandy, & we know she's got more flirting experience than that. The writers really should've run that line by an actual teenager before putting it in the show.
I, Dude: My biggest problem with this episode is the machine. Both the options it provided include meat. That would not go over well, considering schools are required to provide alternative meal options for people with dietary restrictions. How was Clover ok with this, since she's a vegetarian? The school could be subject to a lawsuit with a machine that doesn't provide adequate meal options for alternative diets. Also, I'm not sure I'd consider anything that comes out of that machine to be edible. The pancakes came out of a tube & made a 'splort' noise, which means they weren't solid. The tofu burger seen at the end is tofu goop on two slices of white bread. No lettuce, no tomato, no condiments. It's plain & disgusting. Also, it gave all three of The Girls the pancake meal, even though Clover was the only one who ordered. A machine like that wouldn't actually be very popular in real life.
Physics 101 Much: It doesn't make any sort of sense for The Girls' parents to decide to let them all live together in a beach villa, with no adult supervision, while they're in Europe. I'd believe that Sam is responsible enough to live in a beach villa by herself, but not with Alex & Clover; they would definitely be problems. Sam would end up being responsible for them, & no one should have to be responsible for people their own age. Also, given what Stella thinks of Clover, I find it very hard to believe that she thought Clover was responsible enough to live anywhere unsupervised. I get that the creators were trying to give a reason for The Girls to not worry about being caught by their parents, but the whole thing just doesn't make sense.
Freaky Circus Much?: I have many problems with this episode, but my biggest one is that Sam & Alex are still friends with Clover after this episode. She signs them up for a reality TV show without telling them & brushes off their anger & concerns over their privacy being violated. The camera crew caught Sam naked in the shower & filmed Alex sleeping. Both of those things are illegal & creepy.
Forward to the Past: I don't think anyone should be doing 'hyper-sonic dating,' but I will discuss this some more in my upcoming Clover-centric post.
Planet of the Hunks: Sam & Alex should not have read Clover's diary. Clover should not have stolen their clothes. Sam & Alex should not have spilled Clover's secrets at school. Clover should not have publicly humiliated them with the blimp. Everyone was bad in this episode & I think the series would've been better if it never happened.
The Incredible Bulk: Honestly, I don't blame Raymond too much for breaking up with Alex. As a personal trainer & bodybuilder, anyone more ripped than him is probably scary & unnatural. I mean, bodybuilders aren't even that ripped most of the time, I'd be super concerned about anyone as ripped as Alex was, especially since she wasn't that ripped when he saw her earlier that day. My problem with this episode, was that Alex apparently faints around cute boys. I'm not sure what kind of help she needs, I just know she needs help.
Super Nerd Much?: Class President may be an elected position, but school mascot isn't. At least, not at any school I've been to. Mascots are chosen based on who does best at tryouts, just like any athlete because mascots do athletic stunts to rile up the crowd at games. Also, mascot costumes are designed to hide the wearers identity, so we shouldn't have been able to see that guys face. Their identities are meant to be kept secret from rival schools, as people might decide to kidnap their rival school's mascot. Also, there's likely more than one so that someone can fill in if the first guy is injured, sick, or otherwise unavailable. Basically, the writers really don't understand mascot culture.
Dental? More Like Mental: First, the writers are clearly unfamiliar with U.S. schools. Someone should tell them that in the U.S., school buses aren't considered part of the public transportation system. Second, Alex's toothache is supposedly cured by the laughing gas she was given as part of the villain's plot, but that's not how that works. Unless she went to an actual dentist to get her cavity taken care of, she should be in pain again by the next day. I have issues with how Clover acts in this episode, but those will be covered in my upcoming Clover-centric post.
Evil Promotion Much? Part 1: Rabbits don't actually eat carrots very often. Carrots contain a lot of sugar (for a rabbit) so they're only used as a sometimes food. Also, even rabbits eat more than one vegetable.
Evil Promotion Much? Part 2: It is very out of character for Sam to be concerned about her looks, but at least Clover points out how inopportune the timing is.
Evil Promotion Much? Part 3: Clover suddenly has a debutante ball coming up. Why was this not mentioned in either of the previous two parts? It's so sudden, it doesn't make sense.
The Dream Teens: The spread for "Most Photogenic" would not have actually happened at a real high school. Merging two people's photos into one is not something yearbook staff would actually do, not to mention that it defeats the purpose of "Most Photogenic". At a real high school, they would've just shrunk the photos to fit them on the same page. Or they would've put the photos on adjoining pages & made the yearbook slightly longer. No one would look at that problem & decide that the only solution is to merge these two people's photos together. Also, Mandy's on the yearbook staff, but somehow didn't know what they did for the "Most Photogenic" spread. That doesn't sound like Mandy at all.
Alex Gets Schooled: I find it hard to believe that Mandy could get all F's. Her mom seems pretty strict about her grades. Plus, Mandy is often determined to prove that she's the best at, well, lots of things. Someone that determined to be the best wouldn't allow herself to have such horrible grades. Also, report cards generally have the student's name on them, so that mix-up should've been caught immediately. Also, why does Alex's dad look like he could be related to Jerry?
Sis-KaBOOM-Bah!: I wish that the school would've decided to reschedule the competition when it became clear that Clover & Mandy were too tired to compete. Also, Arnold shouldn't have won. That competition was to pick a new Head Cheerleader, which is always chosen from within the squad. Arnold wasn't even on the squad, he shouldn't have even been in that competition.
Spies on the Farm: My only problem (that I'm mentioning in this post) is that it took Sam & Alex this long to call Clover out for the way her attitude & behavior interferes with their missions.
Evil Professor: It's not fair for The Girls to be possessive of jobs they didn't want & think are lame. Also, a decent manager wouldn't fire employees that are actually working & are happy to be there in order to re-hire employees that complain, left early on their first day, & called out on their second. I don't care if they gave him a giant bean, he should've stuck with the employees that are actually working.
Evil Pizza Guys: It is so unfair that they didn't let Sam see Rome. I mean, they didn't have to leave just because Alex wasn't feeling well. She could've just recuperated in the car. Or, Clover could've just taken Alex to Euro W.O.O.H.P. & come back for Sam later. Or they could've checked into a motel. Basically, there were other options, they didn't have to deprive Sam of the trip she's been dreaming of.
Evil Shoe Designer: It is so unfair for Sam to get mad & throw Guillaume in the fountain. It's not his fault that they don't speak/understand French & assumed he was asking Sam on a date. He didn't do anything to deserve the way she treated him.
Evil Mascot: No respectable university in the U.S. would have a 'can of dolphin-safe tuna' as their mascot, & Mali-U seems very respectable. A mascot needs to be something that can move & interact with the crowd, a can of tuna can't do that. I could see them changing the mascot to a dolphin, but not a can of tuna. Also, in college, mascot identities are kept secret, so there wouldn't be a big ceremony in front of the whole school. Although, since their original mascot costume didn't really hide the wearer's identity, I guess I can see them deciding to make a big deal of it. But, they would still have to pick more than one person in case Alex can't fulfill her duties.
Ho-ho-ho-no!: How did no one notice that Mandy's name was entered multiple times? Every method of Secret Santa that I know of involves there being at least one person ensuring that it's fair & no one's name is entered multiple times. Perhaps their dorm is unorganized, but surely all those people handing Mandy presents had questions. Also, when the snow floods the dorm & Mandy's presents get washed away, exactly how far are they going? Why isn't she going after them? We've seen what she'll do for designer clothes, there's no reason she wouldn't be running down the stairs to go get them.
Totally Dunzo Part 1: The school really allowed a student to put themselves in charge of parking assignments? Even if it is just for the dorm, there's usually an employee for that. There's no way Mandy had any actual authority to move The Girls' parking spot, which is probably why she didn't get any actual campus authority involved.
The Wedding Crasher: Why does Sam's dad look like if Jerry had a kid? Also, how is Sam able to afford all those expensive gifts she's gotten her parents? Her family must be very rich.
Evil Ice Skater: Alex's dad in this episode looks nothing like her dad from 'Alex Gets Schooled'. Did the animators forget that we've already seen him? Or does Alex have two dads?
Inferior Designer: I already made a post about this episode, but I'll summarize. Clover is terrible at fashion design & should NOT have gotten an 'A'. She also should've been dropped from the class a long time ago. Sam, Alex, & Mandy are all better at fashion design than Clover & should've gotten the best grades.
So Totally Versailles! Part 1: First, a single piece of oversized luggage moving around in the cargo hold is unlikely to throw off the weight distribution of the plane so much that the plane is at risk of crashing, unless it was poorly made or the pilots are terrible at their jobs. Second, I'm pretty sure the airline would've preferred an employee to handle the issue, instead of three random strangers. An airline employee could've resecured the luggage, instead of The Girls' solution of dropping Mandy's entire wardrobe into the ocean. What is she supposed to wear on the trip? Or even when they get back home? The Girls really need to think about long-term consequences here.
Phew! Sorry about the long post, I just have a lot to say. I would like to point out that I don't hate Totally Spies or The Girls, I just think there are times when things just don't make a lot of sense. Also, I understand that cartoons don't need to be realistic all of the time, but they should still be realistic some of the time so that the audience can relate to it.
Now, I know I mentioned an upcoming Clover-centric post, & I just want to warn you guys that it's not positive. I wanted to be like her when I was little, but as an adult, I realize that she's not a good role model. I could go on, but I'll save it for the post. Anyways, thanks for reading!
