Nov 13, 2022
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Quark: And when I've taken over this miserable planet, I'll turn it into a shrine to me, Brandon Quark, P.H.D., D.D.S., C.E.G.!
Scratch: What's "C.E.G." stand for?
Quark: Crazy Evil Genius, natch.
Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog - Robotnik’s Rival (Review and Screenshots)
This episode starts with a uniquely drawn title card integrated into the animation - Tails ends up flying by and crashing right into it, knocking the letters down! Always fun when they do this sort of thing as opposed to the more generic titles.
Sonic speeds by and quickly scoops Tails up from the pile of fallen letters as we see they are fleeing from a giant tank-like vehicle piloted by Robotnik. Just as they're about to be captured, another even larger yellow vehicle suddenly appears, causing a scuffle in it's attempt to capture Sonic as well. The two heroes end up getting away, and Robotnik starts yelling at the other pilot, who emerges from a hatch door and introduces himself as Doctor Brandon Quark, another evil genius who wants to rule Mobius just like Robotnik. He also introduces his own minion, the "Design Unit Flexible Underling Substitute", or DUFUS for short (hehe!). Despite DUFUS' funny name acronym, they're probably the smartest antagonist in this episode, and I also find it neat that while in some ways they seem like a robot, they also have the ability to assume hundreds of different forms (as if they are composed of nanobots), at-least one of which is feminine in appearance, and a few others more masculine, thus I see them as being of a gender-neutral shapeshifting character (I'm not sure if they even get referred to with any pronouns, I'd have to re-watch the episode to be sure, though). As far as Quark goes, I didn't find him as interesting as DUFUS, but he does end up having some cute and funny interactions with Robotnik, and he also has the same name as a certain lovable little shit from Star Trek Deep Space Nine, so I can at-least give him kudos for those two things. I should also mention that he's part duck due to a lab accident, because that will come up later....
After their initial argument, Quark and Robotnik decide they are going to compete over who can capture Sonic first. This fails repeatedly, so eventually DUFUS suggests they try to work together. The two doctors agree to do so, and manage to successfully trick the heroes into captured by DUFUS themself, who disguises as a park bench and then turns into a cage around them as when they sit down.
We later see that they are being held in a dungeon, guarded by Scratch and Grounder. The gag of their escape here did earn a chuckle from me - Grounder was determined to find out what their escape plan was going to be, and after being tricked and letting the two escape, he is not upset but instead pleased that Sonic was polite enough to tell him the plan. :D Grounder is so cute! Shortly after the escape, DUFUS comes to check in on things and as the two badniks act very suspiciously, DUFUS opens the cell door to see what was going on. Scratch and Grounder take this opportunity to trick DUFUS into think that they're the one who let the heroes escape, and as they trio hear the doctors coming to gloat, DUFUS quickly disguises themself as Sonic and Tails changed to the wall so they won't get in trouble. This act of deception leaves DUFUS feeling very troubled, as they had never been dishonest to Dr. Quark before. I found this little sub-plot interesting, seeing how Scratch and Grounder's goof-off attitudes about their job slowly influences DUFUS into not taking their own role as a minion so seriously.
Having escaped and seeing how dangerous the two are teamed up, Sonic and Tails start trying out ideas to turn them back against each-other. Normally a pretty fucked up thing to do, but considering the two new friends are homicidal maniacs, it's understandable! Their various plans lead to a lot of fun and cute scenes. We get to see the Doctors share a hug after one argument, and at one point DUFUS is frustrated seeing them fight and makes them "kiss and make up". Quark is grossed out by the kiss, but Robotnik acts all bashful after! Aww, somebody has a cruuuush!! ;D Immediately after this scene, DUFUS again confides in Scratch and Grounder that they feel like they have been malfunctioning ever since the incident in the prison cell....
In Sonic and Tails next attempt at friendship sabotage, Sonic puts on an award show of movies for the two doctors. Scratch and Grounder are tasked with doing presentations and are adorably pitiful with their stage fright, but Sonic helps them out so they can show clips of "The Bad, the Worse, and the Ugly" starring Robotnik trampling a city, and "Silence of the Yams" starring Quark murdering a bunch of yams with a sub-machine gun! I wanted to make a "Die, Potato!" reference here, but I just found out from google that yams aren't actually a type of potato. I learned a new thing today! Quark ends up winning the award, and talks about when he was a little boy, he pulled the legs off of his pet tarantula. Jesus christ, creepy little psycho-bastard! Robotnik and Quark bicker again for a bit, but eventually make up, leaving Sonic and Tails needing to try again.
Sonic and Tails finally get them turned against each-other through the use of a fake Quark army o threaten Robotnik and impersonating police officers to harass Quark on Robotnik' "behalf". As the two doctors return to fighting, Quark pleads DUFUS to help him, but at this point DUFUS’ personality and outlook has changed drastically - DUFUS wants nothing to do with Quark anymore and just wants to relax and have fun instead of helping Quark commit evil deeds. Good for you, DUFUS! Quark eventually flies away with a pack of ducks and Robotnik orders Scratch and Grounder to fire a cloning gun at Sonic and Tails, which is a really odd choice of "attack" - why would he want four freedom fighters to have to fight with when he's already getting his butt kicked by two? The episode ends as the badniks end up cloning Robotnik instead, so at-least the Doc will have someone to talk to who understands him now?
In the Sonic Says segment, we see Robotnik and Quark having a foot race, both trying to cheat, and Sonic ends up disqualifying both of them from the race. Sonic then points out that nobody wins when you cheat, which is well-represented in the USA by how the entire country was shat upon an orange cheetoh man who lost the popular vote but was then cheated into office anyway by a bunch of scumbags... This episode was pretty fun! Despite my not finding Dr. Quark himself too interesting, the antics between he and Robotnik were pretty entertaining and DUFUS was an interesting character as well. It's a shame that according to the Sonic News Network wiki, this is the only time we'll get to see this character.
“SCRATCH! GROUNDER!”