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Dexter’s Laboratory Season 1 Review

Dexter’s Laboratory is an animated science fiction comedy series directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. It is such a fun, very funny show.

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“Omlette du fromage“

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The first season premiered in 1996 on Cartoon Network and it consists of thirteen episodes. However, this show is actually not split into episodes, but rather into segments. It’s a very interesting experiment that really worked. Each episode is composed of three segments which serve as seven-minute short films which made the series pleasantly old-fashioned. It also made the pacing brisker and the show more fun and inventive.

Let’s first talk about the story and characters. I find the mix of science fiction and comedy so well done here and the show can be appealing to both kids and adults as it is childlike, but very sophisticated. But whereas I just loved the segments that centered around Dexter and his sister, I found Dial M for Monkey somewhat flawed and The Justice Friends a dated superhero parody which mostly did not work all too well.

But Dexter is just such a fantastic, even iconic cartoon character with his unexplained, unknown weird accent and old-fashioned hairstyle. He is arrogant, easily irritated and thus can be quite funny. And just the idea of a kid scientist was unique and best done here. As for Dee Dee, she’s also such a terrific character who is not just a stupid girl as he usually says, but a competent, at times even smart and very fun and funny personality. Their bickering, but still loving sibling relationship is the heart of the show.

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The score and sound effects are also quite good and the animation is definitely typical for Cartoon Network, but mostly accomplished in its backgrounds, color palette and interesting, even unique character designs.

The first episode is quite a good start. DeeDeemensional is a lot of fun, but Magmanamus focuses on the pet monkey who fights a monster to decidedly mixed results. I find the monkey character amusing, but the stories themselves are not great. Maternal Combat focuses on housework really well to comedic effect and I liked that this show showed the two’s parents to some extent.

Dexter Dodgeball is solid, but not too memorable. Rasslor is another middling Monkey segment. And of course Dexter’s Assistant is fantastic as it showcases the dynamic between the siblings so well and how Dexter just has to be the smarter one.

Dexter’s Rival introduces us to Mandark who’s a terrific villain/rival for Dexter and I loved their dynamic. Simion is actually a pretty solid Monkey segment and easily the highlight here is Old Man Dexter with an instantly classic story and execution.

Double Trouble focuses on Dee Dee’s friends in great fashion, Barbequor is entirely forgettable and Changes is also not that memorable. Jurassic Pooch is a fun creature feature, Orgon Grindor should have been better and Dimwit Dexter makes fun of Dexter amusingly.

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Dee Dee’s Room is a funny look into a girl’s room from a boy’s perspective, Huntor is another forgettable Monkey installment and The Big Sister is a memorable Dee Dee action showcase. Star Spangled Sidekicks is by far the finest segment of this season which showcases the siblings’ rivalry and love beautifully while also having a hilarious superhero cape routine.

TV Super Pals introduces us to those three superheroes and it’s a pretty good episode for their lower standards. Game Over is a fantastic, inventive gaming segment concluding this easily best episode of the season.

Babysitter Blues is definitely funny but I found Dexter’s infatuation with women at such a young age problematic and enforced a bit too much. Valhallen’s Room is way too silly and Dream Machine is a pretty good episode that should have been greater given the terrific premise.

Dollhouse Drama is an entertaining, inventive story, Krunk’s Date is silly but admittedly endearing and The Big Cheese is one of the most purely entertaining and hilarious installments of the season as it sees Dexter made to say just one phrase and still end up passing school tests and winning quizzes.

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Way of the Dee Dee is a wonderful segment which showcases Dee Dee’s carefree attitude versus Dexter’s nervous, scientific mind. Say Uncle Sam is bland and forgettable. Tribe Called Girl is fun at it forces Dexter to hang out with his sister and her friends. Spacecase is a fun, though too different feeling alien episode, Ratman is too silly for its own sake and Dexter’s Debt is another pretty good, though not too funny science storyline.

Bee Where? is another middling superhero saga, but Mandarker sees him returning in great fashion. Inflata Dee Dee is not too funny or interesting, Can’t Nap is silly, Monstory is solid, but far from great leading to the weakest episode in the season overall.

In the end, I really liked this season which was a strong beginning of the show. Yes, the recurring segments are both problematic and much weaker than Dexter’s adventures, but those segments are so amazing for the most part and consistently funny and inventive.

Worst Episodes: Dexter’s Rival; Simion; Old Man Dexter and Inflata Dee Dee, Can’t Nap; Monstory.

Best Episodes: Star Spangled Sidekicks; TV Super Pals; Game Over and Dollhouse Drama; Krunk’s Date and The Big Cheese.

My Rating – 4.2

You can get the first season of Dexter’s Laboratory on Amazon.