User:BaldiBasicsFan/sandbox/A Summer to Remember (101 Dalmatian Street)

"A Summer to Remember" is the second two-part special of mh:besttvshows:101 Dalmatian Street. serving as the 25th and 26th episodes of the series and the thirteenth episode in the Disney+ release. It guest stars Olly Murs as Spike.

Synopsis
The family takes a holiday during the summer at Cornwall. However, the holiday is not what it seems.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) The main problem in this episode is that it tries too hard to be shocking to the viewer in a faster pace, but ends up failing in exaction.
 * 2) * To be fair, this is Frédéric Martin's first directed episode, but still.
 * 3) Spike could have been a great character, but he has no personality outside of him being a surfer dude. During the storm scene, he didn't even save Doug and Delilah along with Dolly because their boat was sunk to a cracked hole.
 * 4) Bessie also has no personality outside of being a dumb, friendly cow who actually turned out to be a smart and devious antagonist. Sure, the puppies were bothering her in the beginning of the episode by throwing stuff to her face - but those throws were mainly accidental. Along with that, she never gets comeuppance for sending the pups the wrong direction, making her a Karma Houdini.
 * 5) * As a result at the end of the episode, there is a plot hole where Dylan would believe that Bessie was killing everyone in the episode, but during the storm scene the rope was being cut by the wind. You could blame the storm for cutting the rope and not Bessie.
 * 6) And speaking of which, some of the scenes in this episode can drag on for too long, especially the scene with the storm. This is all because of the episode being in two parts instead of just one, thus making this feel like an extended one-parter.
 * 7) On the topic of the bad pacing, the chain reaction response that usually occurs in these episodes is at it's absolute worst here, as somehow it goes from calm slow pacing in part 1 to an absolute disaster in part 2.
 * 8) Dylan is rather unlikable in the first part, as he is incredibly racist towards the locals of Cornwall.
 * 9) This episode was possibly made as an excuse for Olly Murs to guest star in the episode.
 * 10) * And even so, despite having Olly Murs (whose a singer) guest staring, his character didn't sing a song.
 * 11) * This episode would have been better if it was a musical, as it had a song at the beginning after all.
 * 12) Despite being a likable character, Summer is never seen again after this episode (outside of her design being used in the background of "D-Factor"). Guess the events of the episode weren't a summer to remember (no pun intended)...
 * 13) Misleading title: As if BQ #7 was not enough, the title of the episode at first would seem like it would have an importance to the show, and maybe apart of the Hunter Story Arc, but it turns out to be nether (aside from Chips appearing in a later episode).

Good Qualities

 * 1) The ideas this episode had are actually good, but were poorly executed due to the pacing.
 * 2) Dylan eventually redeemed himself in the second part.
 * 3) The song at the beginning of the episode - "Dogs Are Out for Summer Sun" - is pretty catchy.
 * 4) Summer and Chips are likable characters, and the former's relationship with Dylan is just adorable.
 * 5) *Dolly is also likable since she is much nicer towards the Cornwall locals, and her relationship with Spike is rather cute.
 * 6) While it drags, the storm scene is pretty entertaining to watch.
 * 7) Olly Murs does a good job voicing Spike.

Trivia

 * This episode likely takes place after the events of the series finale (which all together makes up "Dante’s Inferno", "Better the De Vil You Know" and "The De Vil Wears Puppies").
 * Doug and Delilah did mention in "Better the De Vil You Know" that the family is going to the country, while in "The De Vil Wears Puppies", the double decker bus can be seen at the end of the episode.
 * It also takes place before the events of "Ride Along", as Chips was seen in the episode.
 * Ironically, both "The De Vil Wears Puppies" and "Ride Along" are episodes that are also directed by Frédéric Martin.