The start of the episode is really hard to watch. Flash was always the more relaxed parent. Now they rewrote him into “my son can take it, he is the one and only son of Flash Gordon”. Rick’s tried and has a shitload of work and a test to study for but nooo, Flash won’t leave him alone. Shouldn’t at least school come first?
I do like Lothar standing there with Kshin. Lothar is also saying Flash should give Rick the day off but Flash is wondering what could have gotten into Rick…
Rick’s got an F and is rude to his teacher. We also learn he is usually a straight A student.
Rick’s friend Jerry, who changed his pants while walking down the hallway with Rick, gives him drugs. The name of the drug is not mentioned, just “drugs”. “It will help you to get through whatever you’re going through”. Yeah, sure.
Kshin’s school holds an Anti-Drug lesson. Kshin once again proves to be in a bad group of friends. The tall guy, Kevin, tries to give him drugs, because “everyone gets high” and when Kshin refuses, the three of them walk off to get high. No mention of Audie and Marty, the Honorary Defenders. I guess Audie, who was one grade above the older kids, could be in college now, but what about Marty? Why is Kshin hanging out with these douchbags? And ten-year-olds get high now?
Flash is a jerk in this episode. “oooh you want to talk to me, must be girl trouble… I’m busy now, let’s discuss your romantic life a little later”. And Mandrake just laughs, too. I hate it when characters get a complete personality rewrite. This is not the Flash we know.
“YOU’RE SORRY?! THIS COULD COST US OUR LIVES! THIS COULD BE THE END OF THE DEFENDERS!” Uh, STOP putting so much pressure on a kid!!! You are the adults here, it is YOUR job! Your kids still go to school, they’re still in training. Uh, this just makes me really angry.
This is not the mansion. Looks like they have rooms at Monitor too? Anyway, Kshin witnesses Rick doing drugs but doesn’t tell anybody.
Rick is getting really angry and irritiated with Kshin and for once, that’s on Rick, not Kshin.
And that’s the wakeup call!
Zuffy HUGE!
Ming gets crazy while Rick is strong enough to destroy the drug he still has and returns to normal.
We do get a nice ending scene where Flash and Rick talk about their problems, Flash apologizes and Rick admits needing help. Flash says this is a team effort and they walk off.
Kshin found a new friendgroup and again Kevin and the other two offer them drugs. They tell him no.
After Kevin runs off, Kshin, a completely random new girl and Kevin’s two friends from before are standing together. Both girls wear the same outfit. Kshin then addresses the viewer and tells us to say no to drugs.
Well… I do think the message is important and Kshin is being the good guy here, learning about drugs, saying no to drugs and trying to help Rick. Well, he should have told an adult immediately, but he’s 10, so he gets a pass. It is a bit weird that 10 year olds are getting offered drugs but other 10 year olds repeatedly, but since the show is set in the future, who knows. Rick’s problem, especially if we’re supposed to believe this goes on for a while, is quite serious. But the complete rewrite of Flash’s character makes it really… unwatchable for me. Also, I feel because Rick’s the smart one, he should know what drugs do and that they’re NOT helping. Of course even he could still turn to them in such a situation but… because usually, Flash would not behave this way, it just kind of feels wrong. Like it was done just to present drugs and the “say no” message because they had to bring this up in one episode so they made the best they could. At least, as with Eric’s drinking problem, it does not go away at the end of the episode but instead, both mention getting help. I do wish there was an episode for each of the kids to show what kind of pressure they all have to deal with sometimes, with school, parents, expectations, family legacies, wrong friends, and so on. I’m sure the writers could have come up with something for each of the kids (and/or even the adults).
