By the final season, these shows were drawn out. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for cartoons that fumbled at the finish line.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for cartoons that fumbled at
00:14the finish line.
00:15What's going to happen to you?
00:18Well, a good captain always goes down with his ship.
00:26Doug
00:27Dear Journal, can you please bring Doug back to Nickelodeon?
00:30Most who followed the middle school adventures of Doug Funny were disappointed when his TV
00:34show relocated to ABC.
00:44Many viewers felt that the later episodes lost the world's offbeat personality.
00:49With everything from character dynamics, storylines, and even music feeling dry and stagnant, the
00:54final season amplified these complaints, featuring plots that lasted too long and wooden moral
00:59lessons that no longer resonated with sincerity.
01:02Even the big moments, like Patty's long-awaited proposition for a date date, didn't feel
01:07as impactful as they should have.
01:19The once-beloved Nicktoon ended on a disheartening note, followed by a lackluster movie release
01:25that only worsened the blow.
01:29Cameos from celebrities are a trick Johnny Bravo pulls multiple times, but most fans
01:34wouldn't argue they're what defined the show.
01:37So why does the finale of the whole thing center around a guest appearance from Shaq?
01:48We understand this isn't a show focused on plot.
01:51We just like a little more finality in our finale.
01:55Does Johnny finally find love, or does he face his ultimate comeuppance?
01:59Okay, neither of those is particularly likely, but the final season could've explored these
02:04questions.
02:05We wanted some change in the status quo, and meeting an NBA star doesn't cut it.
02:20The Ren and Stimpy Show Those that did appreciate their bizarre and
02:24bawdy take on humor relished the days when creator John Crisfalusi ran the show.
02:29After Crisfalusi's departure, the new team struggled to maintain his unique vision, and
02:34the final season suffered the worst.
02:43Compared to the early stuff, fans found the stories to be formulaic and the animation
02:48somehow lacked the bold originality and delightful grotesquerie that made it stand out.
02:53Consequently, the final season felt like a big letdown that was unfortunately predictable
02:58under the new leadership.
02:59So it was not as disliked as the Adult Party cartoon reboot, whose negative reception fully
03:05solidified the doom of Stimpy and Ren.
03:20Wander Over Yonder Serialized shows were everywhere in children's
03:36animation during this era, from Adventure Time to Steven Universe and even Regular Show.
03:41That said, there was still plenty of room for goofy cartoons that were just that, and
03:45Wander Over Yonder served that purpose to a tee.
03:49Until it didn't.
03:50The show proved why it's probably better if not all shows incorporate serialization
03:54in its second and final season.
03:56The show got canceled, making its experiment with longer form storytelling feel rushed.
04:01Lore Dominator in particular doesn't get the arc she deserves.
04:05We love a good redemption story.
04:18Danny Phantom Danny Phantom is a beloved Nickelodeon show
04:22from Fairly Oddparents creator Butch Hartman, known for its spectral hijinks and overarching
04:27plot lines.
04:28Unfortunately, it ended in a way that, while not ghastly, left us feeling disappointed.
04:36The awkwardly paced and over-stuffed two-part
04:46finale makes us wish we could have seen our second favorite Ghostbusters in a feature-length
04:50conclusion instead.
04:52That said, we've already seen the Fairly Oddparents reboot.
04:56Could Danny Phantom be next?
04:57We'd love to see these characters again for a second goodbye with some room to breathe,
05:01especially now that the Danny and Sam romance is, hopefully, out of the way.
05:19While technically a miniseries, Wizards was essentially the third chapter in a trilogy.
05:24It had the daunting task of concluding not one, but three separate animated shows set
05:29in the science-fantasy Arcadia world co-created by visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro,
05:34being the follow-up to Trollhunters and Three Below.
05:37Unfortunately, Wizards received the shortest runtime of the three shows, despite having
05:41the most ground to cover.
05:51The concluding series has to resolve an entire universe, and the pacing suffers for it.
05:56There was an Arcadia movie released after this, but unfortunately, it has a similarly
06:00mixed reputation amongst viewers with complaints about underdeveloped characters.
06:16Some say the Flintstones went downhill with Pebble's birth in season 3.
06:21Others point to Bam-Bam's arrival in season 4.
06:24Even well into season 5, though, the show was still producing strong episodes like Dr. Sinister.
06:32Yet, most agree that the series officially jumped the Prontosaurus in season 6 with The Great Gazoo.
06:45Like Scrappy-Doo, we're sure that Gazoo has his unapologetic fans.
06:50However, there's no denying that his very presence undermines the show's prehistoric premise,
06:54and his grating voice doesn't help.
06:57Gazoo aside, the final season included some of the show's most boneheaded storylines,
07:02like Fred turning into an ape.
07:04Despite Gazoo's exit in the penultimate episode,
07:07we're not confident that the show could have recovered had it gotten a seventh season.
07:20The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.
07:23There's an unfortunate trend of even beloved shows dropping off in quality
07:27as they enter their final run of episodes.
07:29What makes Jimmy Neutron frustrating is the lack of evolution in the characters
07:33and cliched plots in the final season.
07:44The intended finale is a generic villains band together story,
07:47and things could have been more interesting, especially for Jimmy and Cindy Shippers.
07:51This is a franchise whose pilot was a theatrical movie,
07:55and the show was a massive success.
07:57Why couldn't the finale season have been just as epic?
08:00Nickelodeon, if you're listening,
08:02it's not too late to give Jimmy the cinematic send-off or revival he deserves.
08:18Number 12, Rugrats.
08:21Nickelodeon seemingly has a habit of letting beloved shows in unceremoniously.
08:25Even after running for over a decade and being one of Nickelodeon's most popular shows ever,
08:31receiving three theatrical films, Rugrats ended with a whisper, not a bang.
08:37The finale is a run-of-the-mill episode instead of a celebration of a show
08:41with a 13-year legacy that helped put Nick on the map.
08:44The all-grown-up sequel series shows us what Tommy and the gang got up to as teens,
08:49but we wish we got a more fitting end to their era of infant escapades.
09:07Of course he does! We have all the fun!
09:10Number 11, Voltron Legendary Defender.
09:13To say that the final season of this once-universally-praised series was divisive would be an understatement.
09:20I'm afraid this is where we part ways.
09:22While season 8 got some positive reviews from critics,
09:25its audience score on Rotten Tomatoes doesn't even crack double digits.
09:29Viewers were especially upset regarding the fate of Princess Allura,
09:33one of the show's only women of color.
09:35Shiro and Curtis' wedding might have marked a significant moment for the LGBTQIA representation
09:42if the show had taken more time to flesh out their relationship.
09:48The pairing felt like an empty gesture after what happened to Adam the previous season,
09:53which showrunner Joaquin Dos Santos apologized for.
09:56Adam, I'm sorry.
10:00The drop in quality doesn't excuse the toxic backlash from various fans.
10:05That said, Voltron just didn't come together at the end.
10:09Number 10, The Powerpuff Girls.
10:12Sugar, spice, everything nice, and a dash of Chemical X,
10:16these were the ingredients for an awesome cartoon.
10:18Get out of there! You're nothing but a big party pooper!
10:22But the Powerpuff Girls lost an essential ingredient during its last seasons,
10:27creator Craig McCracken, who shifted attention to Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
10:32Imaginative ones. Some kids aren't that creative, so they just copy what they see on TV.
10:36Powerpuff Girls was entrusted to the controversial Chris Savino,
10:40who couldn't maintain the sharp timing that McCracken brought to the table.
10:43It hurts so bad!
10:45The sunburn or the humiliation?
10:48Both!
10:49Following an underwhelming fifth season, the show officially lost its mojo,
10:54and its JoJo, in a sluggish final season.
10:57It's wicked awesome, bro!
10:59With cringeworthy episodes like Sunscreen,
11:02and underwhelming villains like Pirate Crack McCragen.
11:06Get it?
11:07I'll be having that treasure, or I be not Captain Crack McCragen!
11:12The Powerpuff Girls were long past their prime.
11:15However, we will take the final season over any episode of the reboot,
11:19or that live-action show that never went anywhere.
11:22We don't talk about that.
11:23There comes a time in every dog-sitter's life where she must put her foot down and say no.
11:31When the OG Ninja Turtles series ended,
11:33audience felt it had become too dark and brooding after starting on a light-hearted note.
11:38After I crush your friends into oblivion, you're next!
11:42With the 2003 series, it was the other way around.
11:46Fans praised the first five seasons for capturing the gritty edge of the comics.
11:50With season six's fast-forward storyline, though,
11:53you could sense the censors urging the showrunners to tone it down.
11:57This is even more apparent in the final season.
12:00Back to the sewer.
12:01Nice!
12:02Get back!
12:07Kid-friendly tone came with some jarring redesigns.
12:10The turtles have pupils now?
12:12The stories felt flat as well with the turtles having to fight another shredder
12:16with April and Casey planning a wedding.
12:18At least the movie Turtles Forever ended this incarnation on a higher note.
12:23Today, we're more than allies.
12:25We're brothers.
12:30Dexter's Lab had two opportunities to go out in style.
12:33The season two finale, Last but Not Beast.
12:36I wish that I could have saved the world from the giant monster.
12:44And the TV movie, Eagle Trip.
12:46While both brought a sense of finality,
12:48Cartoon Network decided to resurrect Dexter for two more seasons.
12:52He was the one who saved the future!
12:55What? No way!
12:57That didn't just happen!
12:59I wanted to be the one who saved the future!
13:04Unfortunately, creator Genndy Tartakovsky was moving on to other projects
13:09and voice actress Christine Cavanagh was on the verge of retirement.
13:13Chris Savino took over as the main creative force,
13:16which went over about as well as his Powerpuff Girls tenure.
13:20Not only did the show undergo an underwhelming visual overhaul,
13:24but the comedy became slower, weirder, and at times, trollish.
13:28Of course, Dexter.
13:30It would be my pleasure retrieving that information for you.
13:34Tartakovsky might have returned for season four's Chicken Scratch,
13:38which originally debuted theatrically.
13:40But even then, the show had become a chore to watch.
13:48Number seven, Centaur World.
13:50It's always impressive when a cartoon can balance zany antics with more serious elements.
13:55It's just a bad dream. When I wake up, I'll be back.
13:59It's just a bad dream. When I wake up, I'll be back.
14:02Adventure Time may be a children's show,
14:04but it struck this balance perfectly while having surprising depth.
14:07Even Futurama could sometimes get serious, but it knew not to overdo it.
14:11In its final season, Centaur World strikes too strong a tone at any given time
14:16instead of finding a happy medium between the fun and the not-so-fun.
14:19It doesn't help that the payoff is a rushed finale
14:22that floods the viewer with a ton of last-minute lore.
14:25What did you do? What did you do?
14:28What did I do? What did I do?
14:30Why I waited for you.
14:32I shouldn't be here.
14:33And now you've come to set me free.
14:36We love to see more experimental adult animation on Netflix,
14:39so it's a shame this show didn't live up to the promise of the first season.
14:45From the beginning, this animated reality show mashup prided itself on bad taste.
14:50In the earlier seasons, though, the shock value was complemented by clever in-jokes
14:55and well-defined characters.
14:57Look behind you. It's Denzel Washington.
15:00Denzel!
15:01By the time we got to the final season,
15:03virtually any wit went out the window in favor of forced dark humor and gross-out gags.
15:09This might be acceptable if the laughs delivered.
15:12Yoko Ono. Mitsubishi. I have a small penis.
15:17But the creators seem to get wrapped up in the mentality
15:20that if a joke is tasteless, it's automatically funny.
15:23And if you disagree, then you're just an easily offended snowflake.
15:27Which of these eight assbags will be banished from the drawn-together house?
15:32A show can be funny and offensive, but we won't tolerate laziness.
15:36Season 3 is so lazy that it leaves us on a clip show
15:40with many moments that aren't worth reminiscing over.
15:46You might have noticed a trend with several of these shows.
15:48Once the creator left, the series should have called it quits as well.
15:52The Boondocks may be the most obvious example.
15:55So much of this hilarious, provocative, and insightful show
15:58was grounded in Aaron Magruder's biting commentary.
16:03With Magruder not returning for the fourth and ultimately final season,
16:10the show became a cheap imitation of itself,
16:13with the commentary being sacrificed in favor of senseless shock humor.
16:16I'ma get a spin-off show called Black Assistant Bitches Who Killed Their Bosses.
16:20How bad was the final season?
16:22Based on the Emmy submission ballots,
16:24the crew apparently didn't even enter it for Outstanding Animated Program Consideration.
16:29There were talks of Magruder returning for a reboot,
16:32but with that project scrapped,
16:34we'll have to settle for rewatching those first three seasons.
16:51After the conception of Poof in Season 6
16:54and the introduction of Sparky the Dog in Season 9,
16:57could this Nick toon fall any further from grace?
17:09The worst was saved for last with Season 10 bringing in Chloe Carmichael,
17:13Timmy's new neighbor who he must now share his fairies with.
17:20Just like the theme song's updated lyrics,
17:23Chloe's presence simply felt forced with Nickelodeon desperately attempting to milk what was left of the series.
17:28Almost a year after the Season 10 finale,
17:31Butch Hartman announced that he was leaving Nickelodeon,
17:34was scribed by creator Greg Weissman.
17:37Hartman's exit essentially marked the end of the original series.
17:41We wish the show could have received a more ceremonious send-off,
17:45but at this point, its cancellation was a relief.
17:54Number 3. Teen Titan
17:56It's a bit ironic that Things Change is the name of the finale of this superhero action show,
18:01given that the episode and the season don't seem interested in finishing any character arcs.
18:17A better name would have been Things Change, People Don't,
18:20but the more things change, the more they stay the same.
18:23The point is, it was disappointing, leaving the final season on a sour note.
18:27The TV movie Trouble in Tokyo was no more conclusive.
18:40The Teen Titans later received a more comedic adaptation with Teen Titans Go,
18:44and while the original still hasn't received a full revival,
18:47it did at least get a fun crossover with a new version.
18:50Number 2. Star vs. The Forces of Evil
18:53Star is one of the most energetic shows that Disney has ever produced.
18:57While the series never lost that energy, it did lose focus going into its last season.
19:02Throughout its run, the show seemed to be building toward one thing,
19:06only to abandon certain storylines and characters in the end.
19:12Toffee's presence, in particular, was missed for much of the season.
19:16While it's satisfying to see Star and Marco finally declare their true feelings,
19:20we should have gotten here much sooner.
19:27The showrunner could have learned a thing or two from Kim Possible,
19:30which used its final season to explore Kim and Ron as a couple.
19:34Where the Starco romance dragged on,
19:36the finale has the opposite problem with too many rushed elements packed into 23 minutes.
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20:01Number 1. Gargoyles
20:03Season 3 of Gargoyles, a.k.a. The Goliath Chronicles, opens on a promising note.
20:09That's because the premiere was scribed by creator Greg Weissman.
20:13Brave words for a man who hides his face behind a hood.
20:17After that, Weissman had little creative input.
20:20A shift from syndication to ABC came with stricter censorship, leading to Weissman's falling out.
20:26Thanks, Fox. These shades are way cool.
20:30The once dark, emotionally complex series was dumbed down with stories about Broadway going Hollywood,
20:36while villains like Demona took a backseat.
20:38The animation was downgraded as well, with the outsourced Nelvana taking over for Disney television animation.
20:45An equitable trade.
20:46If you want a Gargoyles continuation with Weissman's personal touch,
20:50we'd suggest checking out the comic series that started in 2006.
20:54That is, if you can find a Ford to collect them all.
20:58Seriously, Disney, we need a reprint.
21:01If you're feeling particularly animated about your disappointment in your favorite show's final season,
21:06let us know in the comments down below.
21:19Do you agree with our picks?
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