Spoilers follow as we dive into the weird and wonderful world of Torontowood, in the fourth episode of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, I’m so happy you’re coming on this journey.
1. Lucas Lee-ving the high-life
“Whatever” does a great show at showing exactly what makes Lucas Lee oh-so confident, I honestly get it, I would also think I was the shit if that was my life. His mantra is right there in the title and it makes for a great contention of the character. We’ve only ever seen lucas as a an active antagonist in story roles, but his character is pretty naturally passive, as the show reminds us. So it’s fun seeing that on display here, passive antagonists are just a rare breed.
We get a really strong open with “United States of Whatever” guiding Lucas through the mythic land of California, the scene is just a great encapsulation of why I love seeing Chris Evans rediscovering his love for playing arseholes, after years stuck in the most stoic role in cinema. He gets a good bit of brooding in too, I’m a fan of Lucas Lee staring at that one broken skateboard the same way Batman looks at the costume of a dead Robin.
2. A mystery ever more curious
This episode is very light on actual plot, but I can’t say I’m against all the detours. It’s fun and charming, I liked the return of the pap ninjas, even if they outstay the novelty a little. Where it does feel like it could be a problem is in how it really sets up the recurring structure of these episodes. Ramona re-dyes her hair (this time a great lime juice green), the episode gets in 10-15 minutes of appreciation for early 2000s media, an ex gets accused, finds peace, and the mystery grinds on. It feels especially redundant because it’s blaringly clear that the person who snatched Scott isn’t going to be one of the evil exes, it will have happened for some secret eighth reason.
3. Torontowood studios (movie references)
I mentioned the scheduled reverence in every episode of this show so far, and this episode truly comes at it with enthusiasm. The Hollywood hysteria this episode is at times so unexpected, and then hilariously inexplicable. For example, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as lot-cops?? Incredible moment, I hooted and I hollered, I did it all. Then we get a little standard Edgar Wright nod and a JAN DE BONT reference right out of left field. Again, fun to mystifying at every reveal.
I love how weirdly classic mainstream it goes in its references on the Hollywood lots, they’re all safe-bet Spielbergs like ET, Jurassic Park and Jaws. Not the mood board I thought they were going for. I’m also choosing to believe that Lucas Lee hiding in the bag is a Se7en reference.
So maybe the plot device of setting the episode on a movie set was a bit too meta, I honestly don’t mind either way, I’m happy for some Young Neil time. I do think it had moments of getting a bit too obsessed with its own look and reputation. Like I’m not sure the right way to dig into the whole ‘dating a highschooler’ thing is by parodying it here, I just don’t think I have the energy to see how many layers of meta irony are the right bandaid it, but what motivation does it give us to dissect it? Someone scoffing about how cleverly they’ve satirized their own controversies without actually addressing them first feels like a cheap way to win.
4. Havoc on set
As mentioned, big episode to be Young Neil, loved his golf kart adventures and the Mario Kart soundtrack to guide it through. There were some great moments from this imaginary production of Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life as well, front of mind is Lucas Lee’s Scott Pilgrim costume. Watching this with subtitles gave some great little insights too, like a character being called “Straight Wallace” (poor replacement behind Rich Wallice.) It’s especially fun when we see him kicked off the movie and Lucas Lee is just sitting up under the covers looking at real Wallace, waiting for the next guy to get in bed with him.
5. Doing your own stunts (vis and style)
There was a level of dynamism to the art in this episode that really brought back the best of the visual aesthetic you lose in a simplified animated style. There was that Edgar Wright camera direction oozing from the screen as Lucas Lee phones his agent, the way the pair shove the divider between them is straight out of his playbook and adds a lot of charm. Marrying the classic cinematic feel with the shoegaziness I mentioned last ep, is the skateboarding introduction scene. It feels really special and off-model in a way that boosts the dynamism of O’Malley’s figures with a fluid and fun Pro Skater feel.
It still manages to fold that all right into the form with a swathe of playful visual sound effects, and a thumping soundtrack. The Dead Kennedys’ Police Truck is a great pick. Between reviewing this and Invincible I feel like I’m listening to another Spotify Wrapped.
Next week we’re sure to see some vegan shenanigans as Todd Ingram enters the fold. Stay tuned until then!
