Jonny Quest "Terror Island" #1.24 (1965) (TV)

Giant bugs run amuck, 12 March 2010

Jonny, Hadji, and Race are desperate to find Dr. Quest after he's been kidnapped. Dr. Quest has been taken to the secret lab of Dr. Chu Sing Ling – a scientist working on a secret formula that turns insects into giants. Dr. Ling wants Quest's assistance. Naturally, Dr. Quest refuses and faces the prospect of being fed to one of Dr. Ling's creations. Will the rest of the gang arrive in time to save Dr. Quest?

While Terror Island is reasonably fun and feels something like an homage to the 1950s era giant bug movies I love so much, for whatever reason, I don't care for this episode as much as some others. Sure, I enjoyed the rampaging giant bug action, but I have a couple of problems with Terror Island. First, this may sound silly when talking about Jonny Quest, but Terror Island lacks the "real" feeling I enjoy in other episodes. This one is sci-fi all the way - with an emphasis on the fi part. I can go along with all the spy stuff, the robots, and even the prehistoric creatures you usually find in Jonny Quest, but this episode pushes credibility too far. (Please remember, when I use words like "real" or "credibility", I'm using them in the context of the Jonny Quest world – not the world you and I live in.)

My second problem is with Dr. Ling's rather sketchy plan. I'm not sure he ever says why he's trying to create an army of giant insects – he just is. Even the most deranged of the Jonny Quest baddies has some sort of explanation for what they're up to. Again, it takes away from the realism (relatively speaking once again).

In the end, despite the problems I have with the episode, this is still Jonny Quest and its still fun. I'll give Terror Island a 6/10.

6/10

Jonny Quest "The House of Seven Gargoyles" #1.23 (1965) (TV)

What an episode!, 11 March 2010

The Quest Team heads to the fjords of Norway to pay a visit to one of Dr. Quest's old friends, Dr. Ericson. Dr. Ericson has invented an anti-gravity device that may have drawn some unwanted attention. Even though no one will believe him, Jonny is sure he spotted a submarine in the nearby fjord. Next, once at Dr. Ericson's, Jonny is certain he's seen one of the stone gargoyles that guard the castle move. Again, no one believes him. Opinions on Jonny's eyesight change, however, when Dr. Ericson's discovery is stolen from the castle by foreign agents.

Based mostly on recollections from my childhood, there are what I would consider to be three iconic Jonny Quest episodes. These three episodes represent not only what I call the best of Jonny Quest, but they're filled with moments and images I'll never forget. The three episodes in question – The Curse of Anubis, The Robot Spy, and The House of Seven Gargoyles. I've already written about the first two, so now I'm on to third. To begin with, what a name – The House of Seven Gargoyles! How cool is that? It just evokes mystery and suspense. And what about the human gargoyle? I'll never forget the first time I saw this episode – it gave me chills for days. The image of the gargoyle coming to life and creeping through the castle corridors is the stuff of nightmares. Add to that clandestine meetings in a graveyard, spies in a submarine, and a stolen anti-gravity device and you've got one rock solid Jonny Quest episode. With no hesitation, I rate The House of Seven Gargoyles a 9/10.

Another thing that always creeps me out about this episode is the gargoyle Jonny is given in the final scene. Looking at the statue sitting between Jonny and Hadji in the backseat of the car, I'm always waiting for its eyes to open. Creepy stuff!

9/10

Jonny Quest "The Quetong Missile Mystery" #1.22 (1965) (TV)

I can't believe it - an episode I've never seen!, 5 March 2010

While visiting some unnamed Southeast Asian country, Dr. Quest is asked by the local authorities to look into the strange happenings in the nearby Swamp Lake. None of the police patrols that have gone into the swamp have returned. What lurks in these murky waters? How about a band of ninja types guarding a secret missile installation. Things could get quite tricky for the Quest Team.

A few random things about The Quetong Missile Mystery:

- To my utter surprise and delight, I realized almost immediately that I had never seen The Quetong Missile Mystery. I'm not sure how I missed it either when I was younger or when I went through the episodes when I bought the DVDs. But how cool – a new episode!

- The bad guys in The Quetong Missile Mystery are great. The black clad ninja-types in the trees, the traitor Lt. Singh, and the head baddie General Fong are an impressive cast of villains. One of my favorite bits comes near the end when Gen. Fong barks the orders to catch and kill the Quest Team. You wouldn't see anything like that in today's overly PC cartoons. Fong is just awesome.

- I knew I recognized the voice of Commissioner Wah and was delighted to discover Keye Luke's name in the credits. How cool is it that Keye Luke provides some of the voices for this episode? To me, it's just about the coolest thing I've run across in a Jonny Quest episode. I know he did a lot of things, but as a huge fan of Charlie Chan, Keye Luke will always be #1 son Lee.

Overall, The Quetong Missile Mystery is another great installment in the Jonny Quest series. I'll give it an 8/10.

8/10

Jonny Quest "The Devil's Tower" #1.21 (1965) (TV)

Von Duffel is as mad as a hatter, 5 March 2010

Dr. Quest and Race set out to retrieve a scientific balloon that has crashed atop an escarpment known as The Devil's Tower. Race leaves Dr. Quest and returns to camp to pick-up the boys. Back on top of the escarpment, Dr. Quest is no where to be found. Instead, Race, Jonny, and Hadji run into a tribe of cavemen. They also run into a Nazi war criminal known as Von Duffel who has been using the cavemen to mine a load of precious diamonds. Can the whole gang escape the mad Von Duffel or, using Race's plane, will Von Duffel make his own escape?

While not the greatest of episodes, The Devil's Tower is still highly entertaining. Von Duffel is as good a baddie as the Quest Team face in any episode. And by good, I mean he's so stark raving mad that he seems quite capable of anything. Von Duffel's appearance is also a highlight. His stark skeletal features are nicely drawn. He reminds me quite a bit of the Crypt Keeper in appearance. The only real weakness of the episode comes in the final chase scenes as Jonny and family attempt to escape while Von Duffel attacks from overhead in the plane. It's exciting and all, but it feels too much like the finale of an earlier Jonny Quest episode, Shadow of the Condor. Still, a quality entry in the series that I rate a 7/10.

7/10

Jonny Quest "The Invisible Monster" #1.20 (1965) (TV)

Scared the pants off me as a child, 28 February 2010

Dr. Isaiah Norman, an old friend and colleague of Dr. Quest, calls with a frantic request for help. His latest experiment involving molecular energy has gotten out of control with devastating results. Somehow, Dr. Norman has created an invisible creature made of pure energy. It exists solely to consume more energy. The Quest Team quickly boards their plane to head off on another adventure. But will they get there in time to save Dr. Norman?

Finally, my run of bad luck with Jonny Quest is over. The Invisible Monster is one of those episodes that stands out. And why not? An effective monster, cool jet packs, and characters that actually die – it's got all the makings of a first rate Jonny Quest episode. It was the kind of episode that 40 years ago would have had my lights on all night. It was that scary! Watching today, I may have slept comfortably, but I can still recognize class when I see it. It's truly one of the most memorable of all of the Jonny Quest episodes. One thing I noticed looking at it today, the monster doesn't have the same polished appearance of the other artwork from Jonny Quest. It's a simple design with colors that change from frame to frame. But I guess with a creature made of molecular energy, you could do almost anything with it and it would look okay. And that solitary eye – creepy! And that noise – even creepier. I love it! The Invisible Monster easily gets an 8/10 from me.

8/10

Jonny Quest "Attack of the Tree People" #1.19 (1965) (TV)

A ruddy average episode, 25 February 2010

When compared with the previous three episodes, Attack of the Tree People isn't half bad. But, when compared with some of the better episodes of the Jonny Quest series, it doesn't look so good. In this one, after an accident at sea, Jonny and Hadji are separated from Dr. Quest and Race and end up in a thick, jungle type setting. The boys aren't alone for long as they are quickly befriended by a band of friendly apes. Unfortunately, there are also two gun-runners lurking nearby who see ransoming the boys as a way to make a quick buck. In the end, it's not Dr. Quest and Race who save the boys – instead, the apes save everyone.

Okay, first for the good – I really enjoyed the two would-be kidnappers, Silkey and Topper, and their thick cockney accents. The two sound like they're straight out of the chimney sweep scene in Mary Poppins. I think every sentence they utter includes the word "ruddy". As for the bad – look no further than the apes or "Tree People" of the episodes title. The fact that these wild apes act nothing like wild apes is just too silly. It might not have been so bad if there had been some explanation for their behavior, but there's nothing to indicate why these apes act as they do. The rest of the episode is pretty uneventful. As with the other recent episodes I've watched, there's nothing worth getting overly excited about. In the end, the best I can say about Attack of the Tree People is that it's a thoroughly average episode of an excellent series. A 5/10 seems about right.

5/10

Jonny Quest "Pirates from Below" #1.18 (1965) (TV)

I'm in the middle of an awfully dry stretch, 25 February 2010

Dr. Quest newest invention is an underwater vehicle (sorry, I can't remember what they called it) that sort of rolls across the bottom of the ocean floor. The invention becomes the target of a group of baddies who want the vehicle for themselves to sell off to the highest bidder. Race and Jonny get mixed-up in the hijacking and it's up to Dr. Quest and Hadji to save the day.

I hate to have to give another Jonny Quest episode such a poor rating, but I don't have much choice. Pirates from Below just isn't that good and has very little to recommend. In a word, it's pretty dull. I've had similar problems with the previous two episodes. When I think about these three episodes, they all suffer the same weakness – the lack of a compelling or interesting villain or other threat. The pirates in this episode, the loggers in Werewolf of the Timberland, and the nondescript bad guys in The Fraudulent Volcano can't begin to compare with the spider-like robot of The Robot Spy, the threatening mummy from The Curse of Anubis, or the dragon pit found in Dragons of Ashida. Those episodes presented adversaries and situations that were suspenseful and frightening. I know things pick-up later on in the Jonny Quest series and there are some really good episodes to come, but right now, I'm in the middle of an awfully dry stretch.

4/10

Jonny Quest "Werewolf of the Timberland" #1.17 (1965) (TV)

Another weak episode, 23 February 2010

Jonny Quest and family find themselves deep in the Canadian wood. They're terrorized by a group of baddies posing as loggers, but these guys are the least of the Quest Team's worries. Legend has it these woods are the hunting ground of a werewolf – or loup-garou. Fortunately, a mysterious figure known as White Feather and his wolf companion come to Jonny and Hadji's aid.

Considering Werewolf of the Timberland features a werewolf (at least a werewolf legend), it should be a lot more enjoyable. While I find it more entertaining that the previous episode, The Fraudulent Volcano, it's not by much. A couple of the problems I have with this episode include the character White Feather and the ineffective gang of French-Canadian baddies. I've never been much for the magical, mythical portrayals of Indians . . . err, Native Americans. You know, the talking to animals, moving like the wind - it's all a bit too much for me to take. As for the French-Canadian baddies, their so ineffective they're almost comical. And that werewolf costume – how bad does that look? And why do all Canadian bad guys have to have these impossibly ridiculous French accents? It's too silly!

5/10

Jonny Quest "The Fraudulent Volcano" #1.16

A very weak episode with little of interest, 6 February 2010

The Quest Gang head off to some remote country (if they ever said a name, I missed it) to help the locals with a terrifying volcano. But as soon as Dr. Quest sees the volcano in action, he realizes something else is going on – something much more human in origin than natural.

A couple of years ago, I was on a pretty good pace to get through the entire Jonny Quest series and write a review on each episode. I stopped before I could do a write-up for The Fraudulent Volcano. It's such a dull episode with little going for it that I was sort of put off Jonny Quest. It's hard to get excited about the plot of this one. The volcano poses little real danger to the Quest family. And the bad guys and their ridiculous flying platforms aren't menacing enough to be effective. Sure, Dr. Zin makes a brief appearance, but he's safely thousands of miles away from the action. With little to recommend, I've got no choice but to rate The Fraudulent Volcano a disappointing 4/10.

The one highlight for me is the bad guy on the motor-scooter who looks just like Adolph Hitler. What's up with that? Makes me laugh every time I see him.

4/10

Monsters vs Aliens (2009)

"Boys, set the terror level at code brown, 'cause I need to change my pants.", 23 April 2009

Last weekend, I took my 6 year-old son to see the 3-D version of Monsters vs Aliens. For a user comment on the movie, I thought I would do something a little different and interview him to get his thoughts.

Me: So, what did you think of Monsters vs Aliens? Son: Good (Let me explain a little about his one word answer. My son is a very articulate, bright little boy. But for some reason, when it comes to using positive adjectives, he seems to only know one – "Good". And he uses it alone – no subject or verb as in "It was good" – just "Good". The only problem is that to my son, "Good" is used to describe anything from an ice cream cone to a trip to Disney World. What did you think about that pizza? Answer - Good. How was school today? Answer - Good. What would you think if I gave you a million dollars? Answer – Good. So take his "Good" as you will.)

Me (trying to drag something else out of him): What was your favorite part? Son: When Ginormica was busting through the wall.

Me: Was any of the movie funny? Son: Yes – It was funny when Bob got stepped on.

Me: What did you think of the 3-D effects? Son: Good. (See what I mean?)

Me: Would you recommend it to your friends at school? Son: Yes, it was really good (What? Really good? Where did that come from?).

There you have it – a succinct review from a reasonably typical 6 year-old kindergärtner.

As for me, the movie was only okay. The 3-D effects were often breathtaking. And some of the comedy hit the mark. I especially enjoyed Hugh Laurie as Dr. Cockroach. But the plot was overly simple and very predictable. There were few if any surprises. And I really didn't like the way the monsters were used. They were often little more than comic relief and had no real purpose. So while my son may say "Good", I say "Average". A 5/10 from me.

5/10

Jonny Quest "Turu the Terrible" #1.15 (1964) (TV)

A man and his pet dinosaur, 25 December 2008

Dr. Benton Quest is deep in the jungle in search of a rare metal that might prove beneficial to the space program when he runs into a hysterical native who will only repeat the word, "Turu". The Quest Gang accompanies the frightened man and discover a mountain full of the metal they seek guarded by a crazed man in a wheelchair and his giant, flying dinosaur.

Overall, Turu the Terrible is a fairly enjoyable episode. Turu actually poses a real threat to the Quests. In one scene, the giant pterodactyl-like dinosaur gets hold of Dr. Quest and almost takes him into its lair. In another scene, the boat the Quests are using sustains heavy damage after an attack. The ending is something of a let-down, however. as we never discover who the old man is or anything else about him. There are also a couple of moments that make me laugh every time I see them. The first is the sight of Race carrying that bazooka while flying with his jet pack. He carries it like it weighs no more than a loaf of bread. And I hope he never intended to fire the thing while flying. The kick while floating in mid-air would knock him clear out of the jungle. The second thing I get a chuckle out of is the image of the wheelchair-bound old man leading his pet dinosaur to its cage. Yeah, right.

7/10

Jonny Quest "Dragons of Ashida" #1.14 (1964) (TV)

One of the coolest Jonny Quest episodes, 21 December 2008

The Quests pay a visit to Dr. Ashida, an old friend of Dr. Benton Quest's. Dr. Ashida has been doing research with the Tobura lizard. As a result of his research, he has been able to grow the lizards into 14' man-eating dragons. And if Dr. Ashida and his dragons weren't enough, the Quest Team will have to deal with a mountain of a man known as Sumi.

Thinking back to my childhood, there are three episodes of Jonny Quest that really standout. The Robot Spy, The House of Seven Gargoyles, and this one, The Dragons of Ashida, are a big part of the reason that Jonny Quest has such a special place in my memories. It's just so cool! The Dragons of Ashida has a lot going for it. Dr. Ashida is a madman of the first order. He's quite capable of doing anything (which results in his ultimate downfall). And the way he's drawn – he even looks evil. The dragons themselves scared me at one time. Today I look at them and marvel at their detail, especially in the final chase scene. Last, there's Sumi. Just he sight of an overpowering, one-eyed, bald Sumo wrestler was (and still is) amazing. With danger around every corner, two of the most vicious baddies the Quests ever faced, and the threat of ending up dragon food makes The Dragons of Ashida a winner.

10/10

Jonny Quest "A Small Matter of Pygmies" #1.13 (1964) (TV)

A "new" episode for me, 20 December 2008

Race, Jonny, and Hadji are forced to land their plane in the middle of the jungle. Once on the ground, they discover an angry tribe of pygmies who seem to only want to see them dead.

Wow – I thought I had seen every episode of Jonny Quest. For whatever reason, I never watched A Small Matter of Pygmies as a kid and I must have skipped over it back when I first went through the DVD set. It's pretty cool to make this "discovery".

As for the episode, it's not bad at all. I enjoyed it much more than the previous two. The pygmies present a real threat to Jonny and the gang. There's a sense of danger about them as they trap Race, Jonny, and Hadji on top of the mountain and begin making their advance like a single, mindless killing machine. Even though I knew the guys would somehow escape, I got caught up in the story and found it worked for me. One thing that troubled me was the malfunctioning aircraft plot device. How many times do they use that in Jonny Quest? To be as smart and resourceful as the Quest Team is, they're terrible when it comes to regular aircraft maintenance.

7/10

Jonny Quest "The Dreadful Doll" #1.12 (1964) (TV)

A case of voodoo, 20 December 2008

As in the previous episode, The Dreadful Doll begins with Dr. Quest doing some underwater research. His research is, however, put on hold when he is summoned to the bedside of a girl under a voodoo spell. Dr. Quest soon discovers that the girl has actually been poisoned. Meanwhile, Jonny and Hadji spot a mysterious submarine. Could the voodoo and the submarine be related?

In some ways, this episode of Jonny Quest reminds me of later Scooby Doo episodes in the way it's structured. You know, bad guys up to no good who use a local legend to scare off anyone who gets too close. The Dreadful Doll came first, so I'll give it a little credit on this front. And even though the main bad guy isn't all that memorable, Korbay, the voodoo practitioner, is a creepy enough foil for the Quest's. Weaknesses in the episode include too much time and focus spent on Bandit and the boys doing nothing remarkable (I guess this is a problem I have with many of the Jonny Quest episodes). Another big problem I have with The Dreadful Doll is the quick announcement from Dr. Quest that it's not voodoo, but a drug that's affecting the little girl. Kind of took all the mystery out of things way too early.

6/10

Jonny Quest "Skull and Double Crossbones" #1.11 (1964) (TV)

Don't judge the series by this episode, 19 December 2008

While Dr. Quest is busy doing some underwater research, Jonny and Hadji (and Bandit) take the opportunity get in some swimming and general relaxation. On his way back to the boat, Jonny discovers an old gold doubloon on the ocean's floor. His discovery, however, is noted by a band of pirates looking for the same treasure Jonny stumbled on. To what lengths will this band of criminals go to get Jonny's secret?

Skull and Double Crossbones is what I would call a very weak episode of Jonny Quest. I've got several issues with it. First, there's way too much padding. While every episode of Jonny Quest has a certain amount of "down time", Skull and Double Crossbones takes it to the extreme. Half the episode is made up of Jonny and Hadji swimming, Dr. Quest examining ridiculously large fish, and Bandit's comic relief. That brings me to my second problem – Bandit. That crazy dog has always been my biggest problem with the series, but here he's more annoying than usual. Swimming into a fish's mouth, riding a dolphin, or going for help – it takes out any drama that the episode might have had going for it. Finally, the bad guys in Skull and Double Crossbones don't really do much for me. Other than being overt stereotypes, their not overly memorable. End the end, a 4/10 is about the best I can do for this one.

4/10

Jonny Quest "Shadow of the Condor" #1.10 (1964) (TV)

Baron Heinrich Von Freulich - What a name!, 11 December 2008

Engine trouble forces Race to set the Quest plane down on an unusual runway high in the Andean mountains. The runway belongs to the eccentric Baron Heinrich Von Freulich, a former WWI flying ace. He agrees to let Race borrow one of his vintage planes to get parts for the jet. However, Von Freulich has other plans. He intends to use Race as an opponent in one last dog fight.

Shadow of the Condor is another very solid episode. Baron Heinrich Von Freulich makes for a wonderful foe for Team Quest. In fact, Von Freulich might just be the most interesting character to appear in Jonny Quest. From the moment he appears on screen, taking pot-shots at giant condors, you get a sense that this man is capable of most anything. Also, from the moment the Quest plane touches down, there's a sense of mystery and menace surrounding the castle high in the Andes that you usually don't find in a cartoon. And the ending - inspired and ironic are two words that come to mind.

One thing I haven't mentioned yet in my comments on the Jonny Quest episodes is the subject of characters dying. In other cartoons, characters would get shot, burnt, and stabbed. They fell off buildings, got hit by cars, and had pianos fall on their heads. All that and they walk away as if nothing happened to them. That's not the case in Jonny Quest. Characters like Von Freulich crash a plane in the side of a mountain and they don't come back. I appreciate the realism. And I appreciate the fact that it taught me that there are consequences to actions. I don't' think the character deaths in Jonny Quest scarred me as a kid and I've got no problem with my son watching them today. There's too much sheltering of children in the world today anyway.

7/10

Jonny Quest "Double Danger" #1.9 (1964) (TV)

The Quests in Thailand, 11 December 2008

Dr. Quest is in Thailand doing research with some plants that may prove beneficial to future spaceflights. While there, Race takes the opportunity to visit a giant Buddah deep in the jungle for some pictures. But when Race comes back, something's different. It takes Jonny and Hadji a while to figure it out, but there's definitely something odd going on. Race's old flame, Jade, shows up and quickly confirms the boys' suspicions - that's not Race Bannon!

Double Danger is a good, solid episode. The whole idea of a double for Race may be a bit hokey (even I realized how problematic it was as a kid back in the 60s), but it presents an unusual, "fun" situation. I've always found it funny that the highly trained double would blow his cover about five seconds after meeting up with the boys. What an idiot! And calling the monkey "Bandit" is a little to obvious a mistake. Finally, the addition of a woman to the cast like Jade was a very nice, inspired decision. I only wish she could have appeared more often.

A few episodes back, I wrote that it's kind of weird that the series was called Jonny Quest when Jonny so often had little to do in each episode. Double Danger is an exception to this comment. It's Jonny's (and Hadji's) detective work in this episode that saves the day.

7/10

Jonny Quest "The Robot Spy" #1.8 (1964) (TV)

One of the best, 11 December 2008

Desiring to learn the secrets of Dr. Quest's latest invention, the para-power ray gun, Dr. Zin sends a robot spy to check it out. Dr. Zin's unmanned ship lands near the Quest compound. Upon investigation, Dr. Quest and Race find a mysterious orb. They place it in a storage building for latter examination and go about their usual nightly routine. But, as they will soon discover, the mysterious orb is far from routine.

Even if you are only familiar with Jonny Quest on the most casual of levels, I'm confident that The Robot Spy would likely be the episode that most people would recognize. The image of the giant, indestructible, spider-legged mechanical creature is an iconic memory for many of us who grew up in the 60s. It's even prominently featured in the opening credits. Beyond the images, The Robot Spy's status as one of the best Jonny Quest episodes is well deserved. There's plenty of action, mystery, and suspense - what more could you ask for? The first time the robot hits a guard with one of the tentacles - wow! How cool was that? I enjoyed this episode as a child and still find it entertaining. I'm not sure at this point whether it's my favorite episode or not, I'll have to get through the other 18 or so episodes to make that call. But I have no doubt that it will end up in my top five.

9/10

Jonny Quest "Calcutta Adventure" #1.7 (1964) (TV)

Hadji's story and Jesse White, 8 December 2008

Through a flashback, "Calcutta Adventure" tells the story of how Hadji came to live with the Quest family. In this episode, Dr. Quest is in India lecturing at a local university. However, he has another, more dangerous purpose for being in India. He's looking for a secret nerve gas factory. When a young Indian named Hadji saves Dr. Quest's life, the Quests ask Hadji if he'll be their guide. The group heads for the mountains as the attempts on Dr. Quest's life continue. He's eventually taken prisoner in the secret nerve gas factory and, in exciting fashion, must be rescued by Race – with some help from an enterprising man named Pasha Peddler.

Overall, this is a solid episode. But then again, any episode that includes Hadji's back-story and how he came to live with the Quests is going to be worth watching. "Calcutta Adventure" features a lot of good action and creepy bad guys. The underground lair is also a nice touch. As for Pasha Peddler, he's easily one of the best ancillary characters in the first seven episodes. He's kind of like the Mr. Haney of India. It doesn't hurt that he was voiced by legendary character actor Jesse White. That voice is unmistakable – regardless of how un-Indian it might sound.

7/10

Jonny Quest "Treasure of the Temple" #1.6 (1964) (TV)

Jonny finds a fortune in treasure, 8 December 2008

At the request of a Central/South American government (I'm just guessing because I don't remember the actual country being named), the Quest Gang travel to do some scientific research at an ancient Mayan city. But they're not alone. An explorer named Perkins is already there looking for a rumored treasure. When Jonny accidentally finds a secret room, it looks like certain death for our heroes.

"Treasure of the Temple" may not be the best episode, but it's certainly entertaining enough. There's a certain amount of intrigue that goes into the mysterious occurrences surrounding the Quests' trip to the archaeological dig. And there's certainly no shortage of dangers – from spiked traps to alligators to underwater rivers to pyramids to natives to hidden rooms to a fortune in treasure, there's something interesting around every corner. Also, and a real change-of-pace to a lot of the first few episodes of Johnny Quest, "Treasure of the Temple" doesn't feature an Asian or Middle-Eastern bad guy. It's nice to see the writers could turn a white, Anglo Saxon into a killer.

Unfortunately for "Treasure of the Temple", there's nothing "big" to make it stand out from many of the other episodes. There's nothing like the mummy Anubis, for example, to make this episode especially memorable. It's good – just not great.

6/10