'Phineas and Ferb' was one of the few Disney Channel shows in (relatively) recent years that was watched by me and my siblings, also Disney fans, since its inception and continued to watch completely hooked, the re-runs being holiday highlights. That's no joke. The earlier episodes are better than the later ones, funnier and more creative, but even when the show was not at its best it was better than quite a lot of the shows airing on Disney Channel, which has not been the same it used to be for years, at the time.
Both "The Fast and the Phineas" and "Lawn Gnome Beach Party of Terror" are strong examples of when 'Phineas and Ferb' was at its best. It is hard to decide which is the better of the two, to me they are equally brilliant and for similar reasons. Both the Phineas/Ferb and Doofenschmirtz/Perry subplots are wonderfully done in both episodes, but if a choice did have to be made the slight edge is given to "Lawn Gnome Beach Party of Terror" for the wildly imaginative title and the song.
Animation is bright and colourful, with such vibrant colours that literally pop out at you and beautifully detailed backgrounds. It certainly made me want to have a backyard beach for example and the visuals in "The Fast and the Phineas" capture the racing's thrills. The music is in the style that is not usually my style of choice when listening to music, but it is very catchy and pleasant to listen to. The theme song is irresistible with a melody that sticks in the head for days without being an earworm and with very quotable lyrics. Some nice visuals accompanying it too. "Lawn Gnome Beach Party of Terror" also has one of the best songs of the show in "Backyard Beach".
The writing is witty and is accessible for children and adults alike, nothing is simplistic here while still being easy to understand. The pace is lively and the formula still has freshness thanks to the imagination of what the boys get up to. Both episodes are non-stop fun, lifted by the lively energy and the chemistry between the characters, and very easy to like. Phineas and Ferb are very likeable characters and Candace does shine in "The Fast and the Phineas", some of her reactions are priceless.
Equally great are Doofenschmirtz and Perry the Platypus. Doofenschmirtz is wonderfully nuts and has some great lines again, especially in "Lawn Gnome Beach Party of Terror" which has the more imaginative plan of his of the two episodes. Perry is a classic example of not saying a word but still managing to have a big personality, a mix of the adorable and the tough. His outsmarting never got old. The voice acting is fine.
In summary, brilliant. 10/10
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