"Dexter's Laboratory" is an odd duck of a cartoon. It's strangely schizophrenic; on the one hand, it's a cartoon about a mad scientist who's full of vainglorious ambition and who goes on zany sci-fi adventures. On the other, it's a cartoon about a little boy and his turbulent relationship with his big sister. The titular hero of the toon, Dexter, is both those characters. He's a brainy kid with a secret lab that his sister, Dee Dee, constantly invades and sometimes damages, not out of meanness, but because she's fascinated by her brother's inventions and wants to "play" with them. She also wants to pal around with her little brother, whom she sometimes teases but also loves. As for Dexter, he finds her invasions annoying and frustrating, yet, if she's not around wreaking playful havoc, he soon goes to pieces and seeks her out for company. The siblings are like two halves of a whole brain; Dexter is the logical left side while Dee Dee is the creative, free-spirited right side. They're an endearing pair, and while the show has a lot of funny moments (including Dexter's and Dee Dee's first experience with coffee, and a snowball fight that their dad takes much more seriously than they do), it's the affection between the brother and sister that sticks with you; that is the REAL chemistry found in Dexter's Lab. All in all, "Dexter's Laboratory" is worth a look, although it's probably best to avoid the special "Ego Trip" (in which Dexter comes off as highly unpleasant) and the revival episodes released in 2000/2001; a new production team and new voice for Dexter were employed for those, and unfortunately as a result the series lost much of its heart and humanity. But the early seasons are golden. If you're in need of a laugh with a touch of heart, it's worth paying "Dexter's Laboratory" a visit.
Review of Dexter's Laboratory
Dexter's Laboratory
(1996–2003)
A crudely-animated cartoon that nonetheless offers laughs and pathos
11 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers