Review of Detention

Detention (1999–2003)
this show can actually hurt kids (i think)
30 March 2001
I just saw my first episode today despite seeing the trailers for a long time (i just don't get up on Saturdays early enough to watch it and now it's on in the afternoon). Based on this one random episode this must be one of the worst kid's animated series on TV disguising as a good show (i.e. i don't count those cheap 'japanese imports' like the various 'pokemons', those are in the class of their own). It is dull and boring to the core with no point and nothing to say. No funny jokes or interesting storyline here. What you find here is a cliche upon cliche, some bad music, bad-to-average voice talent, sub-standard assembly-line quality animation (and not the Korean (?) in-between part but the key art sucks as well). Character design is of unimaginative generic WB-style with the possible exception of the main female character ('Shareena Wickett') who almost looks like there has been some thought put into the character design. Yet she is not really original being basically an arguably better-looking version of Lydia(?) the girl from the animated series Beetlejuice. Her character definitely seems out of place in this cartoon looking inexplicably "gothic" among all the boring boring rest of the animated cast (a low point: the animated Mowry twins). Even the names of the characters are distinctly not funny yet they are trying so hard...

The worst thing about this series however is its primitively stereotypical negative depiction of adults and the 'uncool' kids. Let me tell you what i remember from the episode i just saw... Cool kids are being cool by kicking adults in their butts or spilling ink all over their (adults) heads. Uncool kids are trying hard yet remain uncool no matter what they do (even if they do something much more dramatic like flooding the school gym with a hose). Cool kids pity the uncool ones: "they just ain't got what it takes...", i.e. the cool are also the compassionate ones while the uncool are utterly hopeless and will never be accepted... Adults are all evil and stupid and have nothing better to do but to constantly spy on kids with the sole purpose of entraping them into earning - you guessed it - a DETENTION! This word is shouted at the rate 2-3 per minute and that alone is as annoying as a toothache.

This show was supposed to be something like 'Recess' (a quite boring yet quite original animated show) meets 'Animaniacs' but it lacks the originality of both and zany humor of the latter. It reeks of commercialism, half-assed job, lack of talent, sheer stupidity... Is this the 'food for thought' we want to feed to our kids? (my first baby is due in 2 weeks). This show can teach them nothing good, by reinforcing the worst stereotypes it can only propagate the dreaded 'American teen values' that are formed by the mindless showbiz and then the whole country shudders in amazement: whatever happened to our young generation?..

well, i am not good at speeches, let me just conclude: the creators of this show must not be allowed nowhere near children and, preferably, should be put in jail (for the damage they've already done).

KEEP YOUR KIDS AWAY FROM THIS ONE!!!
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